Asian Aviation Centre (Sri Lanka)
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| Type | Aerospace Engineering & Flying Training Academy |
| Motto | Where dreams take wing. |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Base | Colombo Airport, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka |
| Key Personnel | Chairperson: Chandran Rutnam Managing Director: |
| Website | www.aac.lk |
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Managing Director:
Nihara Jayatilleke
Asian Aviation Centre (AAC) is a private aerospace engineering and flying training academy in Sri Lanka.
Lionair was the parent company of AAC, which has now ceased to operate.
The mastermind of the Asian Aviation Centre is veteran film producer and art lover Chandran Rutnam who dreamt of conquering the aviation field.
Chandran Rutnam stated, "I was the sort of guy who would go to an airport and watch the planes taking off. I remember as a kid, I went to the Colombo port and watched the ships coming and going out. I do not know whether it was wanderlust or freedom of movement. I do not know which one it was. Some years ago a friend of mine and I decided that we should have an airline."
He further stated how his fascination with aircraft started, "with hiring helicopters from Air Force to do a film on Vietnam. I was absolutely fascinated by these helicopters."
It is this fascination that led not only to the birth of one of the successful domestic airlines, the Lion Air, but also the Asian Aviation Centre (AAC),the premier Aerospace Engineering and Flying Training Academy in Sri Lanka. AAC is one of the few privileged Aerospace Academies in the world with an Airline to have a hands on practice for students.
In the hope of realizing his cherished dream, Rutnam explored the possibility of procuring helicopters with a like minded friend and found out that it was beyond their means. So, the idea was put on back burner for some time. However, Rutnam did not completely give up the idea. With a tip off on those two Russian built helicopters in Maldives, enthusiastic Rutnam moved into action and bought the two helicopters with the intention of starting a scheduled helicopter service.
As Chandran Rutnam realized that it was not commercially viable to start a helicopter service with two helicopters, he shelved off the idea but decided to go for fixed wing aircraft, thus laying the foundation for the domestic airline Lion Air. With aircraft bought from Kazakhstan, Lion Air commenced its operation in 1994.
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Wikipedia