| AAI, Canadian academy to set up pilot training inst |
| BS Reporter / Mumbai June 19, 2007 |
| The Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the National Flying Training Institute (NFTI) at Gondia, Maharashtra. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has also signed a MoU with CAE for managing the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA). Both the MoUs were inked during the international air show in Paris. According to the MoU with AAI, a joint venture would be floated by CAE with 51% equity stake and the remaining with the former. The estimated cost of NFTI is Rs 114 crore and it would provide ab initio training to civil pilots in fixed and rotary wing aircraft, using the airline transport pilot license programme and later the multi-crew pilot license programme. Aimed at producing 200 pilots a year, the institute would have state-of-the-art classrooms and would operate new aircraft. Under the IGRUA-CAE venture, the capacity of the academy will be increased from the present 40 cadets per year to about 110 cadets and to eventually more than 200 cadets. CAE will assume full responsibility of the management of IGRUA |
