Thiruvananthapuram: The Government of Kerala is planning to upgrade the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGATT) to a national institute to cater to the growing need of professionals in the aviation sector.

The institute is currently administered by the State Government.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, M. Vijayakumar, during an address to students of RGATT here. He handed over Student Pilot Licences (SPL) to the first batch of 25 RGATT students.

The 'Single Golden Stripe' was presented by the minister to those who obtained the SPL.

"I am happy to get the SPL as it is the first step towards taking up flying as a career. I look forward to the next leg of training," said Arya L.A., who studied in the Malayalam medium and passed out from DBHS Vamanapuram and St. John's Nalanchira.

Mr. Vijayakumar, who is also in-charge of the aviation portfolio, said "The government wants to make the academy a prestigious one. The Government has worked out plans to expand the activities of the academy to two more cities in the state".

V. Thulasidas, Executive Director of RGATT, said, "The aim of the academy is to provide quality training at affordable rates to young, aspiring pilots who wish to take up a career in the burgeoning aviation sector".

"The academy plans to start courses in aircraft maintenance engineering, aeronautical engineering, flight despatcher and cabin crew. We are looking for a separate airstrip and campus to expand our activities", Mr. Thulasidas further said.

"The academy, with three modern aircrafts, needs two single-engine and one multi-engine aircrafts to impart training to its students", he said.