Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: In response to an anticipated pilot shortage in the Indian aviation sector, Air India is establishing a pilot training academy in Amravati, Maharashtra, with a capacity to train 180 pilots annually, according to a report byThe ET.
This full-time academy will allow aspiring pilots with no prior flying experience to directly join Air India’s fleet after completing their training, the report said.
This initiative marks a significant departure from the traditional approach of Indian airlines, which have generally collaborated with independent flight schools domestically and internationally. IndiGo has partnerships with seven such flight schools.
Air India has acquired approximately 30 single-engine and four multi-engine aircraft from American company Piper and European manufacturer Diamond for this purpose, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Government is encouraging pilot training within India, as currently, over 40 per cent of students pursue their training abroad at a cost of Rs 1.5-2 crore.
Initially, the academy will focus on meeting Air India’s internal needs, but the Tata group plans to eventually offer training to external candidates as well, the business-daily said.
Additionally, Air India has partnered with Airbus and US-based L3 Harris to establish a training centre in Gururgram, featuring six simulators for type-rated and recurrent training, the news report said.
Aviation training regulations require aspiring pilots to complete ab initio (from the beginning) training for a licence, type-rated training for specific aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, and annual recurrent training to maintain their licence endorsements.
Sunil Bhaskaran, former CEO of AirAsia India and a veteran of the Tata group, is leading the development of Air India’s training infrastructure, the newspaper report added.
