The Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI) Odisha has emerged as the Third Best Flying Club of India. The GATI is headed by General Administration Department Special Secretary Ashok Kumar Meena.
The erstwhile Orissa Flying Club was taken over by the Government and renamed as GATI in 1974 and was revived in 2008 under public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
The Global Avianautics limited (GAl) is partnering with the Government of Odisha to run the flying club.
Recently, the Aero Club of India (ACI), the apex organisation of all the 29 flying clubs of the country, has awarded the third position to the GATI. The Bombay Flying Club grabbed the first position.
The GATI Odisha now has a fleet of four trainer aircrafts, out of which two belong to the State Government.
Since its revival, the GATI has enrolled 253 students. Five students have received Private Pilot licence (PPl), said sources. During 2015-16, the total hours flown in the four aircrafts came to 3248.20 hours.
The GATI has approached the ACI to provide another aircraft as the two aircrafts of the State Government are more than 30 years old, said the sources.