COCHIN- Air Kerala, a regional carrier, is seeking pilots, including Captains and First Officers, for its ATR 72-600 aircraft.
In July 2024, the Cochin-based carrier acquired a No-objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India.
Air Kerala Hiring Pilots
With the employment of senior management underway, the airline now intends to hire staff, beginning with the most critical, pilots.
In their most recent LinkedIn post, Air Kerala stated, “Air Kerala is ready for takeoff!” We are now boarding ATR 72-600 pilots to fly into aviation history!”
They did not provide much information about requirements. However, those who follow Afi Ahmed UPC, Air Kerala’s Chairman and Founder, will be aware of this. So here are the requirements for Captains and First Officers, and if you qualify, please send your CV to [email protected].
Air Kerala, which is looking to hire Captains and First Officers for ATR-72-600 operations, has set tough eligibility conditions for candidates to ensure operational safety and compliance with industry standards.
Requirements for Pilots
Requirements for Captains:
- Experience: A minimum of 3,000 hours of total flight time, with a significant portion of turboprop aircraft. At least 500 hours must be logged as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) on ATR-72-600.
- Currency: Candidates must hold a valid Instrument Rating and Proficiency Check (IR-PPC) with recent flight activity on the ATR-72-600.
- Licenses and Ratings: A valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License (FRTO), along with a valid Class 1 Medical Assessment.
- Type Rating: ATR-72-600 type rating is mandatory.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in English with a minimum ICAO English Language Proficiency (ELP) Level 4.
- Record: No accidents, incidents, or Breath Analyzer (BA) violations in the past three years.
Requirements for First Officers:
- Experience: A minimum of 600 hours total flight time, with a substantial portion on turboprop aircraft, including at least 100 hours as First Officer on ATR-72-600.
- Currency: A current IR-PPC with recent flight activity on the ATR-72-600.
- Licenses and Ratings: A valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and FRTO, along with a valid Class 1 Medical Assessment.
- Type Rating: ATR-72-600 type rating is required.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in English with a minimum ICAO ELP Level 4.
- Record: No accidents, incidents, or BA violations in the past three years.
Expected Launch in Q2 2025
Zetfly Aviation, the parent company of Air Kerala, received a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from India’s civil aviation ministry in July 2024 and plans to obtain an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) by mid-2025.
The airline intends to launch domestic operations from Kochi to Tier II and Tier III cities in the second quarter of 2025, followed by international flights to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Air Kerala CEO Harish Kutty emphasized the airline’s importance to the global Malayalee community, characterizing it as the realization of a long-cherished ambition.
He acknowledged that Air Kerala is in the pre-application phase for its AOC and hopes to finish the process by April 2025, while admitting the procedural hurdles.
To prepare for its launch, Air Kerala is negotiating a dry lease for three 78-seater ATR 72-600 aircraft, which would be delivered in mid-2025. The airline intends to provide economical travel options for expatriate Malayalees, with a focus on accessibility and cost efficiency.
The airline intends to launch international operations in 2028, in accordance with Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) requirements that need a fleet of at least 20 aircraft for overseas flights.
Afi Ahmed, the founder of Smart Travels, stressed the airline’s long-term aim of expanding international flights after the fleet achieves this criterion, with an initial expenditure of around Dh1.1 billion.
Air Kerala’s fleet development strategy includes acquiring narrowbody aircraft like as Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s to meet the 20-aircraft need by 2028, maintaining international readiness while scaling domestic operations.