| Speaking to Business Standard, Civil Aviation Secretary Viswajeet Khanna said: "We have sent a letter to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking approval for setting up three more flying clubs, and are hopeful that we would get the permission by the end of next month." He added that each of the FTIs would have a capacity to train 50 students. |
| Earlier, the government had invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from global players for setting up the three flying clubs. In response to the advertisement, according to sources, 18 parties have shown interest but officials refused to confirm. |
| To execute the project, Feedback Ventures Private Ltd is assisting the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and the civil aviation department. |
| According to industry figures, while there is a shortage of 5,000 pilots in the country, less than 200 pilots are trained every year. In order to meet the shortfall, many air carriers are currently hiring pilots from abroad. |
| State Civil Aviation Minister Upinderjeet Kaur said the selected bidders would develop and maintain the flying clubs into world-class institutes. |
| They would operate at least seven single-engine and one twin-engine flying aircraft as per the guidelines of the DGCA and the civil aviation department, she added. |
| The successful bidders would install state-of-the-art simulators, hangers, navigational and communication system, flight management computers and other required equipment, labs, libraries, furnishings and other ancillary infrastructure. |
| Besides deploying adequate staff for training services, the bidders could develop and operate recreational activities like skydiving, aero-modelling, ballooning and joy rides at the proposed institutes, Kaur added. |
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