Pic: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Feb 28: "Qualified British pilots under the aegis of Deccan Airsports will demonstrate hot air ballooning at Nehru Maidan on March 4," informed Sheik Abdul Malik, founder and CEO of Deccan Airsports.
Addressing media persons here on Monday February 27, he said, "Deccan Airsports is south India's first aerosports company with headquaters in the city and Chennai. District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, will inaugurate this demonstration, minister for food and civil supplies U T Khader, police commissioner Chandra Sekhar, deputy commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha and mayor Harinath will grace the occasion. It is a 15 day tour plan which will embark from Mangaluru. We will then move to Kochin on March 8, onward to Coimbatore on March 10 and culminate at Bengaluru on March 12.
He further added, "I graduated in aerospace engineering from Bristol, England where I studied for five years. I always desired to utilise my skills and knowledge in India. Hot air ballooning will be operated by highly qualified pilots from Britain. The city is extensively involved in promoting tourism and so before venturing into this domain we underwent research, market study. It took a year to get this together. India has a promising future in civil aviation and by 2020 it will be a driving force for us. ISRO and HCL have partnered into achieving new feats and the general public need this kind of a platform for an experience in aviation."
"This demonstration will be open to the public. Hot air ballooning can be used in aerial advertising which will boost the Indian economy and aerial advertising is an indication that the city has advanced," he added.
Director of Aerosports Abdul Salam and Mohammed Nissar were present.