Soon, University of Pune to offer engineering degree with pilot training

University of Pune (UoP) is set to become the first university in the country to provide an engineering degree along with pilot training if it inks a deal with FFL Institute, Germany. The degrees include bachelor of engineering degree and Masters in Technology in Air and Ground.

"For students who opt for BE (Air), two years of the course will be completed in the university and the next two in Germany where the students will get hands-on-experience in flying training. One year of airport management will be extra for those students who opt for MTech degree," said Naresh Khemani, Director, Operations Asia, FFL institute. "The MoU will be signed between UoP and FFL by mid-May. The courses will start in the next academic year," said Khemani.

Both Bachelors and Masters programme will be open for students above 18 years of age and who have completed their 10 plus 2 level of education with Maths and Physics as compulsory subjects. "There will be an entrance exam. The students who clear it will have to face a screening process where a delegation from Germany will interview the students. A batch of 40 students will be selected out of them," said Khemani. "The students will also have to have a Class 1 physical fitness level which will be approved by a doctor certified by FFL," added Khembavi.

After completing the flying hours, the student will have to appear for flying licence test, which if passed will give the student a 80 pl licence. "The students will get 200 hours of flying experience. Once they qualify the flying exam, they will be qualified to become flying commander. After getting the flying license, the student will have to change convert it into Indian licence which will be done by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)," said Khemani.

Last week, a delegation from Germany including Ulrich Langenecker, CEO, FFL institute and Stephen Volkland, Chief Instructor, German Airforce met UoP vice-chancellor WN Gade and Aditya Abhyankar Professor and Head, Department of Technology, UoP. The course will be launched under Department of Technology in UoP.

"The course fee will be around 45-55 lakh and will be hopefully introduced from the next academic year. The practicals will be held in Germany and any student who has completed 18 years of age and completed class 12 in science stream will be eligible for the course. The course will be introduced under Department of Technology currently, but will also be extended to affiliated colleges," said Dr Aditya Abhyankar Professor and Head, Department of Technology, UoP.

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