Ranchi, March 28: Pilots under the state government would surely be in high spirits.

Chief minister Madhu Koda is learnt to have directed the civil aviation department to make immediate arrangements to procure three aircraft and a power glider.

The government had placed an order for three four-seater Zlin machines manufactured by Moravan Aviation of the Czech Republic and a power glider from Romania around eight months ago.

While each aircraft costs around a crore, price of the power glider is over Rs 7 lakh.

The state’s chief pilot, Captain Ajay Srivastava and Captain Surinder Sinha would be heading to Romania on March 30 to procure the power glider, and on April 18, the chief pilot along with senior pilot Animesh Mukherjee would be leaving for the Czech Republic to bring home the Zlin planes.

After The Telegraph’s report on the frustration of pilots in the absence of work, Koda is learnt to have inquired into the matter. “It was then that Koda directed the department to make immediate arrangements to procure the planes,” said a source, adding that Koda has also directed the Dhruv choppers to be brought back from Bangalore as soon as possible.

While the power glider is meant for the government’s flying club, the Zlin aircraft would not only be used for training purposes but also to take VIPs around the state.