Air India, a Tata Group-owned entity, has announced plans to establish a training institute in Amravati, Maharashtra, aimed at training 180 commercial pilots annually. This institute, licensed by the DGCA and located at Belora Airport, will be the largest of its kind in South Asia and is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of the upcoming financial year, according to a statement from Air India.
The facility, set to be the first of its kind by an Indian airline, will include 31 single-engine and three twin-engine aircraft for training purposes. Air India secured a 30-year tender from the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to develop and manage this initiative.
Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and CEO of Air India, emphasized that the FTO at Amravati represents a significant step towards bolstering India's aviation self-sufficiency and providing opportunities for aspiring pilots in the country.
The institute, spanning 10 acres, will feature digitally-equipped classrooms, hostel facilities comparable to global standards, a digitized operations center, and a maintenance unit, as outlined by Air India. Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of Aviation Academy at Air India, highlighted that the FTO aims to deliver training aligned with top global standards
The collaborative effort between MADC and Air India is anticipated to stimulate Maharashtra's economy by generating over 3,000 new jobs within the aviation sector, along with supporting various ancillary activities in skills development, technical fields, and small entrepreneurial ventures.
Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of MADC, projected a substantial economic contribution of over Rs 1,000 crore to the state's GDP over the next decade through this initiative.