Aviation training: Punjab govt signs MoU with New Zealand

Chandigarh: A new chapter began in the bilateral relations of Punjab and New Zealand as both entered into two Memorandums of Understanding, declaring Waitkere and Amritsar cities as Sister cities and to provide training to Punjab pilots in New Zealand.
In a formal ceremony held here today, representatives of Punjab and New Zealand signed two MoUs in the august presence of Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal and New Zealand delegation led by their Internal Affairs Minister Dr. Richard Worth OBE.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Badal said that Punjab and New Zealand, both agricultural driven economies can have synergies in the area of dairy development and civil aviation. He said that lot of Punjabies have migrated to New Zealand and New Zealand is like second home to them.
Dr. Richard Worth that the New Zealand was ideal place for aviation training as rapidly changing weather in New Zealand gives exposure to pilot to tackle change of weather.
In the second MoU entered between Southern Institute of Technology Aviation Limited (SIT AV) of New Zealand and Patiala Aviation Club (PAC) agreed to cooperate the process of advanced pilot training Invercargill to enable pilots/students who have appropriate pilot qualification in India and to further train toward enhancing these skills in multiengine and helicopter training including aeronautical and aircraft maintenance engineering. It was also agreed to explore feasibility of setting up a helicopter training school in Punjab and their further training in New Zealand for fast track and complete their rotary wing training.
27/02/09 Punjab Newsline