Bangalore: HAL of a nightmare for Jakkur flying school

The Government Flying Training School (GFTS) in Jakkur has once again been forced to move out of the city’s airspace to conduct commercial pilot licence (CPL) and private pilot licence (PPL) training.

The GFTS, where at least 16 students are undergoing training for the CPL and two for the PPL, has been forced to conduct its night flight training at the airports in Mysore and Hubli as defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has denied permission to conduct night training sorties in its airport in Bangalore.

“Earlier, the night training sorties were conducted at the HAL airport, but now they are denying us permission to fly. No reason has been given by them for denying permission. As a result of this, we have to conduct night flying at the Mysore and Hubli airports,” Wing Commander Amarjeet Singh Dange, chief flight instructor, said.

He said conducting night flying sorties in Mysore and Hubli is turning out to be expensive.

“We have to fly our aircraft to these cities, the fuel cost, accommodation and other arrangements have to be done, which is an unnecessary burden for us. However, we are not charging anything extra for conducting night flying training,” he added.

In the past, owing to the construction of the six-lane elevated highway between Hebbal and Kempegowda International Airport, the flying school, one of the oldest in the country, was forced to move to the Mysore airport to conduct solo flying training.

The elevated highway had eaten half of Jakkur aerodrome’s runway and posed a huge risk for the rookie pilots to take off and land.

Wanna learn how to fly? Here’s how:
1. Get a Student Pilot Licence: The minimum age for getting an SPL is 16 and there’s no upper age limit. The candidate should have graduated from 10th standard No prior flying experience is required

2. Once you get your SPL, you could either go for a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or a private pilot licence (PPL). For CPL, you should have completed 17 years and completed 12th standard with physics and maths from a recognized board. The course is spread over 24 months wherein you will have to complete at least 200 hours of flying training followed by practical and written exams. Once you clear these with flying colours, you are, well, fit to fly. A CPL will set you back by Rs 20-23 lakh, but that’s much cheaper than in the US or Australia where it will cost you Rs 30-35 lakh.

3. If you want learn how to fly just for fun then you’ll have to get a private pilot licence. The course is spread over 12 months wherein you’ll have to complete 40 hours of flying time. There’s no upper age limit for getting a PPL. It’ll cost you around Rs 6 lakh. The PPL/CPL programs also include theoretical courses in air regulation, air navigation, meteorology, aircraft general, technical specific aircraft and engines. What you’ll get to fly at Jakkur: Cessna 152 and Cessna 172