Overview
- Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu inaugurated the Orient Flights Aviation Academy at Kurnool Airport on Saturday, September 26, marking the launch of the state’s first DGCA‑recognised flying training organisation.
- The Centre says India currently has about 36 FTOs and has approved 11 more nationwide to scale training capacity for an aviation boom driven by roughly 1,600 aircraft on order.
- Orient Flights, promoted by the Hindustan Group, opened with three training aircraft and has been urged by the minister to expand its fleet to 10 to raise annual trainee throughput.
- Officials cited Kurnool’s operational airport, year‑round favourable weather and proximity to Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as reasons to cluster pilot training, maintenance and drone activities there.
- State plans include two approved FTOs for Kadapa, a foundation stone laid at Rajamahendravaram and interest in Bhogapuram, all aimed at keeping student training in India, creating jobs and easing projected pilot shortages.