TS Aviation Academy to get two new aircraft

Hyderabad: The only government-backed aviation academy in the city is set to get two new aircraft almost five years after a massive fire gutted six of its training carriers on December 17, 2012. While the State government issued a soft loan of ? 5 crore on August 10, Telangana State Aviation Academy (TSAA) will procure two multi-engine, diesel (Aviation Turbine Fuel) run aircraft by November this year.

Currently, the academy, which restarted operations 30 days after the massive fire, has four used aircraft including three Cessna-152 and one Cessna-172. It also has a brand new Diamond DA-42. The Cessna aircraft are single engine carriers, though Diamond carrier is multi-engine aircraft.

Speaking to The Hindu, Captain. S. N Reddy, Chief Executive Officer of the academy said, “Our peak enrolment season starts by November each year. As soon as the State government releases the loan we will place the order for two aircraft to procure the training aircraft.” The academy has opted for diesel-run engines as this option is efficient and economic.

A total of 35 students are now taking training in the academy which is supported by Ministry of Civil Aviation. The aviation academy offers 200 flying hours of training apart from theory classes. The duration of the course is usually 18 months. Each student is charged ? 18.5 lakh for single engine aircraft training and ? 23 lakh for multi-engine training
16/08/17 Nikhila Henry/The Hindu