Four hundred students of the Bombay Flying Club (BFC) will be filing a PIL against the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Monday as the latter has ordered a closure of all operations at the club. BFC, the oldest training clubs in the country, stopped all operations on Friday after Airports Authority of Indian (AAI) over non-payment of fee to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
BFC is one among 28 flying schools across India which were prohibited from operations by the AAI. According to AAI officials the clubs haven’t paid the land charges since 2007 and won’t be allowed to operate till the dues are cleared. AAI sent an order on Thursday asking for suspension of all operations. The BFS has decided to appeal to the court and its officials are trying to get a stay order against the AAI order.
According to sources, the club owes around Rs 2.5 crore to the AAI for six years. Officials familiar with the development said that the order demanded a complete closure of the club with immediate effect. The operations were stopped immediately after the order was passed. “If the BFC officials don’t get a stay from the court, they will have to vacate the premises at Juhu in a week’s time,” said a senior official.
Sources in the AAI said that BFC had been earlier allotted the land at Juhu airport for a nominal feel of Re 1. However, AAI revised the rule in 2007 and asked all flying schools to pay as per commercial rates. Those registered as educational institutions-including BFC-were asked to pay 10% of the commercial charges applicable. “The dues since then haven’t been paid despite a 90% rebate in the charges,” said an official.
BFC officials, on the other hand, said that the club was allotted the land for developing the airport way back in 1931. In 1946, as per an agreement between the government and the deputy director of civil aviation, BFC was to pay a fee of Re 1 annually to continue flying and training. AAI, which came in existence in 1998 did not renew the lease and after taking over Juhu airport in 2007, it started billing the club on commercial rates.
“This was done without any discussion, warning or even consultation. Now, they have ordered to stop the club completely. We are going to get a stay on this order and will appeal to the minister to let this oldest flying school function,” said captain Mihir D. Bhagvati, president, BFC. “We are a no-profit educational institution and cannot pay such a high fee. AAI started billing us on Rs 5 lakh per month,” he added. Bhagvati said that apart from procuring the stay order, the 400 students currently enrolled in the club will also file a PIL against the AAI. BFC officials, along with representatives of other flying schools which have been closed, will be meeting the minister of civil aviation next week. Juhu airport director, M Yadagiri, said that the order has come from the AAI
BFC is one among 28 flying schools across India which were prohibited from operations by the AAI. According to AAI officials the clubs haven’t paid the land charges since 2007 and won’t be allowed to operate till the dues are cleared. AAI sent an order on Thursday asking for suspension of all operations. The BFS has decided to appeal to the court and its officials are trying to get a stay order against the AAI order.
According to sources, the club owes around Rs 2.5 crore to the AAI for six years. Officials familiar with the development said that the order demanded a complete closure of the club with immediate effect. The operations were stopped immediately after the order was passed. “If the BFC officials don’t get a stay from the court, they will have to vacate the premises at Juhu in a week’s time,” said a senior official.
Sources in the AAI said that BFC had been earlier allotted the land at Juhu airport for a nominal feel of Re 1. However, AAI revised the rule in 2007 and asked all flying schools to pay as per commercial rates. Those registered as educational institutions-including BFC-were asked to pay 10% of the commercial charges applicable. “The dues since then haven’t been paid despite a 90% rebate in the charges,” said an official.
BFC officials, on the other hand, said that the club was allotted the land for developing the airport way back in 1931. In 1946, as per an agreement between the government and the deputy director of civil aviation, BFC was to pay a fee of Re 1 annually to continue flying and training. AAI, which came in existence in 1998 did not renew the lease and after taking over Juhu airport in 2007, it started billing the club on commercial rates.
“This was done without any discussion, warning or even consultation. Now, they have ordered to stop the club completely. We are going to get a stay on this order and will appeal to the minister to let this oldest flying school function,” said captain Mihir D. Bhagvati, president, BFC. “We are a no-profit educational institution and cannot pay such a high fee. AAI started billing us on Rs 5 lakh per month,” he added. Bhagvati said that apart from procuring the stay order, the 400 students currently enrolled in the club will also file a PIL against the AAI. BFC officials, along with representatives of other flying schools which have been closed, will be meeting the minister of civil aviation next week. Juhu airport director, M Yadagiri, said that the order has come from the AAI
