GUWAHATI, May 9 � The revived Assam Flying Club would soon be able to fly two aircraft, giving a fillip to the near dead aviation training sector in the State, if things go as planned by the club and the College of Aeronautical Engineering.
Addressing mediapersons here, secretary of the club Bikrom Singha Lahkar today said that two aircraft of Aero Club of India, Delhi have been allotted to the Assam Flying Club. One of the two aircraft was initially allotted to the Assam Flying Club and later on cancelled, as the club was considered dead, and was allotted to the Andhra Pradesh Flying Club. The other one, which is as of now with the Behela Flying Club, is in the process of being brought to the Assam Flying Club.
The club was initiated by Singha-purush Radha Govinda Baruah, but eventually it was pronounced �dead� in 2010 by the Assam government. It was revived in 2014, under the initiative of the College of Aeronautical Engineering.
Captain Robin Bordoloi, a prominent member of the club, told mediapersons here that connectivity is the most important factor for the development of a State and the club would attract many towards the aviation sector here. �Though a lot still needs to be done, the initiative is laudable,� he added.
�Whereas the revival of flying clubs in other parts of the country have cost around Rs 6 crore, the State government has allotted us only Rs 30 lakh. However, we are hopeful that with our own efforts, we would be able to fly the aircraft soon. With the necessary approvals of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), we are an approved aircraft maintenance organization now,� he added.
He, however, alleged that some former employees of the flying club and some unscrupulous people have misguided the government and have succeeded to some extent in their intent. �It is very pathetic to say that when we are working for the development of this organization, these unscrupulous people are making plans to destroy it,� he said.
With a green signal from the Civil Aviation Ministry, following its approval of the maintenance base at the LGBI Airport here, it is looking forward to start its endeavour with a renewed zeal.
�We have even made arrangements to have a discussion with the Cessna Company of USA regarding various technical aspects and have already received many parts of aircraft from that company,� he added.
The Assam Flying Club was established under the Assam Society Registration Act 1960 and the bye-law has been newly constituted.
