Thiruvananthapuram flying school: Cessna arrives, flying classes in two months

Thiruvananthapuram: With the arrival of the second four-seater Cessna aircraft on Wednesday, flying training for pilot aspirants will commence at the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy here within two months.
Announcing this at a press meet here after receiving the new aircraft that came from Hyderabad, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar said the two four-seaters were purchased for Rs. 2 crore. The academy will get another Cessna free of cost from the Aero Club.
The Minister said Capt. T. J. Joseph, who took voluntary retirement from the Indian Air Force, would be Chief Flight Instructor of the academy. Ground school, class room and library for 20 students had been set up in a rented building on the side of the NH-47 bypass at Enchakkal. Compared to the Rs. 23 lakh charged by private institutions, the government-controlled academy would charge Rs. 14 lakh as fee.
The admission will be through a State-level entrance test, interview and medical test. The minimum qualification needed is pass in science stream in Pre-degree/Plus Two courses.
Plans are also on to start courses in aeronautical engineering and aircraft maintenance.
10/01/08 The Hindu