Mumbai University draws flak for decision to buy aircraft

The ambitious plan of the University of Mumbai (MU) to buy an aircraft of its own for the soon-to-be introduced BSc aviation and commercial pilot training courses has received enormous flak from students’ unions. The unions have termed the decision of buying the plane premature and have said that such a huge investment would be a disservice to the student community if the course fails to get the desired response.

According to sources on Tuesday, the ad-hoc management council of the MU had given a go-ahead for starting the two new courses that are currently being offered by affiliated institutions only in the city. The courses will be offered at the Garware Institute of Career Education and Development in Kalina in association with the Bombay Flying Club, which is a government-recognised organisation from the next academic year onwards. The source said that the MC had also approved the buying of an old aircraft for hands-on training of the students who would enroll for the courses.

However in the absence of further details about the aircraft, students’ unions affiliated to the Yuva Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena said, “While starting the course is a welcome move by the university, investing lakhs in getting an aircraft is too hasty and premature. The university can have a tie up with some airlines and use their aircraft to give students hands-on training for now. Later, an aircraft can be bought,” former senate member Sudhakar Tamboli who is from MNVS, said.

Another former senate member Pradeep Sawant from Yuva Sena said that in the absence of regular decision-making bodies at the university, the decision to buy an aircraft should be delayed. “The ad-hoc bodies should not take such hasty decisions as the bodies are not having the requisite numbers. The university should delay the decision till full-fledged bodies are in place,” said Mr Sawant.

When asked about the same Dr M.A. Khan, registrar, MU, said, “The information of the university buying an aircraft is unfounded as the meeting of the MC was meant to approve the two courses only.”