Archive · 30 Jan 2026
Odisha to establish flying and drone training centers
Odisha, a state in India, is going to set up two new training centers.
One is for pilots who want to fly airplanes, and it will be at Dandbose Airport.
The other is for training people to fly drones, and it will be at Rangeilunda Airstrip.
The government signed some important agreements at a big event called Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad.
These centers will help people learn new skills and find jobs.
They will also help in important areas like farming, building things, moving goods, and managing disasters.
The chief minister said these new centers will make Odisha an important part of India's technology-driven economy.
Additionally, the government is committed to upgrading the Rourkela airport to handle more passengers and expanding the Rourkela Steel Plant to boost industrial growth in the region.
Odisha will establish a flying training organisation (FTO) at Dandbose Airport in Mayurbhanj district to train 50 commercial pilots annually.
A drone training and testing centre will be set up at Rangeilunda Airstrip in Ganjam district to train over 100 drone pilots every year.
The initiatives aim to strengthen Odisha’s aviation ecosystem and equip youth with future-ready skills.
The state’s Commerce and Transport Department signed two MoUs at Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad to bolster aviation training infrastructure.
The centers will support critical applications in agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, and disaster management.
- Who
- Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Government of Odisha
- What
- Establishment of a flying training organisation (FTO) and a drone training and testing centre, upgradation of Rourkela airport and expansion of Rourkela Steel Plant
- When
- Announced on January 29, 2024
- Where
- Odisha, India (FTO at Dandbose Airport, Mayurbhanj district; Drone centre at Rangeilunda Airstrip, Ganjam district; Rourkela airport and Rourkela Steel Plant in Rourkela)
- Why
- To strengthen the state’s aviation ecosystem, equip youth with future-ready skills, and support critical applications across various sectors, and to boost industrial and infrastructural growth in Rourkela
Government
Opposition
Airport Upgradation
Government
The government is committed to upgrading Rourkela airport to Category C to handle moderate traffic and expand Rourkela Steel Plant for industrial growth.
Opposition
Opposition may question the timeline and feasibility of the projects, citing past neglect and potential delays.
- Flying Training Organisation (FTO)
- Dandbose Airport, Mayurbhanj district
- Drone Training and Testing Centre
- Rangeilunda Airstrip, Ganjam district
- Annual Commercial Pilot Training
- 50 pilots
- Annual Drone Pilot Training
- 100 pilots
- Applications
- Agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, disaster management
- Event
- Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad
- MoUs Signed
- Two in Civil Aviation sector
- Rourkela Airport Upgradation
- Category C, handling moderate traffic and less than 3 million passengers annually
- Rourkela Steel Plant Expansion
- Task force constituted under Development Commissioner D K Singh
