Kingfisher Airlines to train pilots at Bajpe airport

Mangalore, Jan 9 (UNI) Kingfisher Airlines has chosen Bajpe airport, near here, for giving training to its pilots as air traffic at the airport was not heavy at present.

According to the airport sources, the private airliner had started its pilot training programme at the airport with night landing facility since Sunday last with an ATR. The airlines had planned to commence training programme for its pilots in Airbus 320 in two days, which might continue for next few months.

The sources said the airlines using the new airport and runway here for its training programme had improved the airport's revenue as charges were collected from Kingfisher Airlines for each take off and landing, besides for night halt. Kingfisher Airlines had also been making preparations for increasing its flight service to Mangalore from next month, they added.

Meanwhile, Air India Express, which had commenced international flight service from Mangalore to Dubai recently, had proposed to introduce daily flight service, besides extending it to other major Gulf countries, including Dubai and Muscat, the sources said.

The sources said Reliance, which had commenced survey of oil resources in the West Coast sea since Sunday last by hiring helicopter services of Global Victra Helicorp Limited, used the Bajpe airport for parking facility. Reliance was expected to use the helicopter service for the next six to eight months.

The sources indicated that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had plans to entrust cargo handling operations to the state government-owned Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL). Senior officials from MSIL, who visited the airport recently, expressed satisfaction over the facilities for cargo handling available.

However, MSIL was yet to take a final decision on the offer.

UNI