BERHAMPUR: The Civil Aviation Ministry today sent an helicopter for pre-flight testing to the second flying training institute at Rangeilunda even as the basic infrastructure like boundary and accommodation still remain incomplete.
The chopper carrying the aviation officials and Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy landed at the airstrip for necessary verification. Recently the Ministry decided to set up a flying training institute at Rangeilunda.
Accordingly, its officials visited the airstrip and discussed the project with Ganjam Collector V Kartikeya Pandian and other officials.
The Ministry preferred the Rangeilunda location as a Visual Flight Rule (VFR) airstrip to avoid traffic congestion at Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar. At least 50 per cent students from Bhubaneswar will be diverted to the proposed pilot training institute at Rangeilunda, officials said adding there are 22 airstrips in the State, including this new one.
For the flying institute, two rooms have been provided by Berhampur University to conduct pilot training.
The present airstrip has a 720-meter runway facility, besides a large area for parking. But as the State Government is contemplating to convert it into an aerodrome in future, necessary survey has been started, said MLA Panigrahy.
