Mangalorean Michael Saldana Commands Air India's Vande Bharat Mission flight
Mangaluru: In what has come as a proud moment for Karavalians one of Captain-Flight Commander, Michael Saldana, of the Vande Bharat Mission's Air India flight is a Mangalorean, which, on the first day, brought back the Non-Residential Indians who were stranded abroad due to the corona-lockdown.
He was the commander of an Air India flight that carried 177 passengers from Dubai at 5:30 pm on May 7 and landed at Kallikote airport at 10:30 pm.
Meanwhile, pilot Sarfaraz of the flight that brought medical equipments from Singapore, is also a Mangalorian. Both of them are being widely praised on social networking sites.
Michael Saldana, a resident of Valencia in the city, is an alumni of Milagres and St .Aloysius College. He had also secured the first rank in RV Engineering College, Bengaluru. After completing engineering, he had joined Air India and is currently employed with the it.
Known for his wide range of aircraft flying skills, Michael has the ability to handle aircrats on tabletop airports like Mangalore, which is very complex.
Currently, he is working as a base manager in Mangaluru and is training 30 pilots under him. His grandfather, Colonel JW Soares had fought in World War II. Colonel JW Soares had also participated in the 1962 China War.
Speaking to 'Varthabharati', Michael Saldana reflected on why he decided to fly the aircraft as a part of the mission and asserted how he was feeling lucky and proud after successfully completing the task assigned to him of bringing the stranded Indians safely to India.
"It is a matter of pride to bring Indians back home, who are stranded abroad due to Corona. This is why I voluntarily agreed to airlift them. I have the satisfaction of bringing them safely. I am always ready to bring back people of the country," he said.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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