Flying Academy

The flying academies in Bangladesh and what it takes to be a pilot
Ask any 10-year-old what they want to be when they grow up and the answer you are most likely to receive is: “I want to be a pilot.” Given the glamour, privilege and adventure associated with the concept of aviation, becoming a commercial pilot is a dream job for many Bangladeshis. Thanks to a handful of flying academies established in the country, hundreds of youngsters are now able to spread their wings and follow their dream.
The Big Three
Only three academies are recognised and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB). The oldest is the veteran institution, Bangladesh Flying Academy and General Aviation Ltd (BFA). Established in 1948 as the East Pakistan Flying Club, it is the first and only pre-liberation institution that trains Bangali pilots and has historical links to the birth of Bangladesh. During the Liberation War, BFA pilots bravely launched air attacks on the Pakistani military. The academy ultimately sacrificed four captains during the war, and produced four BirUttams and five BirProtiks.
BFA has trained over 700 pilots to date, and it was the sole flying school in Bangladesh till 2008. The academy has trained pilots for the air force, commercial airlines and government flights, as well as for the Department of Planned Protection, Ministry of Agriculture. According to Captain Shahab U Ahmed, BirUttam, President of BFA, 90% of pilots currently working for Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been trained at the BFA, while other pilots from the academy are currently flying with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Singapore Airlines. The academy has up to six part-time instructors, who fly with different airlines and also train new pilots at the BFA airbase situated inside Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, using three aircrafts provided by the CAAB.
The Galaxy Flying Academy Ltd started off in 2008 and is currently in the process of training 22 students for commercial pilot’s licence (CPL) and private pilot’s licence (PPL). It has 11 ground class instructors and up to six flight instructors from various backgrounds on the books and it also offers courses in instrument rating, instructor rating and airline transport pilot’s licence (ATPL). Galaxy owns a hanger in Rajshahi that houses five aircrafts used for training its students. The academy provides lodgings for students enrolled both in the ground classes in Dhaka and flying classes in Rajshahi. According to an official at Galaxy, the accommodation the academy offers is “equivalent to a three-star hotel” and high security is maintained to ensure that the students, especially the female ones, feel safe.
Most recently, the Arirang Flying School of Arirang Aviation Ltd took to the skies as an offshoot of the YoungOne Company. Launched almost two years ago, Arirang provides many aviation-related services in addition to pilot training, such as air ambulance and corporate flying. So far, four students from Arirang have received their CPL and eight received their PPL, while 46 trainee pilots are currently enrolled at the institution. The academy boasts 12 full-time instructors for ground classes and 10 full-time flight instructors. Most of them have air force background and consequently have more flying hours and experience compared to instructors from other academies. Arirang has its own hanger in Chittagong, which houses three of its own aircrafts, and it also owns a hostel in the port city where students can stay during their flight schedules. They also claim to be the only institution that emphasises computer literacy and spoken English during their entrance exam. The academy is also strict about class attendance as instructed by the CAAB, and it does not allow students to appear for their licensing exams unless they have the required percentage.
What does it take to become a pilot?
Because BFA, Galaxy and Arirang are the only flying schools approved by the CAAB, all three must adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the government authority, including the prerequisites for students to attain a private or commercial pilot’s licence. To get a PPL, a student needs to be at least 16 years of age with an SSC or an O Level certificate. To get a CPL, which is an extended course of the PPL and the basic licence required by all commercial pilots, students need to be at least 17 years old with an HSC or A Level certificate. Physics and maths are compulsory prerequisite subjects in both cases.
Before their final enrolment into the academies, eligible students must pass a medical fitness test conducted by the CAAB and be issued with a student’s pilot licence (SPL). The medical tests required for the students to have A-class physical fitness, but 20/20 vision is not mandatory as corrective lenses or spectacles can be worn during flights.
The students then have to complete about 10 ground subjects related to aviation. After clearing three or four of these subjects, the students start their practical flying lessons and have to juggle their ground courses with flying hours. In order to receive a PPL, students need to log about 50 hours of flying. After receiving the PPL, students need to log an additional 100 hours to make the total 150 hours, which then qualifies them to earn a CPL.
So what does it take to become a good pilot? Shahab believes that speed of thought and self-confidence are paramount: “One has to be fast to cater to different emergency situations, which may arise at any time. A good pilot needs to take prompt actions and be very confident. CAAB consultant Captain Akram Ahmed, BirUttam, on the other hand, places more emphasis on the students’ intelligence, while Nazrul Islam, a student training for PPL, says discipline, maintaining a routine life and regular physical exercise are also important qualities.
