Hindustan Times is reporting that several rapidly growing airlines are sending young students halfway across the world to Sabena Airline Training Centre (SATC) in the US to become professional pilots. Sabena Managing Director, Kris Van den Bergh, said at the Centre’s formal opening:

In the last 12 months the need for pilots has gone up dramatically, mainly driven by the birth and expansion of the new and existing Middle Eastern and Asian airlines. For India, the numbers are already significant [and] about 2,900 pilots are employed in India versus a requirement of 3,100.

Read more at Hindustan Times

Jerry Airola, president of Silver State Helicopters, is hosting a career opportunity seminar in Fort Worth on Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m. The seminar will be held at the Meacham International Airport at 4701 North Main Street Hangar 44 N.

Read more and register at http://www.silverstatehelicopters.com

The Sentinel has a fascinating story about the career of Jim Burton, chief pilot at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, who’s spent almost 40 years up in the air.

But that’s just the start. During those 40 years Burton, 57, has been involved in everything from murder investigations to tracking brown bats - all of which makes aviation an interesting, challenging and rewarding career to get into. He says…

Aviation is challenging to get into but very rewarding. My advice to those that want to get in this business is to persevere. The industry changes are all for the better.

You can read more about Jim’s career - and aviation careers in general - at the original story in The Sentinel

Girls who want to work in aviation and aerospace some day now have a new face to look up to. Carole Glenn from the Arizona Department of Transportation recently organised the statewide Wings to Fly program, which gives girls and young women aged 11 to 19 an unmissable chance to hear stories of women who carved out rewarding careers in this male-dominated field.

Right now, women now hold only 18% of non-pilot careers in aviation which means the opportunities for girls to make a name for themselves within the industry are huge.

The Wings to Fly Program will take place on April 21 at Challenger Space Center in Peoria, and will consist of a range of seminars and bonding activities. The registration deadline is this Friday, 13 April.

Participants will include NASA engineer and keynote speaker Aprille Ericcson, Stacy Howard, the Western regional representative for Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Gwen Kross, who is the vice president of operations for All Out Aerial, who said…

Girls in Arizona who aspire to take to the skies often rely on school counselors who don’t know where to direct them [and] parents also aren’t always much help. (They) would say, ‘It’s a boys club to get into. There’s not a circle for these girls to go get support.

But now, thanks to Carole Glenn, there is!

For more information on the program, and details of how to register, visit the Arizona Division of Transport Aeronautics Division website.