THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Whether or not a new aircraft purchased by the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGAAT) in the city can take to the skies depends on a sequence of crucial events, going by a reply given by Ports Minister K Babu in the Assembly on Monday.
First and foremost, the aircraft, meant for training the students, is yet to be issued 'airworthiness certificate' by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). For obtaining the certificate, the aircraft, a Piper Seneca, has to undergo a number of inspections. For that to happen, the engineering wing of the academy has to get the approval of the DGCA. In order to get this approval, the new hangar constructed by the academy should become operational. Again, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is yet to provide access from this new hangar to the airport area. This, according to the Minister, is delaying the entire process of getting the 'airworthiness certificate' for the new plane. Nonetheless, the academy is speeding up the process, and the certificate will be obtained quickly once the access from the new hangar to the airport is okayed by AAI, he said.
The Minister was replying to a question posed by M Ummer MLA. To another question, the Minister replied that the academy has invited applications for appointing a pilot for the Piper Seneca aircraft, which was purchased at a cost of Rs 6 crore. The academy expects to make the appointment soon, the Minister said.