The Karnataka government is planning to start an aviation school to help students from lower economic and rural backgrounds become pilots.
Higher Education Department officials have proposed that the institute be established at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport where commercial operations were suspended in May 2008.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy on Tuesday said that the State government will put forth this proposal to Union Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. “The institute can be set up in Bengaluru or Ballari. There is a huge demand for jobs in the aviation sector,” said Mr. Rayareddy.
The education minister said that those who want to pursue a career in aviation as pilots have to shell out lakhs of rupees for training and certification. A State-run school can help youth from all socio-economic groups to enrol for the course as it will be offered at a much lower cost.
The school will be developed on the lines of the Rajiv Gandhi National Flying Institute in Gondia, Maharashtra.
“If the Central government agrees to give the HAL airport as the learning ground, then the infrastructure is almost ready and we can start soon,” Mr. Rayareddy added.
Whether it will be run by the State government alone or in collaboration with HAL is yet to be decided. HAL did not comment on this development.
Besides starting an aviation school, the department also plans to start aerospace engineering courses in government-run engineering colleges. “There is a need to assess which engineering stream has high demand. Starting courses like this will open an array of job opportunities to students,” said Mr. Rayareddy.
