GURUGRAM- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) has placed an order for 34 trainer aircraft to support the training of cadet pilots at South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO), set to open at Belora Airport in Amravati, Maharashtra, by the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from U.S.-based Piper Aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft from Austria’s Diamond Aircraft. These aircraft, equipped with advanced glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems, and Jet A1 engines, aim to provide cutting-edge training for aspiring pilots.
Air India Orders 34 Trainer Aircraft
This initiative aligns with Air India’s Vihaan.AI transformation program, which focuses on strengthening training infrastructure and ensuring a steady supply of skilled pilots to support its expanding fleet.
The FTO plans to graduate 180 commercial pilots annually, reinforcing Air India’s move toward self-reliance in pilot training.
Deliveries of the trainer aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2025.
Executive Remarks
Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of Air India’s Aviation Academy, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and addresses the growing demand for skilled pilots in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.
The new FTO will span 10 acres at Belora Airport and feature advanced facilities, including digitally enabled classrooms, a digitized operations center, on-site maintenance facilities, and hostels. Designed to meet global standards, the institute will provide high-quality training with a focus on safety and operational efficiency.
This development follows Air India’s earlier opening of its Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, a 600,000 sq ft facility that is now the largest in South Asia. The academy is part of Air India’s Vihaan.AI transformation program, which aims to strengthen India’s aviation training ecosystem and cultivate a self-reliant pipeline of qualified pilots.
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