Friday, Jun 04, 2010
Government invites private partner to develop aerospace SEZ near Devanahalli

• It will offer a wide range of courses related to aviation
• Talks on with VTU on the modalities of establishment

Bangalore: Bangalore is likely to get an Air University, which will offer a wide range of courses related to aviation such as flying, aerospace engineering, air traffic control, airport infrastructure and management, among others.

Disclosing this during a session on “Aerospace Opportunities in Karnataka” at Global Investors Meet-2010 here on Thursday, Commissioner for Industries Raj Kumar Khatri said the State government was working with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Karnataka State Council in this regard. Chairman of the Council Aroon Raman said that the CII was keen on establishment of a university dedicated to aviation industry and discussions are on with the Visvesvaraya Technological University on the modalities of establishment.

Air Marshal T.J. Master (Retired) of the CII-Karnataka, who is co-ordinating with the Government on establishment of country's first Air University, told The Hindu that a few countries in the world like the U.S., Australia, China have such universities offering courses dedicated to the aviation sector.

India needs such a university as the aviation sector is growing rapidly in the country, and at present certain courses are compartmentalised and scattered in different educational sector, Air Marshal Master said pointing out that establishment of a dedicated university is with an aim to meeting the workforce needed for next 20-30 years in the aviation sector.

Air Marshal Master said that to start with the university could offer courses in five core areas — flying training, engineering, air traffic control, regulations, airport infrastructure and management. Also, to begin with diploma and degree courses could be offered and later postgraduate and PhD courses can be added with different specialisation.
Earlier, Mr. Khatri announced that 252 acres of land at the 976-acre Aerospace SEZ near Devanahalli was ready for offer and the State Government is willing to play the role of a co-developer if a private company came forward to set up the SEZ while pointing out that a few companies such as Mahindra had already shown interest in this regard.

Col. Rajiv Chib, Associate Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said cap of 26 per cent on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in aerospace industries related to Defence was blocking the entry of foreign companies in the sector. Karnataka has attracted 66.6 per cent of total investment made in the country in the aerospace sector, he said.

P. Soundara Rajan, Director (Corporate Planning and Marketing), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, said HAL was interested in joint venture with private sector to supply products for global market, including in high technology and sensitive products, in the aerospace sector.