Andhra Pradesh is set to develop the country’s first fully integrated Aviation, Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Education City at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, close to the upcoming ASR (Bhogapuram) International Airport.

The project, to be developed as the GMR–MANSAS Aviation EduCity, aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the aviation, aerospace and defence sectors in India and overseas. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalising the project was exchanged between MANSAS Trust Chairperson and Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and GMR Airports Chairperson G.B.S. Raju.

The MoU exchange took place in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh. The land required for the project has been provided by the MANSAS Trust.

Officials said the EduCity will be developed over nearly 136 acres at Annavaram in Bheemili mandal, close to the Bhogapuram airport.

The Aviation EduCity is being planned as a national capability platform to meet the shortage of trained aviation professionals. It is expected to play a key role in positioning India as a global supplier of skilled aviation manpower.

The campus will bring together education, research and industry, and will house international branch campuses, reputed global universities, and certification programmes aligned with standards set by the DGCA, EASA and other global aviation regulators.

In addition to academic programmes, the EduCity will feature research hubs focused on areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sustainable aviation, safety systems and artificial intelligence.

The project will also include incubation centres and start-up facilities, allowing students and entrepreneurs to work closely with industry. Its proximity to the international airport is expected to provide hands-on training and real-world exposure to students.

Speaking at the event, Goa Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju described the project as a major boost for north coastal Andhra Pradesh, stressing the role of education-led infrastructure in regional development. He said the EduCity would help local youth find employment opportunities without having to migrate elsewhere.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu called the launch of the Aviation EduCity a historic moment for the region. Referring to India’s aviation growth, he said the country currently operates around 800 aircraft and has orders for another 1,700 aircraft, with each aircraft generating nearly 100 direct and indirect jobs.

He also announced that trial runs at the Bhogapuram airport are expected to begin within a month, and that the airport could become operational by May, ahead of its earlier planned June inauguration.

IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the project aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s long-term focus on skills, technology and employment generation. He noted that while India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly, the availability of trained human capital remains a major challenge.

Lokesh said the State’s vision is to ensure that 25% of the global civil aviation workforce is Telugu, adding that the Aviation EduCity is not just another educational institution but a complete ecosystem designed to deliver job-ready professionals, advanced research and globally benchmarked skills.

According to officials, the project draws inspiration from global aviation clusters such as Aero Montréal in Canada, the Washington–Seattle Aerospace Cluster in the United States, and Aerospace Valley in France.

The EduCity will operate through a mix of plug-and-play academic infrastructure and build-to-suit campuses, enabling foreign universities and industry partners to set up operations quickly and efficiently.

Once completed, the GMR–MANSAS Aviation EduCity is expected to play a transformative role in India’s aviation education, MRO ecosystem and defence aerospace capability, while driving development in north Andhra Pradesh.