Chandigarh: ( Satish Handa): Chief Minister of Haryana has approved a budget of Rs 14 crore for purchase of three hi-tech aircrafts including diesel driven one single engine and two double engines to provide flying training to youths at flying clubs in Hisar, Karnal and Pinjore. Presently having seven petrol driven single engine aircrafts in three clubs as against requirement of 12 aircrafts, as such youths in the state willing to have advanced flying training have to go to adjoining Punjab state having flying clubs at Patiala, Amritsar and Ludhiana having superior quality new aircrafts for learner.

Information reveals that Haryana state government took a U-turn and dropped the proposal for the purchase of three diesel driven aircrafts to provide advance flying training to youths, besides saving on fuel expense. According to state Civil Aviation Minister Rao Narbir Singh, the proposal for the purchase of new aircrafts was dropped and decision taken to run flying clubs in the state on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode. According to information, Haryana government had not purchased any aircraft having modern technology for the flying clubs in the state since the year 2008 to provide advance training to youths.

Information also reveals that Chief Minister Haryana declined to buy new aeroplanes after a mishap took place at the airbase of Chandigarh airport in March 2014. However, a proposal was made to purchase a new aircraft by Haryana government in 2017 and after meeting necessary formalities a new Superking B-250 plane from United States was ordered by the state government costing Rs 50 crore. It landed at the Palam Airport New Delhi a week ago dis-appointing youths in the state seeking advanced flying training at the flying clubs in the state for which government has no funds since past several years.