Bhubaneswar: Can the proposed Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre (BPAC) in Dhenkanal district produce more Odia pilots and cabin crew to fulfill the shortage of pilots in the country? Last year, the Odisha Government notified that India faces a pressing need to consistently produce 2,000 pilots annually over the next 20 years to meet the escalating demand for airline pilots. However, existing flying schools can only produce 900-1,000 pilots annually. Well, the Odisha Government wants to do so. But the proposed centre has met with a hurdle.
According to reports, at least four Indian Indian Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) are keen to participate in the project, the Hindu reported. But they are facing the hurdle of having over Rs 100 crore turnover criteria hurdle. This criterion has been set for bidders of an Odisha Government tender floated for the project.
While attending pre-bid meeting with the state Transport and Commerce Department, the FTOs have reportedly urged the Odisha Government to relax the condition of having a turnover of more than ₹100 crore in the previous three years to qualify in the bidding process for running the centre in Dhenkanal district.
According to reports, Indian FTOs pointed out that none of them could qualify for the bid. The reason for this being the huge financial losses suffered by the domestic FTOs during the pandemic. The last three years turnover includes the Covid pandemic period as well. A report published in The Hindu claimed the state government was yet to take any decision in this regard.
The Odisha Government has already floated a tender for selecting an Operating Partner (OP) to run the centre that aimed to train youth from Odisha and transform them into pilot and cabin crew. The state has also earmarked an airstrip in Birasal in Dhenkanal district for creating the infrastructure. The estimated cost of the project has been pegged at ₹562 crore.
The infrastructure will include 53 trainer aircraft and three simulators. It will also have a fully-developed airstrip, hangers, service buildings, student hostels and others.
