The flying training organization, the first of its kind by any Indian airline, will have 31 single-engine aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft for training.
On Monday, Air India announced its plans to establish a flying training organization (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra, aiming to make it operational by early 2026. The company claims it will be the largest facility of its kind in South Asia.
The FTO aims to train and certify 180 commercial pilots annually. It plans to have the DGCA-licensed facility operational at Amravati’s Belora airport by the first quarter of FY26.
The Air India FTO, the first by any Indian airline in the country, will feature 31 single-engine aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft for training purposes, according to a company statement.
“The FTO at Amravati will be a significant step towards enhancing self-reliance in Indian aviation and providing greater opportunities for Indian youth to pursue their ambitions of becoming pilots,” stated Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air India.
Air India has been awarded a tender by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company to establish and operate a DGCA-licensed FTO in Amravati for a duration of 30 years.
“The FTO will provide aspiring pilots the chance to receive training with world-class curricula comparable to leading global institutions. We are pleased to contribute to the development of India’s aviation infrastructure, supporting its vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets,” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of the Aviation Academy of Air India.
Aviation consultancy CAPA last month in its outlook highlighted the shortage of manpower in the industry and expressed concern over it.
“The shortages of pilots, AMEs (aircraft maintenance engineers), cabin crew, flight dispatchers and others is far more serious than currently estimated or visible,” Kapil Kaul, CEO of CAPA India, said, adding that the introduction of the new flight duty time limitations guidelines that is likely to be implemented this year and poaching by Middle Eastern carriers is likely to accentuate the labour shortage issue.
Air India had earlier this year announced its new training academy, spread over 600,000 sqft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram.