Indus Aviation to start flying academy in India

Pattisapu said, ‘‘Sports aviation has been a strong movement in America during the past 10 years. We want to develop sports and general aviation across India, through low-cost aircraft and accessible training academies.’’

For an order worth around Rs 7.5 crore, TAAL will build complete knock down (CKD) kits for 25 aircraft of Thorp T-1211 model, which Indus Aviation will sell for nearly Rs 35 lakh each. The CKD kits that are built at TAAL’s Hosur facility will be integrated at Indus’s unit in Texas, USA and then sold to customers.

According to TAAL chairman Khushroo Rustumji, completely Indian-made sports aircraft cannot be sold in the US, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) does not issue license to sports pilots, unlike in the US.

The Thorp aircraft has received DGCA certification, allowing Indus to sell the aircraft in India, he said.

Indus, which will make an official Indian launch in March 2005, is also investing close to Rs 10 crore in setting up nearly six flight training centres under the brand ‘Indus Flying Academy’.

The academy will offer flight training, at relatively lower costs to aviation enthusiasts in India, said company Managing Director Ravi Kiran Kota.