Bhubaneswar, April 5 — Indian Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) have requested the Odisha government to reconsider the turnover eligibility criteria for bidding on the prestigious Biju Patnaik Aviation Centre (BPAC) project in Dhenkanal district. The current norm requires bidders to have a turnover of more than ₹100 crore in each of the past three years — a condition domestic FTOs argue is unrealistic due to the financial setbacks faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The matter was raised during a recent pre-bid meeting with the state’s Transport and Commerce Department. Indian FTOs pointed out that none of them qualify under the existing financial criteria, as their revenues were severely impacted during the pandemic years, which are included in the current evaluation window.
Despite the concerns raised, a senior official confirmed that the state government has yet to take a final decision on amending the turnover clause.
₹562 Crore Project to Boost Aviation Training Infrastructure in Odisha
The Odisha government has already floated a tender to select an Operating Partner (OP) for BPAC, a key initiative aimed at training local youth for aviation sector roles such as pilots and cabin crew. The project includes the development of a full-fledged aviation training centre at Birasal in Dhenkanal district with a total investment of ₹562 crore.The proposed infrastructure includes:
- 53 trainer aircraft
- 3 advanced simulators
- A fully developed airstrip
- Hangars, service buildings
- Student hostels and other essential facilities
Bridging India's Aviation Skill Gap
A March 12, 2024 government resolution highlighted India's growing need for trained pilots, estimating a requirement of 2,000 new pilots annually over the next two decades. Currently, domestic flying schools produce only 900–1,000 pilots per year, leading to a substantial gap.According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, nearly 42% of commercial pilot licenses in India are issued to cadets trained abroad. The BPAC project is envisioned to train approximately 500 pilots annually at peak capacity, thereby playing a critical role in addressing this shortfall and strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem.
