Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) is a public pilot training institute located at Fursatganj Airfield in Uttar Pradesh, India. Established in 1985, it is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.[1]

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi
IGRUA's Trinidad TB-20 aircraft taking off
Motto"Provide wings to dreams"
TypePublic
Established7 November 1985 (1985-11-07)
AccreditationDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Academic affiliation
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University (B.Sc)
DirectorKrishnendu Gupta
Ex-officio chairmanRajiv Bansal (Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation)
Students125 (CPL, 2023)
Address
Fursatganj Airfield
,
Amethi district
,
Uttar Pradesh
,
229302
,
India
CampusUrban
Websiteigrua.gov.in

History

IGRUA was established by the Government of India in 1985 at Fursatganj Airfield as an autonomous institution under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, administered by a Governing Council under the ex-officio chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.[2]

The institute initially offered training for both commercial pilot license (CPL) for fixed-wing aircraft and commercial helicopter pilot license (CHPL) for rotary-wing aircraft.[3]

Infrastructure
IGRUA's Diamond DA42 twin-engine aircraft taking off.

IGRUA's infrastructure consists of its own independent airfield and airspace, 6080 feet runway, taxiway, apron, air traffic control, navigation and landing aids, hangars, fire fighting, aviation fuel station, hostels/mess, residential campus, sports facilities, auditorium among others.[2]

IGRUA has three flying operations bases, one is its own Fursatganj Airfield, Uttar Pradesh, one in Gondia, Maharashtra, and other at Kalaburagi Airport, Karnataka.[4] Flight training base is shifted to Gondia and Kalaburagi during winter season.[5]

In 2013, the Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed a National Aviation University to be set up within the IGRUA compound. Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University opened in 2018.[6]

Courses
IGRUA's Zlín Z242 L single-engine aircraft parked at apron.

IGRUA conducts all-India entrance examinations for selection of cadets, shortlisted candidates then undergo pilot aptitude test / WOMBAT and finally a personal interview. Government's Press Information Bureau describes IGRUA as the "IIT of aviation".[2]

The institution conducts flying training leading to the award of commercial pilot license. IGRUA also offers ancillary courses such as multi-crew cooperation and crew resource management.[7] IGRUA is also one of the approved institutes to carry out Certified Flying Instructors Refresher course by Ministry of Civil Aviation for Chief Flight Instructors, Flight Instructors, and Assistant Flight Instructors.

IGRUA also offers their commercial pilot license cadets the opportunity to pursue a three-year B.Sc. degree in aviation concurrently. Prior to 2021, this program was affiliated with Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University,[8] but as of 2022, the degree program is affiliated with Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University.[9]

IGRUA also conducts drone training for RPAS pilots, and English Language Proficiency course. On-job practical training are given to students undergoing diploma in aeronautical engineering and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.[2]

Besides training IGRUA's own cadets, the campus also gives pilot training to cadets of Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and Indian airlines.[10]

IGRUA has been a site for campus placements by various airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and Air India Express.[11][12] In 2005, Qatar Airways made a few recruitments as part of bilateral negotiations between India and Qatar.[13]

Collaborations

In 2007, IGRUA signed a management contract with CAE Inc. to manage IGRUA's flight school activities, including maintenance of aircraft, flying operations, air traffic control, runway, NAV aids, fire fighting facilities, medical facilities, security, staff and student facilities, and transportation.[14]

Delhi-based remote pilot training organization, Drone Destination, in association with IGRUA, opened four drone pilot training schools in India situated in Gurugram, Bangalore, Gwalior, and Dharmashala.[15] In 2021, IGRUA signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Aviation Academy to "impart quality education to budding pilots and prepare them for regulatory examination".[16] In 2022, Boeing made a strategic collaboration with IGRUA "to further emphasize safety and quality to aspiring airline cadets".[17] In the same year, IGRUA signed MoU with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and De Drone World Solutions, with a target to produce 2500 drone pilots a year.[18]

In Aero India 2023 exhibition, IGRUA signed a MoU with Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC) to give type rating training to their cadets in Airbus A320, Boeing 737, ATR 72, and Q-400 aircraft.[19]

Fleet

In 2023, the fleet size of IGRUA comprised 16 aircraft, consisting of 11 Diamond DA40, two Diamond DA42, two Zlín Z242 L, and one Trinidad TB-20.

In the 2021-22 academic year, IGRUA achieved its highest-ever flying hours with a fleet of 18 aircraft, totaling 19,110 hours. The per aircraft utilization also reached 1062 hours per annum. This surpassed the previous record set in 2013-14, where 18,776 flying hours were logged with 24 aircraft, resulting in an average of 782 hours per aircraft.[20]

See also

References
  1. "Govt relaxes norms for top job at IGRUA". The Indian Express. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  2. PIB Delhi (5 January 2022). "Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) sets a new record of 19000 flying hours in 2021;". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. "Indira Gandhi Uran akademi". Raebareli district website. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  4. C. S., Hemanth (9 February 2021). "Flying Training school is grounded". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. PIB Delhi (31 March 2022). "AAI issued award letters for nine FTOs to be established at five airports". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. Press Information Bureau (11 July 2013). "Setting up of National Aviation University in India". Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  7. "Courses Offered". Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. Ministry of Civil Aviation. "IGRUA - Annual Report 2021-22" (PDF). Ministry of Civil Aviation. p. 70. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. Ministry of Civil Aviation. "IGRUA - Annual Report 2022-23" (PDF). Ministry of Civil Aviation. p. 85. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. Singh, Ajmer (30 June 2011). "Eye on polls, Rahul plans upgrade of flying school in UP". India Today. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. Mishra, Mihir (1 May 2015). "Sonia Gandhi takes up cause of IGRUA students; writes to government about dismal campus placement record of pilots". The Economic Times.
  12. Press Trust of India (25 May 2018). "IndiGo to hire trainee pilots for A320s from IGRUA". The Economic Times. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. Mishra, Mihir (27 December 2013). "Airline seats for LNG with Qatar may not pass muster - Indian Express". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. Canada Newswire (19 June 2007). "Government of India signs an MOU with CAE to provide pilot training in two schools". TMX Group. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  15. Press Trust of India (29 May 2022). "'Drone Destination' to establish 150 drone pilot training schools by 2025: CEO". The Economic Times. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  16. Mishra, Mihir (11 January 2021). "AAI's aviation institute to train IGRUA pilots". The Economic Times. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  17. Press Trust of India (28 March 2022). "Boeing explores collaboration with IGRUA to enhance flight training". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  18. Press Trust of India (8 November 2022). "Tamil Nadu Aims To Have 2,500 Drone Pilots A Year: Report". NDTV. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  19. Press Trust of India (24 February 2023). "UP's flying institute ties up with Flight Simulation Technique Centre for specialised training to student pilots". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  20. Sharma, Anu (1 April 2022). "IGRUA completes 19,000 flying hours in 2021-22". CNBC TV18. Retrieved 5 June 2023.

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