First helicopter pilot training centre coming up in Gondia

Nagpur: Country’s first helicopter pilot training facility centre will be operational by December at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation Institute in Gondia, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said today.
“The helicopter pilot training facility is part of the institute’s ambitious project to impart training to pilots,” Patel told PTI today.
He said under the Rs 400 crore project, the institute was already imparting training (theory) to trainee aircraft pilots and actual flying would commence from December this year.
The project is a joint venture of CAE Canada along with Air India, Airports Authority of India and Pawan Hans.
Thirty training aircraft are being inducted in the institute and it will be fully operational soon, Patel said.
Patel said as part of UPA government’s policy of promoting and developing smaller airports and connectivity, Mumbai will be connected with Nanded, Latur, Nashik and Solapur.
02/10/08 Press Trust of India