Established in 1949-50, the GFTS is steeped in history. The land was gifted by Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore, specifically for aviation training. The school was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Published Dec 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Government Flying Training School (GFTS) in Jakkur, north Bengaluru
Synopsis: The Karnataka government has proposed shifting the historic Government Flying Training School from Jakkur in north Bengaluru to Mysuru, sparking speculation that the high value of the land surrounding the school may be a key factor behind the proposal.
The Karnataka government has proposed shifting the prestigious Government Flying Training School (GFTS) from Jakkur in north Bengaluru to Mysuru, a move that could mark the end of operations at one of India’s oldest flying schools.
Sources told South First that the State government submitted a proposal to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in November, seeking approval to relocate the flying school to Mysuru. The proposal has also fuelled speculation that the high value of the land the school occupies may be a factor.
Established in 1949-50, the GFTS is steeped in history. The land was gifted by Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore, specifically for aviation training. The school was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Notably, the proposal comes despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to the school in September, when he expressed full support for continuing flying operations at Jakkur.
He had also reportedly said that the State would consider acquiring about three acres of land to expand the runway. The DGCA had also reportedly asked the government to revive the school, which has state-of-the-art facilities.
The principal reason behind the proposed shift, according to sources, is the prime real estate that would become available if the flying school is moved out of Jakkur.
The airstrip currently imposes height restrictions within an almost three-kilometre radius, and obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) is mandatory for construction in the area.
Captain Arvind Sharma, who had earlier approached the High Court against the construction of an elevated highway through the Jakkur aerodrome, said the political establishment had previously attempted similar moves but had been stopped.
“This time they have used a public infrastructure project to come out with this proposal. The Maharaja gave this land to the Mysore government to run a flying school from here,” he told South First.
“That was the condition of the grant of the land. Only if the flying school disappears from Jakkur can they reassign the real estate for some other purposes.”
Meanwhile, the plan to move the school to Mysuru has also evoked opposition from former Mysuru–Kodagu Member of Parliament Prathap Simha. He told the Star of Mysore that using the Mysuru Airport as GFTS “would cripple the region’s future growth”.
“It will bring restrictions in several forms, and flight operations will be hit. This will result in all sorts of permissions being required to operate civilian flights from the airport,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
