THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR/HYDERABAD, JANUARY 28, 2026

With ambitious plans to establish a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) and the State’s first UAV (drone) Training and Testing Centre, Odisha has signalled a decisive push to emerge as a future-ready aviation hub as it makes a strong and aspirational presence at Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest civil aviation event. Through its dedicated pavilion themed “Odisha Takes Flight”, the State is showcasing its expanding role in India’s aviation growth story and its readiness to lead the next phase of sectoral transformation.

As part of its skilling-led development strategy, the Commerce and Transport Department signed two key memoranda of understanding on the sidelines of the event. An MoU with Alchemist Aviation will facilitate the establishment of an FTO at Dandbose Airport in Mayurbhanj, with an annual training capacity of around 50 pilots. Another MoU with BonV Aero will enable the setting up of a UAV Training and Testing Centre at Rangeilinda Airstrip in Berhampur, the first such facility in Odisha, with the capacity to train over 100 drone pilots every year.

At the Odisha Pavilion, visitors are getting a first-hand glimpse of how the State is building an inclusive, investment-friendly and policy-driven aviation ecosystem, anchored in expanding regional and international connectivity, focused skilling initiatives and long-term infrastructure planning. The exhibits underline Odisha’s commitment to “Aviation for All”, highlighting opportunities across airport development, pilot and aviation training, the drone ecosystem, MRO potential and human capital development, aligned with the long-term vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047.

Adding momentum to the State’s participation, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, Usha Padhee, took part as a panelist in the “Women in Aviation” roundtable session, reaffirming Odisha’s emphasis on gender-inclusive growth across the aviation value chain. She said the State is actively encouraging girls to explore aviation early in their careers and, through convergence of departments and strategic partners, is creating an enabling ecosystem where women can enter, grow and lead in the sector.

Odisha’s aviation roadmap places strong emphasis on public–private partnerships, coordinated policy support and sustainability to strengthen regional connectivity and promote inclusive growth. Together, these initiatives reflect the State’s holistic approach to building a robust aviation value chain driven by collaboration, people-centric planning and institutional convergence.

Visitors can explore Odisha’s aviation journey at Hall C, Stall No. 25-C, at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, from January 28 to 31 during Wings India 2026, themed “Indian Aviation: Paving the Future — from Design to Deployment, Manufacture to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation.”