THE Punjab government has invited expression of interest to develop three flying training institutions (FTIs) at Patiala , Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The setting up of these FTIs will be through international competitive bidding and will be developed under public private partnership (PPP) mode. Stating this here on Thursday, Punjab civil aviation minister Dr Upinderjeet Kaur said the state civil aviation department has worked out a plan to impart initial flying training of international standards to the youth desirous of becoming pilots. To execute these developmental projects the Feedback Ventures Private Limited is assisting Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and the civil aviation department under PPP format, she added. She further added the selected bidders would develop and maintain the flying clubs into world class FTIs and would operate at least seven single engine and one twin engine flying aircraft as per the standards and guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the state civil aviation department For efficient operation of FTIs, the successful bidders would have to install state of the art simulators, hangers, navigational and communication system, flight management computers and other required equipment, labs, libraries, furnishings and other ancillary infrastructure, she said. She added that besides deploying adequate trained staff for training services, the bidders could develop and operate recreational activities like skydiving, aero-modeling, ballooning, joy rides etc at these institutes. The project briefing meeting to address the queries of the prospective bidders would be held on 3rd October. Elaborating the project details, she said the Patiala Aviation Complex established in 1962, has operational FTI and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering College and comprises runway of 3,800 ft and the flying club at Sahnewal airtport, established in 1968, has runway length of 4800 ft, whereas Amritsar Flying Club which was established in 1962 possesses runway length of 10,000 ft. These clubs have hangers, institute buildings and other related facilities. The Punjab chief minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal had unveiled the vision of aviation training centres keeping in view the demand of trained aviation personnel through out the world. The Punjab government in May had cleared the proposal to set up three flying training schools at Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bathinda in public private partnership (PPP) mode besides upgrading the infrastructure at Patiala Flying training academy