New Delhi: In a first for India, a serving Union minister will soon be flying for a commercial airline on an honorary basis to keep his pilot licence valid.
Union minister of state for skill development and parliamentary affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a trained pilot on the Airbus A 320 aircraft, has got offers from Air India and IndiGo to fly as an honorary pilot. This means he will not be paid, and will fly their planes from time to time.
A pilot needs to fly for a certain number of hours and be trained on a simulator to keep his or her commercial pilot licence (CPL) valid. Rudy undertook flying training at Florida in 2007, and flew with IndiGo about five years ago to keep his licence valid. "My licence is on the threshold (of lapsing). I have got offer letters from Air India and IndiGo to join as honorary pilot," Rudy said.
"I want my licence to remain valid, for which I need to fly, and will be deciding on one of these airlines shortly. A CPL requires recurring flying and training," the minister added.
29/02/16 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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Union minister of state for skill development and parliamentary affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a trained pilot on the Airbus A 320 aircraft, has got offers from Air India and IndiGo to fly as an honorary pilot. This means he will not be paid, and will fly their planes from time to time.
A pilot needs to fly for a certain number of hours and be trained on a simulator to keep his or her commercial pilot licence (CPL) valid. Rudy undertook flying training at Florida in 2007, and flew with IndiGo about five years ago to keep his licence valid. "My licence is on the threshold (of lapsing). I have got offer letters from Air India and IndiGo to join as honorary pilot," Rudy said.
"I want my licence to remain valid, for which I need to fly, and will be deciding on one of these airlines shortly. A CPL requires recurring flying and training," the minister added.
29/02/16 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
