Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday during Wings India 2026, Asia’s premier civil aviation exhibition underway at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad.
The agreements are aimed at strengthening aviation training capabilities and infrastructure in the state.
The first MoU, inked with Alchemist Aviation, paves the way for establishing a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at at Dandbose Airport, also known as Rairangpur airstrip, in Mayurbhanj district. Once operational, the facility is expected to train approximately 50 pilots each year.
Odisha has also partnered with BonV Aero to create a dedicated UAV (Drone) Training and Testing Centre at Rangeilinda Airstrip in Berhampur. This pioneering initiative, the first-of-its-kind in the state, will have the capacity to train more than 100 drone pilots annually, strengthening Odisha’s emerging drone ecosystem.
Odisha has made a bold and ambitious statement at the four-day event, which will conclude on January 31, through its dedicated pavilion themed “Odisha Takes Flight”, highlighting the state’s growing role in India’s aviation sector. The displays highlights Odisha’s forward-looking aviation policies, growing regional and international connectivity, targeted skill development programmes, and strategic long-term infrastructure planning.
The pavilion also showcases Odisha’s vision of “Aviation for All”, presenting opportunities in airport development, aviation training, drone ecosystems, MRO potential, and human capital development. These efforts align closely with the state’s ambitious long-term vision under Viksit Odisha@2036 and the national goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.
