Blue Ray Aviation, PSA form JV for flight training

Blue Ray Aviation Tuesday said it has taken on board US flight training institute Pacific States Aviation (PSA) for setting up a training facility for pilots, engineers and ground staff in Mehsana district of Gujarat at an initial investment of Rs 25 crore.

The two partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect during the recent visit of a state-level delegation under Gujarat's additional chief secretary for finance, Arvind Agarwal, a release said.

PSA is one of the largest general aviation companies in the Bay Area having fixed base operations.

The joint venture will also operate a maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) unit and offer aircraft on charter, the release said, adding a formal agreement to this effect is expected to be signed by September 30.

The company will also offer flight training to prospective pilots at PSA's existing academy in Concord, USA, it said.

The joint venture and the proposed activities at Mehsana will commence by the time of Vibrant Gujarat Summit early next year, the release said, adding Blue Ray Aviation plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the JV company in the next five years.

Through PSA, Blue Ray Aviation will offer training, which is compliant to India's aviation regulatory norms, and will include the US methodology of flight training, it added.

The US firm will also offer simulator facilities to Blue Ray Aviation, it added.

This enterprise is expected to generate about 1,000 highly-skilled jobs in the next five years, of which 300 will be in the first two years, according to the release.

Blue Ray Aviation is a DGCA-approved flying training set-up based in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra and is now expanding into Mehsana, where it is construction an aircraft hanger facility.