The University of Pune (UoP) signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany-based aviation firm Fashschule Feer Luftahrgeng Fuhres (FFLF) on Wednesday to start an M Tech (Aviation) course.
UoP is the first university in India to start the course. The two year master’s course will begin from this academic year. The MoU was signed by CEO of FFL Ulrich Langenecke and CTO FFL Stephan Volkland and UoP vice-chancellor WN Gade.
FFL Pilot and alumnus of UoP Naresh Khemani said that today there was a need for 4,000 empowered pilots and by through this course, the UoP aimed at creating 1,000 pilots in the next five years.
CTO Volkland explained that students would have total 55 hours of day and night training to fly, 30 hours of basic pilot training and 15 hours on stimulator. The fees for the entire degree course is Rs52 lakh as it includes 800 hours of flying. Besides, the students will get licenses to fly in India besides in European skies.
“We guarantee 100% placements with a starting monthly salary of Rs10 to Rs12 lakh,” Khemani said, adding that students who did not want to fly would be recruited as ground staff.
Students who have completed their engineering courses are eligible for this masters degree. Curriculum for the first six months of the course would be at UoP’s department of technology, while the remaining 18 months will be on-site training in Germany. The students will get a degree from the Pune university, VB Gaikwad, director, Board of College and University Development (BCUD), said. There will be 24 seats for first semester and 24 for second semester, he added.
The credits accumulated for the 18 months on-site training in Germany will be transferred to UoP to enable the award of a degree, Gaikwad added. “We have also approached the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s aviation regulator, to get recognition for the course so that pilot’s licenses could be issued to pass outs,” he said.
For Khemani couple, it’s dream come true
Former alumni of Pune University, Naresh Khemani and Anita Khemani, could not stop smiling after the university signed a a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany-based Fashschule Feer Luftahrgeng Fuhres (FFLF) on Wednesday.
Naresh, 57, who joined FFLF as a pilot way back in 1954, had cherished the dream of starting an aviation course here. Naresh, a pass out of Wadia College and his wife Anita, who is an ex-Fergussonian, had left India 27 years ago to start their fashion house Equinox in Germany. However, they always wanted to do something here in their own country.
“Naresh always wanted to become a pilot and he fulfilled his wish, though he became on at the age of 54. Also he had always wanted to start such a course for students in India. Being UoP students, the varsity was close to our heart, so we took up this topic with vice-chancellor WN Gade,” Anita explained.
The very first meeting ended on a positive note, since Gade too was forthcoming on the subject, she said, adding that it was Naresh who convinced FFLF to sign an MoU.
Clearing apprehensions of aspirants about discrimination while studying in a foreign country, Anita said both her children were education in Germany and were never discriminated against.
“German people are warm people,” she added. Naresh’s father LT Khemani was a scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department, Pune (Shimla office), and was the founder of Acid Rains. Now, settled in Delhi, he leads a retired life, Anita said.
Affordable housing
The couple is also trying to arrange affordable housing for Indian students who will be in Germany for the aviation course. “We will have extra curricular activities for these students that includes physical training, fine and soft skill training,” Anita said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}