Share of women pilots in India higher than world average: Govt

New Delhi, July 21

The share of women pilots in the overall pool of pilots is significantly higher in India as compared to the global average, the government informed Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, in response to a question, said globally according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, around 5 pc of pilots are women but in India the share of women pilots is significantly higher at 15 pc.

The Ministry said its associated organisations have taken several steps to increase the number of pilots in the country both women and men. This includes issuing award letters by Airports Authority of India for nine new flying training organisation (FTOs) slots at five airports namely Belagavi, Jalgaon, Kalaburagi, Khajuraho, and Lilabari in the first phase and six more slots at five airports in the second phase namely Bhavnagar, Hubbali, Kadapa, Kishangarh and Salem.

“These measures are likely to enhance the flying hours at FTOS and the number of commercial pilot licences issued per annum. In addition, the women in aviation International, India Chapter, conducts awareness programmes across the country to encourage women aviation professionals with special focus on young schoolgirls especially from low income families,” the ministry said.