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Air India has ordered up to 34 single-engine and twin-engine aircraft to train pilots at its upcoming Flying Training Organization (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra. The facility is set to open in the second half of 2025, after regulatory approval.
Investing in training infrastructure
Air India’s order comprises 31 single-engine Piper Aircraft manufactured in the US and three twin-engine Diamond Aircraft manufactured in Austria. Deliveries will start in 2025. The aircraft are equipped with glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems, and Jet A1 engines to ensure aspiring pilots receive advanced training.
Photo: Air India
The Piper and Diamond planes will support the FTO, a leap forward in Air India’s commitment to enhancing its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program. It will help meet the demand for new pilots as the Indian national carrier expands its fleet and operations. Speaking about the development, Air India Aviation Academy Director Sunil Bhaskaran said,
“The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry.”
“With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organization, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Photo: Air India
The Piper Archer DX single-engine aircraft offers durability, comfort, and technology to ensure a smooth journey for students and instructors. Meanwhile, the Diamond DA42 twin-engine aircraft burns fuel like a single-engine aircraft but with the added safety of a second engine.
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A growing aviation sector
Air India opened its new Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram as part of its commitment to investing in aviation training. Measuring over 600,000 sq ft in area, it is the largest in South Asia. The national carrier is also the first airline in India to announce an FTO to strengthen its commitment to support the country’s growing aviation sector.
The airline is developing a state-of-the-art training institution in Amravati, measuring over 435,600 sq ft and equipped with digitally enabled classrooms that match global standards, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to increase operational efficiency. The FTO will deliver “best-in-class training with high safety standards.”
Photo: Air India
The facility is licensed by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is expected to be operational by the first quarter of FY26. It will be set up at Amravati’s Belora Airport, targeting to graduate 180 commercial pilots annually. The FTO will strengthen the available pilot training capacity in India.
Growing the mainline fleet
Apart from training aircraft, Air India has been in the news several times over the past year for significant jet aircraft orders for its passenger operations. In 2023, the airline placed its largest-ever order for 470 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft as part of its transformation.
The airline went on to order 100 more aircraft in 2024, taking its total order book to 570 aircraft. The 2023 order comprises 210 Airbus A320 family and 40 A350 family aircraft and 190 Boeing 737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X. The 2024 order comprises 90 A320 family and 10 A350 family jets.
Photo: Air India
With India becoming the world’s third-largest domestic market, Air India’s orders will support the growth of domestic and international air travel in the country. It also aims to change several aspects to become “a modern airline India can be proud of.” However, the airline is not without competition, with IndiGo also having orders for hundreds of aircraft.
Since September 2023, Air India has received six A350-900s and 35 B737 MAX 8s, with 529 outstanding deliveries. Following the recent mergers with Vistara and AIX Connect (AirAsia India), Air India Group now has a fleet of 300 aircraft, flying to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations. Vistara’s Airbus A320neos will be deployed on major domestic routes, leveraging the brand’s premium cabin offering.
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Why doesn’t Airbus or Boeing start manufacturing in India?
India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with recent orders of 500 planes from IndiGo and 450 from Air India. Would not any company like Boeing or Airbus like to start a manufacturing unit in India? It would allow them to build aircraft at a cheaper cost while also being able to expand their production rate in view of the international rise in demand for new aircraft.
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