Maintaining that the Indian sky is the safest in the world and also laying emphasis on training of pilots, Union Civil Aviation Minster Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Friday said that a flying training institute can be set up in Odisha.
“If the State Government is ready to seek help in setting up of a flying training institute, then the Central Government will extend all possible assistance,” said Raju after a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of the Civil Aviation Ministry held here.
According to data, around 60 per cent of the pilots are undergoing training outside India.
“We need more institutions to create adequate manpower for all activities related to aviation. If the Odisha Government is interested, we can work together to make it happen,” said Raju.
The issue of unavailability of inadequate training facilities for the commercial pilots was brought up during the discussion at the meeting. It was revealed that around 1,295 posts of different category are lying vacant in 68 airports in the country.
Civil Aviation Ministry Joint Secretary Usha Padhee, Biju Patnaik International Airport Director Sharad Kumar, among many others, attended the meeting.
Various issues pertaining to the safety and security of civil aviation were discussed. Various officials who participated in the meeting opined on the responsibilities of the agencies looking after safety aspects of airlines and airports and steps to be taken to address various issues.
later, the Union Minister met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who urged the former to ensure flights between Bhubaneswar-Delhi via Varanasi to woo Buddhist tourists.