Kurnool set to take wings as aviation, drone hub: Ram Mohan Naidu

Kurnool: Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said the Centre and the State government were taking steps to develop Kurnool as a major aviation and drone hub. Inaugurating Orient Flights Aviation Academy at Kurnool Airport on Saturday, he described the State’s first Flight Training Organisation (FTO) as a significant milestone. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu envisioned Andhra Pradesh as a leading aviation hub covering pilot training, aircraft maintenance, ground operations and airport management.

Established by Hindustan Group, the academy currently has three training aircraft and aims to expand the fleet to 10.

With Kurnool’s strategic location and favourable weather, the FTO can train 60 pilots annually while generating related employment.

India’s airports have grown from 74 in 2014 to around 166, and the country may need 25,000 to 30,000 pilots over the next 10–15 years. The Centre is encouraging FTOs in rural and remote areas; two have been approved for Kadapa, with more planned at Kurnool and Rajahmundry.

On the proposed Drone City in Kurnool, the Minister assured steps for a dedicated testing and certification facility in Kurnool following a request by Minister TG Bharath.

He also promised efforts to improve flight connectivity and introduce night-landing facilities at Kurnool Airport. With these initiatives, Kurnool is poised to emerge as a key centre for aviation, skill development and investment in Rayalaseema.

The Minister said the government was exploring support for modern training aircraft, including the indigenous Hansa NG, and would organise a national-level graduation ceremony for pilot trainees every year. He added that the Centre aimed to establish 100 more airports over the next decade, taking the total to over 350 by 2047, while Andhra Pradesh was pursuing airport expansion, new terminals and an aviation university at Bhogapuram.

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