Want your wings? Take off to jazzed up Jakkur

Established in 1949,  the Government Flying Training School at Jakkur is one of the oldest in the country. With 36 students at present, it is operating at maximum capacity. Students pursue its programmes as they lead to a Commercial Pilot’s Licence or a Private Pilot’s licence. There’s more to look forward to now with the state government preparing a 20-year master plan for its modernisation, Rohan Ramesh reports.

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying,” said German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche and trainees at  the Government Flying Training School at Jakkur, couldn’t agree more as they certainly don’t have an easy ride to the top.

Established in 1949,  the flying school is one of the oldest in the country. With  36 students presently, it is operating at maximum capacity  but continues to be pursued for its programmes leading to a Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL) or a Private Pilot’s license (PPL).

Says Director and Chief Flying Instructor, Wing Commander (Retd), Amarjeet Singh Dange, “The GFTS is a premier training institution. We had to suspend operations for six months because the elevated expressway was being constructed nearby, but since 2013 flying is in progress although we now take extra precautions.”

The students train in four Cessna aircraft, two of which are two-seater and   two, four-seater, on the sprawling 214- acre school campus, a section of which  is leased to private operators for their hangars, maintenance activities and  other common facilities such as  airstrip, fueling station, and offices.

There’s little doubt the Jakkur institute is in demand  as Wing Commander  Dange is interrupted by a call from Uttar Pradesh seeking a seat even while speaking  to Deccan Chronicle. “ I told him we don’t have a vacancy,” he smiles.

The demand is partly spurred by the institute fee, which is half that of aviation schools abroad that offer the same training. “I learnt flying in Canada and spent a fortune on it. But if I had the opportunity I would have applied to the Government Flying Training School in Jakkur because I know that safety rules and regulations are followed to the letter here,” admits budding pilot, Abhinav Vemuru.

There’s more to look forward to at the GFTS with the state government in the process of drawing up a master plan for it for the next 20 years, that will among other things, see its aerodrome get upgraded.

The plan is being prepared by retired IAS officer and former Additional Chief Secretary, Subhir Hari Singh.

But the school is doing well enough even today as is evident in the pride with which Wing Commander Dange observes  on hearing an aircraft rise into the sky, “That’s my plane! Those are my students!”

Ever wanted to fly like a bird, view Bengaluru from the skies and hover around the city without spending a fortune? You can do it now at the Jakkur aerodrome. Here the adventurous can look forward to microlight flying on STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) planes, and also being  co-pilot and feeling the controls of an aircraft thanks to  Bengaluru Aerosports and Jupiter Aviation , which are holding microlight flying sessions every Sunday.  The charges are Rs 3500.