Indian Pilot Trainees Stranded in US

By Daniel P George

CHENNAI: More than 100 Indian trainee pilots are stranded in the US after their flying school in California shut shop a few weeks ago. The trainees, hailing from Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Patna, have been asked to vacate their lodges at the academy by Friday. (Watch http://broadband.indiatimes.com/videoshow/ 3166356.cms)

The students were part of a commercial pilot training programme jointly run by Kingfisher Airlines and American School of Aviation (ASA).

The school last month said it was facing financial crunch and it might be forced to close down. The students had paid $46,500 (about Rs 20 lakh) for the joint venture flying programme and $39,900 (about Rs 17 lakh) for a special training programme.

“My son has been a brilliant student who wanted to be a pilot. He joined the course in October 2007. When the flying school said they didn’t have money, he even paid for the fuel to fly the plane a few days ago.

I have borrowed money from banks to meet his expenses,” said K Ganesh Kini, father of Ajay Kini, one of the trainee pilots from Chennai.

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