Patiala Airport

Patiala Airport (Patiala Aviation Complex) is a civil aerodrome serving Patiala, Punjab in India. It was built by Maharajadhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in the first decade of the twentieth century^{[citation needed]} as a place to operate his aircraft. After Independence it was taken over by the Government of India and turned into a civil aerodrome.

There are in total five hangars in Patiala Aviation Complex. The First Hangar is used by Patiala Aviation Club (P.A.C.), which is flying training Institute approved by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (D.G.C.A.), India. Raja Kamendra Singh (Prince Ralph) son of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was Chief Flight Instructor of P.A.C. until his death in an aircraft crash in 1995. Presently Capt. Malkeat Singh is the Chief Flight Instructor of P.A.C.

The Second Hangar which was initially the Government owned Engine and instrument overhauling workshop, then for some period was used by Northern India Flying Club (N.I.F.C). These days is being used by Birmi Flying Academy (B.F.A.) as flying training institute approved by D.G.C.A.The Chief Flight Instructor of B.F.A. is Capt. K.T. Rajendran.^[1]

The Third Hangar is the workshop of the Punjab Aircraft Maintenance Engineering College (P.A.M.E.C.)in which students are being trained to become future engineers.

The Fourth Hangar is alloted to the National Cadet Corps. (N.C.C.)Air Wing. Here the cadets along with their routine exercises enjoy the flying in Microlight Aircraft provided by Indian Air Force for the purpose.

The Fifth Hangar is known as the student Hanger, as and maintenance of the VIP aircraft owned by Govt. of Punjab.

Patiala Airport is sometimes used by Captain Amarinder Singh the current Maharaja of Patiala and by the state government to operate its fleet of aircraft.^{[citation needed]}
The A.T.C. at Patiala Airport is Maintained By Air Ops (Army Aviation) a unit of Indian Army.

References