He adds: “Pilots need to be physically fit to cope with changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure as well as hypoxia, i.e. lack of oxygen, which may lead to nausea.
The head honcho
The CAAB is the supreme authority for issuing pilot’s licence in Bangladesh, and they do so after closely examining the students in written exams, flying tests and medical tests. After getting their CPL from the aviation authority, the students can join different commercial airlines, which provide further training specific to the type of aircrafts used by the airlines. The students can also choose to become flight instructors after completing their instrument rating training. Indeed, due to the different aviation schools established in Bangladesh, many students aspire to become a flight instructor in the academy in which they are currently enrolled. It seems as if these institutions are not only creating a new generation of commercial pilots, but also a generation of future flight instructors.
International competition
Despite the obvious attractions, the flying academies often fail to fill their intakes. The cost of completing PPL and CPL courses is high. Wing Commander (retd) Anisuzzaman Khan, the chief ground instructor at Arirang, believes that a lack of publicity and students going abroad for their further education are factors, too.
“Most of the students who can afford to enrol in a flying academy have English medium schooling, and more often than not, these students are sent abroad by their parents to pursue higher studies,” he says. Shahab adds: “Not enough students are joining flying schools, because they have a wide access to different career options.”
Many students who do choose professional piloting as a career opt for flying academies abroad, in countries like Malaysia or Philippines, rather than training in Bangladesh. Asef, a pilot who completed his CPL training in HM Aerospace flight training centre in Malaysia, says the quality of training provided abroad is better, and courses can be completed faster. “I finished my course within 20 months. The scenario in Bangladesh is different. The progress is much slower,” he says.
Anisuzzaman, however, cautions against any assumption that all overseas academies maintain higher standards, and says pilots returning from abroad may encounter difficulties with their registrations.
“Some academies in the Philippines maintain very low academic standards and hence offer courses at a lower cost compared to institutions in Bangladesh,” he says. “However, students who opt for these academies are not able to pass the CAAB exams once they come here for their licensing, so students should be careful when choosing a flying academy abroad.”
Turbulent times
Even so, many students are not able to complete their courses within the estimated timeframe. Though the BFA has recommended a total of six months for completion of PPL and CPL courses, in reality students can take years to finish the course. One reason behind this delay is the dearth of flight instructors. According to a CAAB official, due to low salaries at the semi-government-supported institution, most of the instructors work as airline pilots and hence are not fully committed to the institution. As a result, the students suffer as they cannot log in enough flying hours.
Another reason for the slow progress is the fact that most of the students are enrolled in universities and studying for regular university degrees beside PPL and CPL. In order to tackle this problem, BFA is now seeking government permission to convert the flying school into a full-fledged university that will also issue university degrees to its students.
Other problems faced by flying schools include difficulty in getting flight schedules due to heavy air-traffic.
“Our airbase in Chittagong faces a high amount of air traffic consisting of both civil and military aircrafts,” says Anisuzzaman, “So we often do not get the priority when it comes to flight schedules, which results in our students falling behind.”
BFA, situated inside the Dhaka airport, also faces similar problems, but Galaxy benefits from its airbase being located in Rajshahi, where no domestic or international flights operate.
Despite the various problems faced by the flying schools, the industry in Bangladesh is still performing well, as an increasing number of students are choosing to become professional pilots. According to CAAB officials, there is plenty of scope for more flight schools to make their mark on the aviation scene. It seems that the time is right for the aviation industry here to finally take to flight.
Why choose to be a commercial pilot?
• 65% of the world’s airline captains will retire in the next 10 years, according to the International Air Transport Association. Within the next few decades, approximately 200,000 airline pilots will be hired by major airlines
• At least 15,000 new pilots will be needed every year in the next two decades, as predicted by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Canada and the US will need at least 60,000 new pilots by 2020
The Big Three at a glance
BFA
•Ground course fee (PPL and CPL): Estimated Tk170,000 for each
•Flying cost: Estimated Tk260,000-280,000
•Course completion: three months for both PPL and CPL
Arirang Flying School
•Total course fee (including PPL and CPL): Tk2,060,000
•Course completion of both PPL and CPL within two years
•Sessions start in January and June
Galaxy Flying Academy Ltd
•Admission fee: Tk100,000
•PPL course fee: Tk950,000 (includes living cost)
•CPL course fee: Tk2,000,000 (includes living cost)
•Course completion of both PPL and CPL within two years
•Sessions start in February, June and October
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