Air India Plans South Asia's Largest Flight Training School in Maharashtra's Amravati, to Invest Over ₹200 Crore.

Air India has unveiled plans to establish South Asia's largest flight training school in Maharashtra's Amravati district, with an investment exceeding ₹200 crore. The initiative aims to cater to the airline's growing demand for pilots and is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of the upcoming financial year.

Being the first of its kind for an airline in India, this strategic move aligns with Air India's recent procurement of 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft in 2023, projecting a requirement of 500-700 pilots annually to support its expansion plans.

Air India has partnered with the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), securing a 10-acre plot on a thirty-year lease at Amravati. The facility will house 31 single-engine Piper and three twin-engine Diamond aircraft, enabling the training of 180 commercial pilots each year.

In 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued over 1,600 commercial pilot licenses, marking the highest issuance in a decade, including conversions of licenses obtained overseas. Despite having 34 approved training schools in India, approximately 40% of pilots still undergo commercial pilot training abroad.

Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India, emphasized, “The flying training organization at Amravati will be a significant stride towards bolstering India's aviation self-reliance and offering greater opportunities for Indian youth aspiring to become pilots.”

Air India, currently operating a fleet of approximately 140 aircraft, has recruited over a thousand pilots in the past two years. Upgrades to the Amravati airport include extending the runway from 1,372 meters to 1,850 meters, installing modern navigation aids, and enabling night landing capabilities. The region's clear visibility for over 300 days a year further enhances the training environment for future pilots.

Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of MADC, highlighted, “We are delighted to contribute to India's aviation infrastructure needs as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally and to support the government's vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of Aviation Academy at Air India, expressed, “We are committed to building the aviation capabilities India requires and fostering a self-reliant India, in line with one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.”

The establishment of this flight training school underscores Air India's commitment to enhancing aviation training infrastructure within the country and nurturing a new generation of skilled aviators.

HBL