A Chronic shortfall in Indian flight crew could be plugged by British and European pilots, thanks to an innovative aviation recruitment firm.

Burgess Hill-based AviationJobSearch is aiming to place experienced cabin crew inside India's rapidly-expanding airline industry through its website.

The firm is among a group of 15 UK companies on a week-long visit to India organised and funded by UK Trade & investment, a division of the DTi.

The group is attending business networking events run by the British High Commissions in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, as well as one-on-one meetings with potential buyers and clients.

Indian airlines have placed orders for 500 aircraft over the next five years but they could be delayed coming into service unless a substantial number of experienced pilots and flight attendants are recruited to meet the shortfall.

Air passenger levels within India rose by almost a quarter last year to 25 million and the figure is set to rise as ticket prices fall to secure more of the 2.2 billion train journeys made there every year.

The Indian government is targeting overseas investment as it rebuilds and privatises two of the biggest airports, Mumbai and Delhi, privatises another two major hubs, Chennai and Kolkota, and modernises over 50 others.

John Ellis, business development director for AviationJobsearch.com, said: "India's aviation industry is growing rapidly and there is a huge demand for pilots and cabin crew, which we can secure through our website - the largest such site in the world. We have more than 10,000 pilots registered who are seeking positions with airlines worldwide.

"The access to the embassy trade officials in Mumbai and Bangalore will be crucial in exploring the aviation industry scene in India and making links with the key players across the sub-continent."

AviationJobsearch was created in 1999 as a specialist niche bulletin board to help people find jobs with aerospace and aviation businesses.

It has now become the world's largest jobs site for aerospace and airlines with more jobs - about 5,000 - available in this sector than any other website.

International trade adviser Graham Snape, who is leading the tour, said: "India is one of the world's economic phenomena. It is growing at nine per cent a year and is already the eighth largest inward investor in the UK.

"US government and businesses are seizing opportunities in India and its undoubtedly going to be a key market for UK and South-East firms to explore."