Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said the Centre is working to develop Andhra Pradesh as an aviation hub, with Kurnool being developed as a key centre for aviation and drone activities.
Speaking after inaugurating the Orient Flights Aviation Academy, the State’s first Flight Training Organisation (FTO), at Kurnool Airport today, he said the focus was not only on airports but on building a complete aviation ecosystem covering pilot training, maintenance, ground operations and airport management.
The Minister said the number of airports in the country has increased from 74 in 2014 to about 166 currently. With the aviation sector expanding, the Centre is taking steps to increase the number and capacity of FTOs, particularly in rural and remote areas.
He said Kurnool’s location, operational airport and favourable weather conditions make it suitable for pilot training. The FTO currently has three aircraft, with plans to increase the fleet to ten. The academy has the capacity to train about 60 students annually.
Mr Naidu said the government is also promoting drone activities in Kurnool and would take steps to establish a dedicated DGCA facility for drone testing and certification in the region.
He said the Centre is working to establish more FTOs in Andhra Pradesh, including in Kurnool, Kadapa and Rajahmundry, and is also planning an aviation university at Bhogapuram.
The Minister said the government would examine measures to increase flight connectivity from Kurnool and provide night-landing facilities at the airport.
