Aviation academies making dreams come true in Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi airport has opened up opportunities for youngsters aspiring to become commercial pilots, with the two aviation training academies stationed at the airport offering training for the last three years.

Kalaburagi airport has opened up opportunities for youngsters aspiring to become commercial pilots, with the two aviation training academies stationed at the airport offering training for the last three years.

The Red Bird Aviation Training Academy and Asia Pacific Aviation Training Academy are offering pilot training to students from parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana. So far, over 400 students have completed commercial pilot training courses from these two academies at Kalaburagi Airport.

The installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and advanced radar-based technology facilities - that provides short-range guidance to aircraft landing during night and adverse weather conditions makes the Kalaburagi Airport ideal for plot training. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a training agreement with Red Bird Aviation Academy for 30 years and with Asia Pacific Aviation Training Academy for 25 years.

Capt. Karan Mann, founder of Redbird Aviation Training Academy speaking to The Hindu expressed that Kalaburagi Airport, with its advanced technology, offers the best training environment for pilots. The academy has 50 experienced staff and seven light aircrafts for training, at present the Academy set up at Kalaburagi Airport has 70 admissions, he added.

Mr. Mann said that the aim of the Red Bird Academy is to shape aspiring pilots into efficient and responsible professionals who are sought after by the industry. The pilot training starts by guiding aspirants’ through the theoretical segment; emphasize clearing exams conducted by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after completing the 200 hours of flying training during their one year course. The practical training is generally conducted in day hours, sometimes the training continues even in the night hours, he added.

To pursue aviation training, aspiring pilots need to meet eligibility criteria, including minimum qualification of PUC (12th class) with Physics and Mathematics, and also pass a medical examination. The candidates must undergo an online entrance exam, which is conducted multiple times in a year. The Red Bird Academy charges Rs 50 lakh as course fee, while the course fee varies depending on the institutes, Mr Mann explained.

“Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, 38 domestic institutions are providing flight training across 58 locations in the country. Recently, the domestic carriers have ordered more than 1,500 new aircrafts, to expand their fleets to meet rising air traffic demand. Therefore, there will be a high demand for pilots in the coming days, said Chilka Mahesh, Director of Kalaburagi Airport.