Letter of Complaint from AME students

Dear Sir,

It is a matter of great pain to see that in 21^st century India that such a thing is happening ,that future of thousands of innocent students lies in dark due to vested interests of a few people,even though India has such capable ministries for regulation of technical education & student intrests.

The case is about the course called Aircraft Maintenance Engineering(AME).This is a license course that students can join after 10+2 to become a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.This is done according to the Aircraft Act 1937 & is recognized by Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),Ministry of Civil Aviation.Students after doing this course & passing DGCA papers work in Airlines & Maintenance organizations.Till few years back everything was ok but due to the money involved the system has got corrupted & due to this students careers & their future lays in dark.

Though there was a boom in aviation industry after open skies policy of Govt.but still number of Airlines,MRO`s in India is limited but comparatively the number of training schools has increased exponentially.The number id much more than what is sustainable.The number of AME schools in India as per DGCA website is 70,(many more have been given NOC & are awaiting approvals).Every year each school is allowed to take two batches of 30 students in every stream i.e. Mechanical & Avionics.As per above calculation w schools generate roughly 2*30*70*2=8400 (roughly). Presently India compared to its size operates very less number of aircraft (less than 500). That roughly means for all aircraft in India we need around 500*20 people.But as explained earlier we produce 8400 students every year. Now the question arises why such a situation has been created & where will these huge number of students go.Specially airlines need more Mechanical people than avionics people but number of institutes in Avionics has increased multifold.

The problem is worsened due to the following given factors:-

• AME course is considered neither a Diploma nor a Degree by Ministry of HRD.so students can only work in airlines not any where else even if they want to change the field.
• Due to large number of students passing out the field has become supersaturated very few vacancies come that too are got by students who have good approach to airline officials.
• Airlines also recruit Btech Holders & Diploma holders
• People retiring from Indian Air Force are given preference over AME students as they have more experience.
• Most importantly the number of AME schools is much more that what is required,becuase opening AME school is a good business owners are least intrested in what happens to the students after they have paid the fees.
• Ame course done in India is valid in very few foreign countries
• DGCA papers(except a few past attempts) are easy to pass,most questions are repeated from earlier papers,any lay man after studying these previous years papers which are available in the market can pass DGCA papers.
• The On Job Training (OJT) which is a mandatory part of training should be done in some DGCA approved organization,Because training is mandatory & cannot be done at the training school students have to go to Airlines.Here they are again harassed because they have to pay bribes to get training ,pay training fees at some places & beg for the Airport Entry Pass from BACS which io very reluctant in giving passes to trainees.Due to this reason a new market for Training certificates has emerged , just pay money no need to come for training you will get a certificate.

The Effects

* Thousands of Ame students coming out of these schools have to go through mental,emotional harassment ,they cant find jobs in any other fields also even if they want because for other than aviation industry they are just 12^th pass.
* The admissions in AME schools though never gets effected much because the 12^th class students dont have any idea about aviation indusrty.
* Students who are so technicially qualified have to do jobs that a 12^th pass guy can do,like call centers etc.
* Now some curropt officials charge lakhs of rupees as bribe from students to get into a decent airline
* Some Airline employ students at even a lesser salary than what they pay to the drivers or even cargo loaders.

• DGCA is giving away approvals without having a thought about where these students will go.

• Even after such a grave situation still fresh approvals are being given.
• Training schools without proper facilities have been given approval
• Teachers training in these schools are themselves students who have just passed out earlier & because they cant find jobs in airlines they choose this career because this is only other possible job for them other than an airline.

Due to all these reasons students suffer a lot so much so that i cant describe in words.

THE BIG QUESTION;

Is any one responsible for the future of these students.

Will the system remain the same & each year these students will be duped.

Does any one have the conviction to take steps.

The SOLUTION

• Cancel Approvals of those schools who don't have proper facilities.
• Stop Schools from taking admissions till the situation stablises.
• No fresh approvals should be granted even if the school follows the requirements
• Approved organizations should follow apprentices act,it should be mandatory for them to take trainees according to their size & operations.Minimum number of trainees in a organization should be decided by DGCA.
• Airlines should be directed to take only AME students for the jobs & not B tech holders
• DGCA should increase its Exam standard & questions should not be repeated in exams.
• AICTE approval should be made mandatory for all training schools & AME course should be made equivalent to a degree.

A DESPERATE APPEAL

Sir, just think of those poor parents & students who invest their all life's savings so for education of their child.

Either reform this system or stop this course all together.

Don't let vested interests of few people to destroy careers of innocent students.