REACHING FOR THE SKY: Pratik Mehta is the first in his family to enter the aviation sector.

AS A child, Pratik Mehta would rush to the balcony of his father's flat in Andheri's Lokhandwala each time a plane flew over head. Nothing unusual for a child. But Pratik turned his childhood fancy into reality by sheer plan ning, hard work and a dash of luck.

Today, he flies King fisher Airlines planes six days a week and symbolises the oppor tunities in the civil avi ation sector. He is the first aviator from his Mumbai-based Gujarati family Soft-spoken and a teetotaller, Mehta . said he was completely committed to his wife Suman Solanki, his long-time girlfriend, who is a commercial pilot with Kingfisher.

"I was drawn towards airplanes since I was very small and called my papa every time I sighted a plane.," recalled Pratik. "When I was in standard VIII, I knew about all the steps required to become a pilot, and in standard XI, I was taking tuitions to appear for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation tests."

At that time, there used to be a waiting period of 18 months for aspiring pilots to join a flying school, so Pratik timed his entry accordingly His parents, who are execu . tives in private firms, were very supportive.

After standard XII, Pratik joined the Baroda Flying Club for elementary training and completed an advanced course from the Ahmedabad Flying Club, all in two years. He got a commercial pilot licence in 1998 and was looking forward to joining an airline but there were no takers.

"It was a frustrating time," Pratik said. "Pilot jobs were scarce. There were many candidates knocking the doors of very few airlines. I appeared in several interviews and was turned back every time."

For those in the waiting, the stakes were very high. One needed Rs 8 lakh to learn flying. After remaining jobless for three years, Pratik was forced to take up a job as flight dispatcher, a ground duty job that entails completing several formalities for pilots, including getting Air Traffic Control clearance and weather details so that they can head for the cockpit without wasting time. This job, demeaning for a trained pilot, was getting him just Rs 5,000 a month.

"The period between 1998 and 2003 was bad for pilot job seekers," Pratik said. "Many people with flying licences were forced to work in banks and call centres. I know someone who went to his hometown to run a hotel."

While doing the ground duty job, Pratik met Suman, who also took up a similar job after leaving pilot training midway because of a lack of opportunities and the stringent norms for becoming a pilot. They married in 2007.

Like many others, Pratik turned lucky when the sector began looking up in late 2003 with the entry of Air Deccan, and with existing players expanding capacity He got. a job in Jet Airways with a five-figure monthly salary The best was yet to come.

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In two years, three more airlines - Kingfisher Airlines, SpiceJet and Go Air - entered the business, thus broadening the market for aviation job seekers, be it pilots, cabin crew, ticketing staff, customer relation executives or other support services.

More planes were imported, and so more pilots were required to fly them. Pratik joined Kingfisher in December 2005 as a senior co-pilot, with the airline bearing all expenses to train him to fly the Airbus 320.

"My career took off in a big way Pratik .," said in his recently acquired third-floor apartment in Santacruz (E), which he and his wife bought because it was close to the airport, where they go almost every day . "From a smaller cockpit, I moved to an Airbus cockpit, and by now, have clocked a little more than 3,200 hours of flying," he said.

With all airlines importing more planes, more co-pilots are now being promoted to captains, who can take command of the increasing number of domestic and  international flight. Pratik is also now in transition, getting trained to be a captain.

"He was somebody everyone would look to when in doubt," said Karl Katrak, Pratik's flying school batch mate. "He used to approach even the smallest thing with great perfection."

So it's not surprising that Pratik's pay has doubled since he quit Jet Airways. Once he becomes captain, his salary will steadily go up.

But it is not a cakewalk.

"On most days, pilots handle eight takeoffs and landings," said Pratik. "It requires skill, discipline and medical fitness."

Unlike in other professions, there is no room here to make the smallest of mistakes.

For as our skies get more crowded, with more than 300 planes crisscrossing the country daily, a small mistake may cost many lives.

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Case study

MODESTY BLAISE: SALONI KHANNA SAYS SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

The job is not a skilled one. You only need to look good, be in shape and speak good English. With a little training, one can be put on duty immediately.

