AI mulls aviation university in Hyd

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Air India is mulling setting up of an aviation university to cater to the increasing demand for aviation courses, particularly for pilots and cabin crew.

Air India already has a near-ready infrastructure and required faculty at its Centre Training Establishment (CTE) in Hyderabad, which can be converted into a full-fledged aviation university by upgrading the existing facility on minimum investment, airline sources said.

The civil aviation ministry, in fact, issued in-principle clearance for setting up of the aviation university in Hyderabad way back in 2006. However, the then UPA government shifted the proposed university to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's constituency, Amethi, in Uttar Pradesh. It is the first aviation university in country and named after Rajiv Gandhi.

The then AP government, which has spent around Rs 50 crore on the project premises, expressed shock over its shifting from the state. Spread over 20 acres of land in Begumpet, the nearly 60-year-old premium aviation training institute currently offers courses in all aspects of aviation, including for pilots, cabin crew, engineers, aviation security and ground handling among others.

"The demand for aviation professionals in the country is rapidly growing but market is unable to cater to this demand as there are not many facilities, offering such courses under one roof. "Moreover, most of courses offered by the existing institutes are generally basic training courses and not at the graduation or post-graduation level.

We already have a set up at Hyderabad, which can be upgraded into a full-fledged university," Air-India sources said. Air-India has set-up a three-member committee to explore the prospects, they said, adding chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani is very keen to see CTE converting into an aviation university.