Air India Revolutionizes Aviation Training in South Asia
Air India, India’s flagship airline, is poised to reshape aviation training across South Asia with its groundbreaking Flying Training Organization (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra. This ambitious project, slated to open in the second half of 2025 (pending regulatory approvals), aims to become the region’s largest FTO. The initiative underscores Air India’s commitment to excellence and its contribution to India’s burgeoning aviation sector, aligning with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
State-of-the-Art Facilities and Advanced Aircraft
To support this ambitious endeavor, Air India has invested in a fleet of 34 advanced trainer aircraft. This includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft (USA) and three twin-engine models from Diamond Aircraft (Austria). These aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge glass cockpits, G1000 avionics, and Jet A1 engines, will provide trainees with a realistic and modern flight training experience. The Amravati FTO, situated at Belora Airport, will span 10 acres and boast digitally enabled classrooms, on-site hostels, a digitized operations center, and an in-house maintenance facility. The facility is designed to train 180 commercial pilots annually, directly addressing the growing global demand for skilled aviation professionals.
A Strategic Move for Self-Reliance and Growth
The FTO project is a key component of Air India’s comprehensive Vihaan.AI transformation strategy, which aims to boost operational capabilities while supporting the airline’s expansion plans. By establishing a robust local training infrastructure, Air India is promoting self-sufficiency in pilot development, essential for the airline’s continued growth and the nation’s aviation industry. This strategic move mirrors a global trend of airlines investing in their training infrastructures to build a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots.
India’s Aviation Growth and Global Demand
India’s rapid expansion as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets necessitates a corresponding increase in skilled pilots. Air India’s initiative directly addresses this need, providing a significant contribution to national development in the aviation sector. The global demand for pilots is also increasing significantly, making this investment strategically advantageous both for Air India and for addressing broader industry needs. The Amravati FTO will play a key role in meeting this global demand while boosting India’s aviation prowess.
Air India’s Commitment to Aviation Excellence
Beyond the Amravati FTO, Air India has further demonstrated its commitment to aviation training by opening its new Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram – a 600,000-square-foot facility, also the largest in South Asia. Air India is the first airline in India to establish an FTO, showcasing its dedication to strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem and raising training standards to global benchmarks. This holistic approach to aviation training, encompassing both theoretical and practical aspects, underscores Air India’s dedication to developing highly-skilled, safe, and knowledgeable pilots.
Sunil Bhaskaran’s Statement
Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India, stated: “The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry. With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
