Overview

• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a cadet pilot programme targeted at tribal girls under the state’s B-MAAN initiative at the Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference in Bhubaneswar.
• Officials said the scheme is expected to offer free theoretical and practical training to about 10 to 15 candidates each year for five years.
• The state signed agreements with Air Works to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport and to collaborate on training and job opportunities.
• Plans outlined include a new international airport at Puri, a proposed aviation training centre at Birasal in Dhenkanal, and land arranged for expansion of Jharsuguda Airport.
• The government also announced a Progressive Land Allotment Policy for aviation activities, redevelopment of 14 non-functional airstrips, 15 heliports in districts without airports, and noted 15 new destinations added over the past 14 months.