In a significant move to address the severe shortage of pilots in the Indian aviation sector, Air India has announced plans to establish its own flight school at Amravati's Belora airport. The airline has signed agreements with American company Piper and European manufacturer Diamond to provide training for its pilots.
This marks a significant shift in strategy for Indian airlines, which have traditionally partnered with independent flight schools for cadet pilot programs. Air India's decision to set up its own training facility aims to ensure quality and control over the supply of the next generation of pilots.
The school will cater to internal requirements initially, but the Tata Group, which owns Air India, sees potential in catering to external needs in the future. Aspiring pilots with no prior flying experience will be able to enter the full-time academy and have a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit after completing the next stages of training.
The airline has placed an order for 470 aircraft and plans to induct one new aircraft every six days in 2024. The government is pushing to promote commercial pilot training within India, as over 40% of students currently go abroad for training, which can cost up to Rs 1.5-2 crore.
Air India's new training centre at Gurgaon, in partnership with Airbus and US-based L3 Harris, houses six simulators for type-rated and recurrent training. The airline aims to ensure that its pilots receive the highest quality training, which is currently lacking in many Indian flying schools.
The government's encouragement to set up pilot training centres within the country is expected to help address the severe shortage of pilots, which has led to flight cancellations and disruptions in recent times. With Air India's new flight school, the airline is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Indian aviation[1][3][4][5].
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