Category Aviation

What is the clipper route?

Clippers were 19th Century merchant sailing ships that sailed mainly between England and China, Australia and New Zealand. They were fast sailing ships, equipped with multiple square rigged sails supported by three masts. These ships gained in prominence because of the booming tea and opium trade between England and China. The route plied by these ships was called the clipper route.

The clipper route ran down the Atlantic Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and then went from west to east though the Southern Ocean. The ships took advantage of the Roaring Forties, the strong westerly winds that blow between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees in the southern hemisphere. It was the fastest route available between Europe and Asia before the opening of the Suez Canal. The ships would continue eastwards on the homeward journey from Australia and New Zealand along the Southern Ocean, sail around Cape Horn in South America and another 100 days from there back to England.

The ships plying the clipper route faced dangers like turbulent weather at Cape Horn and huge waves and icebergs in the Southern Ocean. However, ship captains still preferred the unsafe route as it offered fast passage.

The clipper route fell into disuse as a trade route with the opening of the Suez and Panama Canals. Moreover, streamships gradually phased out clippers. Though clippers were fast, their speed was largely determined by winds while streamships were more reliable in sticking to their schedules.

Today, the clipper route remains the fastest sailing route around the world. So it is popular with sailing enthusiasts, especially for modern circumnavigation attempts and yacht races like the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and Volvo Ocean Race.

 

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I’m a student studying in Std XII. Is it possible for a student who has taken bio-science to go for aviation?

Aviation refers to all activities involving the operation of aircrafts. It mainly deals with the flying operations (pilots), air crew (air hostesses), air traffic management, cargo marketing and management.

For technical jobs like pilot and air traffic management you need to have physics and maths in 10+2, but for air crew you can have 10+2 and preferably graduation in any stream. But in all these fields, a high level of concentration and focus is needed as there is a lot of minute observation and immediate response required.

 

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Air Force after XII?

I am a bit confused about what to choose as a career after Std XII. Presently, I am studying in Std XII with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Computers as my subjects. The main reason for my confusion is that I don’t want to opt for B.Tech., and want to go into fields related to the air force or navy. I just wanted your advice as to what should I go with as my career after 12th. – Liza.

Dear Liza, If you want to fly high in the sky or dream of being an Air Warrior of the IAF, then you need to clear AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test). It is held twice a year. After clearing AFCAT, you can opt for flying/technical/ground duty. Post-graduates can go for the meteorology branch that does not require AFCAT. Candidates should be graduates in their respective fields with Physics and Maths in 10+2.

The Indian Navy recruits girls for the following branches of the Navy as Short Service Commissioned Officers: ATC, Observer, Law, Logistics, Education, Naval Architecture. Both the navy and the air force recruit candidates with graduation.

 

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I have a great passion for flying and I want to become an airline pilot.

I am student of Std XI with PCM. I have a great passion for flying and I want to become an airline pilot. But I’m very tense about my weak eyesight. I wear glasses. What should I do to become a pilot? What are its requirements and which flying schools are the best?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions amongst people. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) says that you can apply if your eyesight is correctable to 20/20 for distance vision through eyeglasses while 20/40for near vision. One only has to carry an extra set of glasses while flying. There are no other restrictions for people with poor eyesight for becoming pilots.

You need to clear a physical fitness test (tough one), apart from an entrance test exam of the flying schools in India. Even after becoming commercial pilots, they need regular medical check-ups as any health problems can cause cancellation of the license of the pilot.

There are many flying schools all over India, but Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), Rae Bareli (UP) is the only institute for aviation training run by the government. Entry into IGRUA is through an online written test, interview and pilot aptitude test. The training fee at IGRUA is Rs 32.5 lakh, exclusive of hostel and other fees. Many banks can give loans up to 50%.

 

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Soaring Ambition

What qualifications should I possess in order to become an airline pilot? What is the career scope of a pilot?

The job of an airline pilot offers a glamorous lifestyle with great salaries and the opportunities to travel. But becoming a pilot is also a very expensive proposition. You have to get a commercial pilot’s license (CPL) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Only those who have done science with PCM at the +2 are eligible to apply.

You have to register 250 flying hours with a flying club like Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy, Rae Bareli; Pinjore Aviation Club, Ambala; and School of Aviation Science and Technology, Safdarjang Airport, New Delhi, and clear a set of exams, before you are given the license. You can get the CPL from abroad too and get it converted to the Indian pilot license. While getting into Air India or Indian Airlines may not be that easy, a number of private and foreign airlines do offer attractive salaries to their pilots-starting from Rs 45,000 for  trainee pilot to Rs 165,000 for confirmed pilots. Initially, you have to work as a co-pilot and it’s only with experience that you are given the command of a flight.

However, the course is very expensive, around Rs five lakh. To check your suitability for the job, ask yourself whether you are capable of quick thinking, can you keep calm during a crisis, whether you have quick reflexes, are you comfortable working with machines, how physically fit are you. It’s an erratic life-you have to report at unearthly hours, be away from home for days on end. so in all likelihood, you will watch Diwali festivities from your cockpit, rather than from the courtyard of your home.

 

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Up and Away

What is the eligibility criteria and procedure for becoming a fighter pilot

aptitude test and why is it a necessary prerequisite for all candidates?

There are two entry levels for the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force: Straight after completion of your 10+2 with physics, chemistry and mathematics (PCM), with a minimum of 65 percent marks. You can apply to the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, where army and navy recruits receive a three year training. An additional 18-month training will be impaired at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad; Alternatively, on graduating in mathematics, physics and/or chemistry, you can seek recruitment through the Combined Defence Services examination. Once you clear this examination you will be sent to  service of your choice.

Do remember that irrespective of the entry-level, you need to be at least 5 feet 8 inches in height and have to appear for the pilot aptitude battery test. This test gauges your reflexes-so vital to a life and death situation. Unfortunately, those who fail the pilot aptitude battery test will not be allowed to reappear. There is no second attempt. However, one could still be considered for ground duties.

 

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