C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
In a bd to decrease its dependence on foreign training for pilots and also contribute significantly to the growth of aviation in the state,Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Organisation has floated a tender to set up flying training organisation as it floated a tender to set up a Flying Training Organization (FTO) in 30 acres of land parcel at Kovilpatti.
The Kovilpatti airstrip is an unused runway at a distance of about 6km from Kovilpatti town. This is an asphalt topped runway measuring about 1.2 km in length and 15 metres in width. This airstrip was built by Lakshmi Mills for their private plane on a land area of about 63 Hectares leased from the Govt of Tamil Nadu in two villages Nalatinputhur and Thonugal.
Though the runway has suffered normal wear and tear due to weather over the last 20 years since known landing of any airplane. However, there is no vegetation growth on the surface indicating ease of being put to use once again after basic repairs. This unused airstrip at Kovilpatti can accommodate operations of about more than 10 trainer airplanes due to it being away from air traffic concentrated locations, good connectivity to other parts of the country and availability of a good runway which could be developed.
Official sources told The New Indian Express that increasing commercial air travel is expected to increase the demand of pilots. The current supply of new pilots in the country currently stands at about 600 per year and the gap is addressed by pilots who are trained in foreign countries. To address the issue of shortage of pilot training infrastructure and support the demand, TIDCO has taken up the initiative to establish the FTO in Tamil Nadu where the air traffic and infrastructure are conducive, sources said.
Interestingly, flying training is ideally done in places where the winds do not generally exceed 15 knots, the temperature lies in the range of 18 to 40 degree celcius with a visibility of about 5 kms. It also requires a airspace which is not very busy. Apart from these, there is a need to have a social infrastructure in the vicinity to support the cadets and the flying instructors which are generally available in larger cities, sources told TNIE.
It is learnt that airstrips in the northern region of the country are handicapped by high temperatures in the summers and poor visibility in the winters. However, Tamil Nadu offers favourable factors like moderate temperature, good visibility conditions throughout the year, omnipresent social infrastructure to name a few. However the scarcity of suitable airstrips is a serious impediment for growth of this industry in Tamil Nadu.
In a bd to decrease its dependence on foreign training for pilots and also contribute significantly to the growth of aviation in the state,Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Organisation has floated a tender to set up flying training organisation as it floated a tender to set up a Flying Training Organization (FTO) in 30 acres of land parcel at Kovilpatti.
The Kovilpatti airstrip is an unused runway at a distance of about 6km from Kovilpatti town. This is an asphalt topped runway measuring about 1.2 km in length and 15 metres in width. This airstrip was built by Lakshmi Mills for their private plane on a land area of about 63 Hectares leased from the Govt of Tamil Nadu in two villages Nalatinputhur and Thonugal.
Though the runway has suffered normal wear and tear due to weather over the last 20 years since known landing of any airplane. However, there is no vegetation growth on the surface indicating ease of being put to use once again after basic repairs. This unused airstrip at Kovilpatti can accommodate operations of about more than 10 trainer airplanes due to it being away from air traffic concentrated locations, good connectivity to other parts of the country and availability of a good runway which could be developed.
Official sources told The New Indian Express that increasing commercial air travel is expected to increase the demand of pilots. The current supply of new pilots in the country currently stands at about 600 per year and the gap is addressed by pilots who are trained in foreign countries. To address the issue of shortage of pilot training infrastructure and support the demand, TIDCO has taken up the initiative to establish the FTO in Tamil Nadu where the air traffic and infrastructure are conducive, sources said.
Interestingly, flying training is ideally done in places where the winds do not generally exceed 15 knots, the temperature lies in the range of 18 to 40 degree celcius with a visibility of about 5 kms. It also requires a airspace which is not very busy. Apart from these, there is a need to have a social infrastructure in the vicinity to support the cadets and the flying instructors which are generally available in larger cities, sources told TNIE.
It is learnt that airstrips in the northern region of the country are handicapped by high temperatures in the summers and poor visibility in the winters. However, Tamil Nadu offers favourable factors like moderate temperature, good visibility conditions throughout the year, omnipresent social infrastructure to name a few. However the scarcity of suitable airstrips is a serious impediment for growth of this industry in Tamil Nadu.
"Kovilpatti
has an unused runway on government land which makes it a good candidate
for establishing flying training schools. Apart from this, there is
limited air traffic, good social infrastructure, good year round
visibility which make it an ideal place," the official source said.
TIDCO has floated a tender for identifying the bidder which shall be responsible for designing, engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of FTO and Infrastructure of FTO for a period of 25 years. This would also enable creation of a functional airstrip to support other aviation related activities at Kovilpatti which would provide a boost to the local economy. Apart from this, the effort will harness the state's prowess in the civil aviation sector, elevate indigenous capabilities, and significantly contribute to India's self-reliance. sources added.
TIDCO has floated a tender for identifying the bidder which shall be responsible for designing, engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of FTO and Infrastructure of FTO for a period of 25 years. This would also enable creation of a functional airstrip to support other aviation related activities at Kovilpatti which would provide a boost to the local economy. Apart from this, the effort will harness the state's prowess in the civil aviation sector, elevate indigenous capabilities, and significantly contribute to India's self-reliance. sources added.
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