CIAL, Cusat to ink MoU soon

For starting joint academic programmes in the aviation sector

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CIAL to provide practical training

Aviation academy part of hangar facility

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KOCHI: Giving a boost to industry-academia joint ventures, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) will throw open the doors its proposed aviation academy to students of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) from next academic year.

The aviation academy is part of the Rs.600-crore hangar facility coming up at Nedumbassery. From simulators to machine rooms and lathes, it will have state-of-the-art facilities matching international standards.

In an interview to TheHindu here on Tuesday, Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma, who is on the director board of CIAL, said that both the institutions would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for starting joint academic programmes in the aviation sector. Cusat and CIAL will launch Diploma and B. Tech programmes, as part of the agreement.

“A detailed project report highlighting the proposed joint initiatives will be placed before the CIAL director board for approval. The focus would be on academic programmes suited to the growing requirements of the aviation industry,” he said.

Elaborating on the proposed initiative, CIAL managing director Shriram Bharath said that the joint venture between Cusat and CIAL was the first of its kind in the country. Under the agreement, students of Cusat would be allowed to utilise the facilities available at the proposed hangar facility and aviation academy at Nedumbassery.

He said that two hangars would be ready by March 2008. The airport authorities have plans to import aircraft tools for providing practical training to the students. An aircraft would be stationed at the aviation academy to give students a real experience of various aspects related to its operation and maintenance.

Explaining the highlights of the proposed aviation academy, Mr. Bharath said that it will have classrooms for conducting various academic programmes. For engineering work, the academy will have the best of facilities that include simulators and aerospace laboratories. CIAL would also provide experts to train students joining for the Diploma and B. Tech programmes to be offered by Cusat from next year, he said.

Mr. Bharath said that a diploma holder would be given the job of managing the hangar facility. The B. Tech engineers would supervise the work of diploma holders.