Punjab’s oldest aviation club established in 1962 in Amritsar has got a fresh lease of life with securing ultra-modern four-seater Cessna 172R aircraft.
For the past one and half year practical flying sessions were not taking place in the absence of aircraft. Around half a dozen old aircrafts have been lying dysfunctional from the past several years. As the new aircraft has arrived, the flying club is aiming at inducting 20 students more by October. Aero Club of India had given two Cessna 172R aircrafts of worth Rs 2 crore to the Civil aviation department of Punjab and one has been kept at Patiala flying club while other one has gone to Amritsar club.
Talking to FE, chief flying instructor of Amritsar Aviation Club, Rachhpal Singh said, ?Currently 13 students are registered with the club but these were getting ground coaching only under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved chief ground instructor. We have got the aircraft for free to conduct flying training for issuance of pilot licence.
This Cessna 172R is a modern aircraft having all gadets such as glass cockpit with ILS (instrument landing system), VOR (very high frequency omni range), NDB (non directional beacon) and Garmin GPS.
This aircraft will surely enhance the flying training skills of students. To meet the growing demand, the club is also planning to get one more new aircraft soon?.
Rachhpal Singh had brought the modern aircraft to Amritsar from Mumbai by making a refuelling halt at Ahmedabad and Hissar. However the club is also mulling over to increase the fee and to get flying lessons students will have to shell to out Rs 7,000-8,000 per hour.
To get the commercial pilot license the students required to get flying training for 200 hours.
It may be mentioned here that on an average a student has to pay around Rs 16-17 lakh for a two year training course which includes both ground and flying coaching.