After a rough ride filled with air pockets for the better part of a decade, India’s aviation sector appears to be on track for a smooth flight at cruise altitude but needs more pilots.
As a result of new operational plans, routes, and fleet additions, some airlines have expanded payrolls to match rising demand, resulting in a ‘sectoral upcycle‘ in jobs.
Flying schools and crew training academies are gaining a new lease on life as the skies become more crowded and business travel rises in lockstep with the resumption of normal office routines across India.
Currently, the industry is experiencing a severe scarcity of type-rated pilots and ramp engineers.
According to various estimates, India graduates roughly 400-600 commercial pilots per year from flight schools, whereas the country needs 1,500-2,000 pilots per year to accommodate increased demand for air transport.
In a ‘business-as-usual‘ scenario, the industry will require around 10,000 pilots over the next five years.
"With the increase in air travel, there is a big demand for trained commercial pilots in India right now," said Captain Mihir Bhagvati, president of the Bombay Flying Club. "Regional airlines like FlyBig, new airlines like Akasa, airline expansion, and post-pandemic pent-up demand will need the hiring of more pilots."
The demand for pilot, engineer, and cabin crew training has increased by 25-30% at top flight schools and a slew of newly founded FTOs (flying training organisations).
“The government is making a strong push to promote aviation academies, which may assist meet the domestic need for pilots while also making India a flying destination – even for international students,” Captain Bhagvati said.
"We've seen a 25-30% rise in inquiries for pilot, engineer, and cabin crew training, as well as a 10-15% increase in admissions."
Pilots and aviation corporations alike are flocking to flying schools and aircraft simulator training centres for type conversion (type-rating for new aircraft models).
Stay tuned and updated with Aviationa2z.
