Haryana mulls 4 civil aviation centres

Haryana is considering a proposal to set up private civil aviation centres under the PPP model to provide better avenues for the youth.
With opening of four domestic airstrips at Pinjore, Karnal, Narnaul and Bhiwani, the state government expects participation from the private parties in providing flying training to interested candidates. Expressions of interest (EOI) have already been invited and the last date for receiving the same is October 20. The interested parties will have a project briefing session on October 6.
Sharing details about the project, M Ramshekhar, advisor, civil aviation, told FE, “The idea of leasing out airstrips is to make multifarious use of them, whereby the private players will come forward and provide flying training and expand base besides operating and maintaining the airstrips. They will act as competitors to the existing flying clubs managed by the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) and the students will be able to opt for a trainer of their choice.” The department of civil aviation has decided that the parties, which are interested to operate these airstrips as private flying training academies, will have to pay Rs 10 lakh as the annual license fee, Rs 8,000 per month per aircraft as operation charge below 5,700 kg and Rs 10,000 per aircraft above 5700 kg. The charges for built-up hanger or office space would be Rs500 per square metre annually.
As far the flying clubs at Hisar, Karnal and Pinjore are concerned, the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation is making efforts to spruce up the infrastructure.
“Two new Cessna 172 aircraft have been bought for Hisar and Karnal aviation clubs. The one deployed at Hisar club is an advanced version with glass cockpit and has been given to us by theAero Club of India.We are also recruiting new instructors for these flying clubs. There is no shortage of chief flying instructors but we are running short of pilot instructors. On an average about 30-50 candidates undergo flying training at these clubs…,”said Ramshekhar.
02/10/08 Preeti Parashar/Financial Express