Air India’s Pilot Pipeline Set to Soar with New Fleet of Trainer Aircraft
In a significant push to strengthen India’s aviation training capacity, Air India has ordered 34 new trainer aircraft for its upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra.
The order includes 31 single-engine trainers from U.S.-based Piper Aircraft and three twin-engine trainers from Austria’s Diamond Aircraft, marking a pivotal investment in building a robust cadre of homegrown pilots.
Set to launch in the second half of 2025—pending regulatory approvals—the Amravati FTO is poised to become South Asia’s largest, capable of graduating 180 commercial pilots each year. This development aligns with Air India’s broader Vihaan.
AI transformation strategy, aimed at boosting self-reliance and ensuring a stable pipeline of qualified pilots as the airline expands its fleet. By choosing to train pilots domestically, Air India is working to create a sustainable ecosystem that can meet growing industry demands, reduce dependence on overseas training, and bolster India’s position as a global aviation powerhouse.
The ordered fleet will feature modern glass cockpits equipped with G1000 avionics systems and Jet A1 engines, ensuring that trainee pilots gain experience on state-of-the-art equipment. This step promises to elevate the quality of training and better prepare cadets for the increasingly sophisticated aircraft they’ll command in commercial service.
The FTO’s establishment at Amravati’s Belora airport represents a key element of Air India’s long-term vision. According to Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of Air India’s Aviation Academy, the move is designed to “exponentially expand our training infrastructure” while contributing to India’s self-sufficiency in aviation training.
This initiative complements Air India’s new Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram—at 600,000 square feet, it’s the largest such facility in South Asia.
Together, these investments underscore the carrier’s dedication to powering the nation’s aviation ecosystem, positioning Air India and India’s wider aviation industry to meet the surging demand for skilled pilots in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
By strategically developing cutting-edge training platforms and investing in the next generation of aviators, Air India is laying the groundwork for India’s future as a leader in global aviation—reinforcing its commitment to excellence, self-reliance, and the sustainable growth of the nation’s air transport sector.
