Neelam Mathews
Sept 26, 2011
Despite India looking at a total image change the worldover portraying itself as the IT leader, it seems to have defaulted in the one industry that showcases its image- aviation.
India’s Air Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) is proving to be a source of embarrassment to pilots flying abroad, some airline captains told Aerospace Diary.
“The license (around 8”x5”) is printed on poor quality paper and starts to tatter in six months. When we are asked to show our ATPL in foreign countries, we cut a sorry figure. We’re prouder to carry driving licenses,” says a pilot who flies on international routes on an Indian carrier.
It is time, the pilots suggest, that DGCA look at a license in smart card concept. The U.S ATPLs are also as small as the size of a credit card.
An ATPL costs Rs 25000. It might do the DGCA good to redesign its ATPL or simply take the best ideas and convert them into good looking image ambassadors.
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