Ranchi: Govt efforts to create aviation sector training opportunities for youth have received a lukewarm response, with nearly 71% of the seats in the first batch of air hostess/flight steward and ground handler courses at the state-run Jharkhand Flying Institute (JFI) remaining vacant.In July, JFI advertised 60 seats each for air hostess/flight steward and ground crew training under its diploma in aviation and hospitality programme. However, the merit list published on the institute’s website on Aug 24 featured only 21 candidates for the air hostess/flight steward course and 14 for the ground crew course.With just 35 candidates selected against 120 advertised seats, 85 seats — around 71% of the total capacity — remained vacant.The application process began on July 6 and ended on July 31. Candidates were to be selected on the basis of merit, a personal interview and a spoken English test, followed by document verification and a medical fitness assessment.Admissions were conducted from Aug 27 to Sept 10. As the institute failed to fill the available seats within the stipulated period, it issued another advertisement on Sept 15 inviting applications for the remaining seats.In the advertisement, JFI treasurer-cum-under secretary Piyusha Shalini Dona Minz said a few seats in the diploma courses remained vacant, prompting the institute to reopen the admission process.To attract more applicants, JFI also revised the fee payment structure, allowing trainees to pay the course fee in four instalments.When contacted, Minz declined to comment on the reasons for the poor response. Attempts to contact JFI chairman-cum-managing director Captain S P Sinha were unsuccessful.A source said the institute had received around 50 applications from candidates in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. “However, most of them did not fulfil the eligibility criteria, leaving several seats vacant. Some candidates who were selected later opted out, prompting the institute to advertise again,” the source said.
