AAAL to train GTU aeronautical engg students

Under the agreement,AAAL would also train the aeronautical teachers of the colleges under GTU as far as practical part of the curriculum is concerned.

At present,the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology (SVPIT) at Vasad in Anand district is the only institute in the state that offers courses in aviation and aeronautics. However,it lacks proper facilities for providing training to the students in aviation,aircraft maintenance and aeronautics system.

GTU sources said it was due to the lack of practical facilities that many colleges did not offer aviation and aeronautical courses.

GTU vice-chancellor Akshai Aggarwal and in-charge registrar G D Vadodaria told The Indian Express that students of aviation and aeronautical as also civil engineers would be sent to AAAL’s facility at Mehsana for practical training in aircraft maintenance,construction of runways,airstrips and airports. AAAL has its own airstrip at Mehsana.

Currently,aviation and aircraft engineers are only taught maintenance aspect of aircraft. They are not given any training in flying them.

When asked why the aeronautical engineers were not given training in flying,Aggarwal said pilot training was very costly and the fees charged from the students did not cover the charges for pilot training. He,however,said that AAAL had agreed to provide pilot training to aeronautical engineering students of GTU at a very subsidised rate. “If any aeronautics student of GTU wants pilot training,AAAL will train him/her at a fee much lower than charged from others,” said Aggarwal.

He pointed out that knowledge of flying the aircraft for aeronautical engineers would be a great asset for them in their future growth.

Set up in 1994,AAAL is a well-known flight school and air charter company approved by the DGCA,providing professional pilot training. In 2004,it launched aircraft maintenance facilities as well. It has its own hangar at the Ahmedabad international airport with all connected facilities as also an airfield at Mehsana developed in partnership with the state government.

At present,it has six single engine aircraft — Cessna 152/Cessna 172 and Tecnam P92JS.