“Mangalore is a cradle of entrepreneurs in the country. The society can generate entrepreneurs from grassroot level,” said Deccan Aviation Executive Chairman Capt G R Gopinath.
Delivering a talk on ‘Opportunities and challenges in aviation industry’ organised at KCCI chamber building on Friday, he said inspite of bureaucratic apathy, political uncertainties and corruption, new India is a land of infinite possibilities.
Narrating how a small newspaper article inspired him to enter into aviation business and how it took him three years to get a license, he said, “We should lose ourselves in action and not in despair.”
Karnataka Bank Ltd Chairman Ananthakrishna said Mr Gopinath provides a no-frill air ticket to the common man and even a farmer can now fly in a plane. He lauded Mr Gopinath for taking an unconventional decision and succeeding in the venture.
KCCI President Kumble Naraimha Prabhu presented a list of points which the aviation firm can incorporate.
 The points included introduction of additional flights between Mangalore-Bangalore, introduction of flights between Mangalore and Delhi, Mangalore-Udaipur-Delhi and between Mangalore-Coimbatore, introduction of helicopter service between Mangalore-Subramanya and Mangalore-Kollur, establishing a flying club in Mangalore, introducing Gulf flights to all GCC countries, that is scheduled flights with cargo capacity of atleast 10 metric tonnes, introduction of late night flights from Mumbai to Mangalore and early morning flights from Mangalore to Mumbai and establish MRO facility for airbus and ATR aircraft.
Capt G R Gopinath was felicitated on the occasion. KCCI Vice-President Srinivas S Kamath, M Ahmed Bava and honorary secretary M Shekhar Poojary were present.