BHUBANESWAR: To strengthen the aviation ecosystem and tap the fast-growing drone industry, the Odisha government has decided to establish an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing, training and promotional facility at Rangeilunda airport in Ganjam district.
Sources said, the project will come up on a design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) model as per guidelines of Ministry of Civil Aviation and in line with the Odisha State Aviation Policy-2022.
The Commerce and Transport department has sought proposals from agencies having experience in training UAV pilots under government-recognised programmes and those which have supplied UAV platforms of varying weight capacities, including drones between 50 kg and 100 kg.
The selected firm will be leased out a minimum of 1,000 square metre of land at the airport for the facility. The government will provide limited lease rights over the identified land parcel, enabling the firms to construct or utilise existing structures for drone testing and training activities in compliance with aviation and security norms.
The facility is aimed at supporting the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), civil aviation authorities and ecosystem stakeholders for experimentation, demonstration, certification, skilling and operational readiness of UAV platforms.
A Transport department official said Rangeilunda, located near Berhampur and close to premier institutions like Indian Navy’s INS Chilka, offers strategic advantages for UAV development and testing.
“The project is expected to play a pivotal role in promoting the drone manufacturing and training ecosystem in Odisha. It will attract aerospace and defence technology entities to the state. The drone facility will also help increase the operational significance of Rangeilunda airport, which is being developed under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN,” he said.
Rangeilunda airport falls under 2B category and features a 1,090 metre runway. The runway would be extended to 1,200 metre to facilitate operation of 80-seater regional flights for which land acquisition is underway.
Once operational, the drone testing facility could emerge as a key centre for skill development, innovation and industry collaboration helping the state as a competitive player in the aviation ecosystem.
A number of deep-tech startups from the state have been developing and supplying drones. The state government has already approved a proposal for a futuristic drone park with an integrated UAV ecosystem for R&D, manufacturing and training in Khurda, the official added.
UAV facility
Rangeilunda to be developed as hub
Strategic location
Project on design, build, operate and maintain model
Selected firms to be leased 1,000 sq m land
Support OEMs, civil aviation stakeholders