Pawan Hans ties up with MU to offer BSc in aeronautical engg

State-run helicopter services operator Pawan Hans today joined hands with Mumbai University to offer a Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering along with a course on aircraft maintenance engineering from the next academic session.
Named 'dual qualification course', the skilling training will be imparted by professionals from Pawan Hans Helicopter Training Institute, while the same will be monitored by the Garware Institute of Career Education & Development of the 160-year-old university, Pawan Hans chairman BP Sharma and vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh told reporters at a joint press conference.
The vice chancellor said the engineering course will take in 60 students annually and the course will begin from July.

Deshmukh also said the university will launch a chopper joy ride in association with Bombay Flying Club to offer primarily the students and even the public and a pilot will be launched on March 28.
The university will offer 10 per cent discount on fare to all the students while those from the weaker section will get 25 per cent discount on tickets which would definitely be under Rs 4,000 per person, he added.
Sharma said those students completing the courses will be assured of placements as there is a severe scarcity of skilled manpower in the fast growing aviation sector.

Deshmukh further said the university has sought 200 acres in Palghar to open a campus for primarily for tribal students and if given it is ready to build an airstrip which can also be used by the government departments.
Sharma also said Pawan Hans will shortly resume the joy rides it had started with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and also plans to launch inter-city chopper rides in Delhi and Mumbai shortly.