Amritsar aviation club awaits another aircraft
NOFLIGHT MODE As per civil aviation norms, which makes it necessary to have a minimum fleet of three aircraft, the club has two planes thus halting operations
Efforts are being made to revive the club and make it operational. KAMALDEEP SINGH SANGHA , manager Amritsar Aviation Club
AMRITSAR: Once flying high, the aircraft of Amritsar Aviation Club, continue to rust on ground from past five months, awaiting a third plane which the government has promised to deliver soon. The aviation club, which has been operating from the Sree Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport since 1962 received a jolt when it had to close operations in the end of December last year.
The club has two aircraft including a Cessna and a multiengine up its sleeve.
But as per the norms of the civil aviation, which makes it necessary to have a minimum fleet of three aircraft, the club had to halt operations.
Confirming the development, a source inside the club said, “The training with the two aircraft was going on smoothly but as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s three aircrafts rule, their was no option other than closing down.”
As per information the state government has got two new aircrafts. One is meant for the Patiala Club and the other one for Amritsar Club. Sources claimed that as the new aircraft is expected to be brought to Amritsar in a month’s time, there is hope of club’s revival.
Notably, Amritsar Aviation Club, which came into existence more than four decades ago was quite popular among flying enthusiasts. But absence or nonoperational aircrafts has marred the club’s reputation.
Notably past few years were good for the club. The club not only got American aircraft Cessna but also a multi-engine aircraft. It also got a couple of Hansa aircraft, which were later withdrawn by the government due to some technical issues.
Deputy commissioner Amritsar Kamaldeep Singh Sangha who is also the club’s manager said, “Efforts are being made to revive the club and make it operational. We have completed all the paper work for the aircraft and taken up the matter with the state government. We are hopeful that the aircraft will soon reach us and aviation club will again be in flying mode.”