India could be global hub for training pilots

India might soon become a global hub for training pilots, if the civil aviation ministry's plan comes to fruition.

With the United States and many European nations reluctant to admit hundreds of students from the Middle East into their flying schools, India is keen to take advantage of the situation and open its doors to these aspiring pilots.

Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that Indian flying schools will woo students who have been turned away by flight training academies in the US and European nations and turn their remittance into a major foreign currency grosser for the country.

The reluctance of Western nations emerges from the fact that the 9/11 terror attacks on the World trade Center were carried out by terrorists, most of whom were trained in American flying schools.

Rudy is also looking at approaching the commerce ministry with a proposal to provide pilot training 'essential exemptions under the Exim Policy' as part of the plan.

The recommendation would be to treat training of pilots in India as a deemed export, considering the foreign exchange that would flow into India from this.

Such an exemption would bring down the cost of aviation fuel, et cetera and make India's flying clubs more efficient and a great global attraction, Rudy said.

Some of India's 22 flying clubs 'are among the best in the world,' he said, and pointed out that India could be an instant attraction for these students.

Congress leader Captain Satish Sharma, who is the president of the Aero Club of India, broached the subject pointing out that "after the 9/11 attacks in the US activities of flying clubs in many other countries have been restricted for security reasons." Thus, "India could emerge as a major international centre for training of pilots from all over the world."

Sharma made the point during a meeting between Rudy and representatives of flying clubs of India. He said that the infrastructure available in India was "comparable to the best in the world, particularly at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy at Rae Bareilly."

The minister said Indian flying clubs would have to learn to operate independently, with less dependence on government subsidies. To help them becoming self-sufficient, the civil aviation ministry has recommended to the finance ministry that the high tax on aviation turbine fuel be reduced, he said.