Karnataka To Launch First Flight Training Centre

04 Jun 2025 CW Team

In a major boost to aviation skill development, the Karnataka government has announced the establishment of its first-ever Flight Training Organisation (FTO) at Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport in Shivamogga. The initiative, led by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC), aims to build world-class infrastructure to train aspiring pilots within the state.

Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M B Patil, shared that the FTO will begin by training 100 cadets, with the first 50 students starting in the inaugural year. Notably, 25 per cent of seats will be reserved for Karnataka-based and women candidates, who will also benefit from subsidised training fees.

The upcoming facility, spanning 3,500 square metres, will include aircraft hangars, simulators, classrooms, briefing rooms, and a radio telephony training centre, all aligned with standards prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Operations, aircraft, and admissions will be managed by a private agency, while KSIIDC will oversee air traffic control, safety systems, and maintenance. Tenders have already been invited, with aircraft deployment expected within three months and training to commence within nine months of agreement signing.

Located in Sogane, 15 km from Shivamogga city, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport was inaugurated in February 2023 and features a 3,200-metre runway, the second-longest in the state. It can accommodate aircraft ranging from ATR 72s to Airbus A320s.

This strategic move is set to transform Shivamogga into a key aviation training hub, offering new opportunities to young pilots across Karnataka and beyond.

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..