Commercial Airlines have Airlines operation staff, Engineering staff and the Commercial division.
The industry’s functioning depends largely on the airlines operating through the networked air routes and airport facilities. In India the Airlines are managed by the government as well as by private agencies. Air India is the international airline of India. It started its first flight in 1948 to London with a super constellation aircraft. It now connects India to almost all the countries of the world.
Indian Airlines is the domestic airline which is so far government controlled. The policy of the Government to open the Indian skies to private airlines has led to a number of private airlines in the country. These airlines fly not only on major routes to large cities but even to smaller towns and hill resorts. Some of the private Airlines are Jet Airways, Jagson Airlines, City Link Airways, Modiluft Airlines, East West Airlines, Sahara and many more. There are aircrafts which are also owned by some large public sector firms. These firms use the aircrafts for survey as well as for their management. Some examples are firms dealing with iron ore, steel, lignite, etc.
Almost every State has a flying club. This is overseen by the Directorate of Civil Aviation. The aircrafts owned by flying clubs are used for training of PPL licence candidates. State Ministers and senior government officials also use the aircrafts when on special duty.
Airline functional areas
For understanding how Airlines function and coordinate their flight schedules at various airports we can divide the work into three different functional heads - Airlines Operations, Technical and Engineering Division, Commercial division.
Airline operations -
Airline operations involves mainly the flying of aircrafts owned by the airline on scheduled routes. The Operations Division concerns itself mainly with ensuring safety and efficiency of the flights.
People in the operation of any flight and passenger comfort are :
-- Pilots
-- Co-pilots
-- Air cabin crew (Flight pursers/Air hostesses)
Technical and engineering division -
The team which maintains aircrafts has specialists in avionics, mechanical, aeronautical and electronics engineering. Every aircraft needs proper maintenance and overhauling before it is allowed to fly. The engineering division is responsible for ensuring that the aircrafts are fit to fly.
Commercial division -
From booking of tickets, reception, check in counter operations to cargo
handling every airline has a wide variety of jobs to perform in the service of the passengers. There are business managers, travel tourism management executives, finance, law professionals and graduates handling various passenger service jobs. Announcers, ticketing clerks, reservation clerks, cargo handling personnel all comprise the commercial operations within an airline.
Airline Operations (Flying)
Inflight crew
Pilot, co-pilot and the cabin crew consisting of air hostesses/flight pursers are the main people in airline operations during flight. After the terrorist attack on World Trade Centre in the US an Air Marshal accompanies the crew on board every airplane. He is trained in terrorist attack management and security.
Nature of Work
Airline Pilot
In command of a flight is the Captain or Chief Pilot. He is assisted during the flight by a co-pilot. The job is highly specialised and requires intensive training.
Pilots fly aircrafts on long and short flights. One hour before take-off pilots check pre-flight plans. These define the route to be taken, height to be maintained and include meteorological information. Pilots have to do complex calculations of take-off and landing and they have to work out the fuel needed for distance to be travelled and height and weight to be maintained. Pilots also check that equipment and instruments are functioning properly and that noise regulations for take-off and landing are observed. Their work includes briefing the crew and supervising loading and refuelling. Initial contact too is made with air traffic control who advise the pilot on take-off.
Onflight -
Pilots have to interpret the data presented to them on instruments and controls, sometimes they use computers in their calculations. The most complicated aspects of a flight are take-off and landing. Pilots may have to make adjustments as necessary during flights. They use their skills continuously, checking instruments for malfunction even while the aircraft is on automatic control.
Pilots maintain contact with air traffic controls and cabin crew throughout the flight they speak at intervals to passengers, giving them information over the public address system on speed and height, details of ground areas they are flying over. They give warnings of turbulence and difficult weather conditions. They may also leave the flight deck to speak to passengers. Duties are shared usually with one co-pilot, occasionally two on long-flights, but responsibility for the aircraft and its safety finally rests with the pilot.
After landing -
When the aircraft has been taxied to its final position, the pilot shuts down the engines and writes a flight report, noting any problems or instrument difficulties.
Work Environment
Pilots spend long hours on flight decks in a seated position. There are rules for the number of hours pilots may work without a rest period. As they fly at ‘unsocial’ hours they can experience jet lag, particularly on long-distance schedules, and may return on scheduled flights as passengers.
Flight delays due to weather or other difficulties and 24 hour schedules means irregular working hours and time spent overseas in a hotel or airport.
Personal Characteristics
The work of pilots involves great responsibility both for the safety of the aircraft and safety of passengers and crew. Flying requires grit, presence of mind, courage, determination and physical fitness due to the risks which flying involves.
They need to be self-confident and at ease working with other people. Pilots have to be reliable, calm and level-headed, able to take charge in an emergency. They should be able to keep good clear communication both with the team on board and with air traffic control. The ability to inspire confidence in both passengers and air crew is very important.
Good practical and co-ordination skills are needed along with technical skills and understanding. Pilots need a high sense of spatial orientation and the ability to relate to various factors in space without getting disoriented.
A positive orientation for the profession and physical fitness are needed. Capability in crew and cockpit resource management are required. Since they have to write reports written English must be of a good standard for report writing. Good health and fitness are vital and tested on application and at regular intervals throughout a pilot’s career.