A CASUAL walk-in interview changed Saloni Khanna's life. Still in the sec ond year in college, Saloni, 17 yaers old at that time, was in the shower when a close friend called to inform her about a Jet Airway's interview for cabin crew.

"I never thought of becoming a cabin crew member," said Saloni, who had to quit St Stephen's College, Delhi, mid-way to take up the job. "‘Can't come', I told my friend. She insisted I accompany her. So her brother drove us down. I was selected, even though I fell short of the age limit by a year."

Lacking formal training, Saloni, like many women in the profession, nevertheless had all the qualities of the ideal cabin person. "The job is not a skilled one," she said candidly "You . only need to look good, be in shape and speak good English. With a little training, one can be put on duty ."

So in 1997, Saloni began working with Jet Airways, where she remained for three-and-a-half years.

But the bubble burst and promotions became rare. So Saloni completed her graduation by correspondence in order to land a job with Singapore Airlines, which wanted graduates. She worked there for three-and-a-half years.

"I was based in Singapore and was flying across the airline's network," said Saloni, the first person in her business family to work in the services sector. "But I had to come back to India in 2004 to attend to my ailing father."

In India, her career almost got grounded. Despite having worked for top domestic and international airlines, there were no jobs. "I had to take up a job with Air Sahara for a year and was counting the days when Kingfish er Airline started recruiting," said Saloni. "I joined as in-flight manager." A year later, in 2006, she was promoted to assistant base manager, in-flight, in Delhi, a job she continues to do. She helps the base manager handle 280 crew members. To retain her crew licence, she also flies occasionally as an in-flight manager.

In her 10-year career, Saloni has emerged as a bright star in this sector. She attributes her success to being in the right place at the right time.

"The entry of new players has opened up the market and promotions were quick," she said. "These days, girls maintain themselves a lot, and fly for many more years. If they don't want to fly, there are multiple job openings in the sector."

Earlier, girls from metros used to join the profession, but now they come in large number from small cities like Jalandhar, Guwahati, Indore, Surat and Jaipur.

Most cabin crew members, who start earning Rs 25,000 or more a month from the time they are very young, spend a large part of their earnings on branded clothes, expensive cosmetics and partying. In Mumbai, they stay near the airport in areas like Bandra, Khar, Andheri and Goregaon.

But Saloni said she was different. "I don't party or socialise. I prefer to take a nap at home when I have time. I don't argue with anyone, even with my mother. This profession has taught me to be humble and mature. For us, the guest is the king, and he or she is always right."

As a red Chevrolet Optra enters Saloni's housing colony in Delhi to pick her up, her neighbours peeked out to get a glimpse of the local star.

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Case study

CHATROOM: PRATIK MEHTA REACHES FOR THE SKY

From childhood, I only wanted to become a pilot and nothing else.

Why did you join this sector?

I planned it when I was 13. From childhood, I wanted to become a pilot and nothing else. But when I joined flying training, I didn't even think there would be a boom in the sector.

Who is behind your success?

My parents, for supporting and guiding me. My wife Suman gave me strength when I was struggling. I owe a lot to her and love her the most. And finally, Kingfisher Airlines, for giving me an opportunity to become what I am today .

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Case Study

a day in his life

4:00 am: He wakes up.

5:00 am: He's ready to leave for work.

5:25 am: He reports for his flight.

5:30 am: He signs medical forms.

6:00 am: He gets briefed about the flight and weather conditions.He inspects the plane.

6:30 am: His flight takes off.

2:30 pm: He returns to Mumbai.

3:30 pm: He's back home.

4:30 pm: He takes a nap.

5:30 pm: He does household work.

9:00 pm: He goes to bed.

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Case Study

rapidfire

Star sign: Aquarius.

What do you do in your spare time?

Go out with my family, read and relax.

What do you think of religion?

Religion is a part of life, but it does not matter inside the cockpit.

What is the one thing you will never do?

I will never endanger the life of passengers, and never betray my family.

What is the one piece of advice you want to share with people your age?

The new India is for its youth, and the world is open to us. We must take the country forward in whatever field we are.

Who is your best friend?

My colleague at Kingfisher Airlines, senior first officer Atul Kucheria. We have known each other since our days at Jet Airways.

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