Flying classes begin at Rajiv Gandhi Academy

Thiruvananthapuram: The flying classes of the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology began at CISF Ground, Chackai here on Monday. Law and Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar inaugurated the classes.
The flying classes form part of the pilot training for the first batch of 25 candidates, including two girls, admitted to the commercial pilot course started at the academy. The student’s pilot licence needed for pilot training was distributed at the function. The students were also issued shoulder flaps for pilots with single golden strip.
The arrival of one more Cessna-172 trainer aircraft with advanced features recently had increased the fleet strength of the academy to three. With the arrival of the new aircraft, the institute has become sufficiently equipped for imparting flight training.
With former chairman and managing director of Air India V. Thulasidas recently taking over as Executive Director, the academy is on an expansion mode. Thulasidas said at the function that the academy was planning to open regional centres at Kochi and Kozhikode.
The academy, which is now functioning from a rented building at Enchakkal, is also planning to set up its own campus with runway facility. At present, the academy is using the runway of the Airport for training.
11/11/08 Express Buzz