Simaero to Invest $100 Million, Train 5,000 Pilots in India

Flight simulation and solutions provider Simaero has announced its intention to train approximately 5,000 pilots over the next five years, backed by a planned investment of $100 million in India. The French company aims to establish infrastructure for simulator-based pilot training, catering to the growing demand for skilled aviators in the region, according to a statement released by the company.

Simaero's flight simulators and training solutions cover a range of commercial aircraft manufactured by industry giants Airbus, Boeing, ATR, and Embraer.

"The $100 million investment by Simaero will be strategically utilized to develop infrastructure for the training center and to build a trained local workforce," the company stated. Construction of a state-of-the-art training facility in Delhi NCR is already underway, with an expected completion by the fourth quarter of 2024. Spanning over 4,500 square meters, the center will feature eight full-flight simulators, initially focusing on A320 NEO and B737NG aircraft types.

Simaero plans to implement the investment in phases, with a focus on creating training infrastructure and installing flight simulators for pilot training in India and the broader South Asian region.

With leading Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India expanding their fleets with a record number of orders for narrowbody and widebody aircraft, Simaero anticipates significant demand for flight simulator fleets to train a large number of pilots.

"India's aviation market growth and record-setting aircraft orders have exceeded the current active fleet. Indian carriers have over 1,200 Airbus aircraft and 470 Boeing aircraft on order," the company noted.

Presently, India has approximately 12,000 active pilots. According to a recent Boeing study, the country will require approximately three times the number of pilots over the next 20 years to accommodate this growth.

Khushbeg Jattana will lead Simaero's team in India, overseeing the entire project lifecycle from initial planning and design to final completion and operationalization.

"Our substantial investment in India reflects our confidence in the country's strong economic foundation and the promising growth of its aviation industry. We are excited to be part of this dynamic market and contribute to its development," said Nicolas Mouté, Chief Executive Officer of Simaero.

ET