Siddarth Sethia
*Institution Has Helped Fulfil the Dream of Becoming a Pilot for Students from Poor and Middle-Class Families.
*Plans to Establish Satellite Training Bases in Mysuru and Hassan.
*DCM Dr.G.Parameshwara Addresses Media Conference.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Revenue and Sports Dr.G.Parameshwara visited the Government Flying Training School at Jakkur today.
After reviewing the institution’s activities,he addressed a media conference.
Dr.Parameshwara said that the Government Flying Training School was established in 1940 and has trained thousands of pilots over the years.Many of them are now working with Air India and other airlines.
This institution has been a boon for students from middle-class and economically disadvantaged families who dream of becoming pilots.The Government has preserved and developed this training institution over the years,”he said.
The institution currently has five aircraft.A proposal has been submitted to purchase two additional aircraft, which will be procured as soon as approval is received.
“A trainee must complete 40 hours of flying to obtain a Private Pilot Licence and 180 hours to qualify for a Commercial Pilot Licence.The institution provides the necessary training to meet these requirements,”he explained.
Dr.Parameshwara said that around 850 aircraft operated by airlines across India fly every day, employing nearly 7,000 to 8,000 pilots.
IndiGo has decided to purchase a significant number of additional aircraft over the next five years.“Considering this expansion, the country is expected to require approximately 35,000 pilots.
As the sector offers strong employment prospects, more training opportunities will be provided to those interested in becoming pilots,”he said.
He stressed that inadequate training could lead to serious accidents and said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducts strict inspections of the institution.
“The institution’s licence had earlier been cancelled. It has now been renewed by the DGCA for the next five years,”he said.
The fee for Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training is ₹10 lakh for candidates from Karnataka and ₹15 lakh for candidates from outside the State.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training costs ₹37 lakh for Karnataka candidates and ₹42 lakh for candidates from other States.
“Those who invest in this training and complete it successfully can be confident of finding employment,” he said.
The existing runway is 954 metres long. A proposal has been prepared to acquire 10 acres of land to extend it by another 160 metres.
“However,residential buildings have come up around the institution.Buildings exceeding a height of 45 metres cannot be permitted within a 2.7-km radius,and we will not allow any violation of this restriction.
Some people are demanding that the training school itself be closed,but we will not permit that.We will not shut down an institution that can create employment opportunities for thousands of people,”he asserted.
Dr. Parameshwara said that the Government was considering establishing a satellite training base in Mysuru.
“Aircraft taking off from Jakkur can land in Mysuru and return.This training procedure is known as ‘touch and go’.Mysuru has the required facilities, and the possibility of using them is being examined.We also intend to establish a satellite training base in Hassan,”he said.
The department is presently known as the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.The Principal Secretary is submitting a proposal to the Government to rename it the Department of Sports,Youth Empowerment and Civil Aviation.The name will be changed if the Cabinet approves the proposal,”he said.
Dr.Parameshwara said that, in metropolitan cities across the world,conventional aircraft increasingly face difficulties while taking off from and landing at airports. “We have proposed introducing training for vertical take-off aircraft,”he said.
He added that Indian aircraft companies have radar facilities that could offer students opportunities to undertake research.
“New technologies and innovations are emerging in the aviation sector.We also intend to establish a Civil Aircraft Maintenance Academy,”he said.
