Old hand at cockpit controls

Tipped to be the country’s next Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel of the Nationalist Congress Party insists the skies are not unfamiliar territory for him. And between the heavy flow of visitors, he picked up a very familiar line to convey his message to the industry: ‘‘I can assure you, civil aviation is in safe hands.’’

Patel, who was sworn in as Minister of State with Independent Charge today, had no official word on his portfolio, but riding high on the deal worked out with the Congress he was clear that civil aviation will be his beat in the new Government.

As an RS member, Patel was a member of the Consultative Committee on Civil Aviation. ‘‘I am not totally new. I know this sector and now that I will be taking charge, I am not just going to sit there,” Patel told The Indian Express. “We’d like to bring a comprehensive civil aviation policy that has been pending for long. Only then can we address other issues.’’