Man who built plane on roof gets 157 acres

MUMBAI: Months after the aircraft built by Thrust Aircraft Pvt Ltd was cleared to fly by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Maharashtra government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the company promoted by Captain Amol Yadav to set up an indigenous factory for smaller aircraft and develop Dahanu as an aviation hub.

The state government entered into a joint venture (JV) with Yadav even before the aircraft he built was officially tested. The JV is worth ₹35,000 crore. Under the MOU signed at the ‘Magnetic Maharashtra’ investors’ summit, the state will give Yadav’s firm 157 acres of land at Kelwe in Palghar district.

Yadav, who was a commercial pilot, said he is “delighted” with the development and “mindful of the responsibility” ahead. He admitted the six-seater aircraft his company built has still not been tested.

Aviation experts questioned the rationale behind the JV. Former Air Force pilot Vipul Saxena said the government should have offered a similar opportunity to other enthusiasts.

“Technically, such proposals should have been evaluated by a team of experts and with due diligence,” said Saxena.

Yadav said there were two parts to the MOU signed. “I will be responsible for building the aircraft and appointing an agency to build the facility on the alloted land, while the government will provide the funds for basic amenities, etc,” he said.

Yadav spent six years building his six-seater plane. He sold his house and spent ₹4 crore to build the airplane on the rooftop of a building in Kandivli.