Bangalore's Government Flying School to Take off Again
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 10: One of the first government-owned-and-operated flying schools in the country established in 1948 by the then Mysore government soon after independence but which closed in 2006, is all set to start flying again.
The prestigious flying school had been closed in 1997 till October 2003. It was revived again and reopened in November 2003. It was functioning with literally skeleton staff comprising only of a flying instructor. But the Flying School could not do much.
In between, the state government sought to enlist the help of private sector to run the school but the private-public partnership agreement ran into the rough weather leading to its eventual closure in 2006.
But now, going by the plans announced by state’s youth services and textiles minister Gulihatti D Shekar, the Flying School located at Jakkur, near Yelahanka, on the way to the Bangaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) at Devanahalli in the city outskirts, would be reopened soon.
A fresh batch of training programme would commence next month, the minister said, pointing out that the school had sufficient infrastructure to commence the classes.
The directorate-general of civil aviation’s permission has been obtained for renewal of licence and appointment of aircraft trainers for a one year period, he said.
Initially, the Flying School would offer an 18-month pilot training course at a cost of Rs 12 lac. Preference will be given to aspirants with a science or engineering background.
“As the objective of the government is to create a corpus of trained pilots, we have decided to impart training at an affordable cost. The cost per flying hour will be between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000, and for the entire course around Rs 12 lac,” the minister said.
Shekhar said preparations were underway and the school will start functioning again within a month.
Of the school’s three existing aircraft, two are in operational condition while one had an engine-related problem which was rectified recently.
“We have already recruited qualified aircraft engineers and pilot trainers,” the minister added.