Aerospace university to be set up in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Gujarat is set to become a seat of learning for aviation studies. The state will house India’s first aerospace university near Valsad in south Gujarat — presently, there are only two such universities in the world.
Gujarat Vittal Innovation City (GVIC), a joint venture between state government and a company promoted by a former Gujarat cadre bureaucrat, has tied up with leading aviation intelligence provider Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) to develop world’s largest aerospace university. The Rs 400-crore project will be a part of GVIC’s upcoming special economic zone.
“The company intends to start work on the project in 2010, which happens to be the golden jubilee year of Gujarat. The project will be commissioned by the end of 2012,” said Pankaj Sharan, chief operating officer of GVIC.
The university will offer short-term as well as long-term courses of integrated multi-disciplinary education and training, says CAPA South Asia chief Kapil Kaul, adding, “The courses would include pilot training, air traffic control, maintenance, repairing and overhauling of aircraft, customer service, aviation law among others. Besides, an airstrip of 1,800 metre is also being planned for a flying school.”
02/05/10 Times of India