The Tamil Nadu Industry Department has taken steps to set up an aviation training institute in Kovilpatti soon. In the country, the number of air passengers is 16 crores per year. This will increase to over 30 crores in the next 10 years. The current number of pilots is 10 thousand; The demand for pilots in the next five years will exceed 23 thousand.
In 2015, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a notification to increase the number of pilot training institutes and set up runways. According to this, the industry has taken various steps to start pilot training institutes in Tamil Nadu. An airstrip used by a private company has been found in a village named Tonugal near Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district.
In addition to the increase in direct revenue to the government, the local economy will be boosted by up to Rs 60 crore per year. Also, steps are being taken to start many flight training institutes and soon a flight training institute is going to be set up in Kovilpatti. Thus, industry officials said.