Air India to launch country's first airline-operated flying school
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Air India to launch country's first airline-operated flying school

Anticipating a shortage of pilots, Air India is establishing a school in Maharashtra?s Amravati to train up to 180 pilots annually.

Aspiring pilots without any flying experience will be able to enroll in the full-time academy, which offers a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit after completing subsequent stages of training.

This represents a significant shift in how Indian airlines have traditionally trained pilots. Previously, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet set up branded training programs affiliated with independent flight schools in India and abroad. For example, IndiGo has partnerships with seven flight schools.

Air India has chosen to acquire around 30 single-engine and four multi-engine aircraft from the American company Piper and the European manufacturer Diamond.

Air India aims to control the supply of the next generation of pilots, with the school being a crucial part of the national carrier?s long-term talent pipeline. Additionally, the airline wants to ensure the quality of training, addressing gaps in the quality of training provided by flying schools in India, which often forces students to seek training abroad.

The Tata-group-owned airline has placed an order for 470 aircraft, and CEO Campbell Wilson stated that they will induct one new aircraft every six days in 2024.

The government is encouraging the promotion of commercial pilot training within India, as over 40% of students currently go abroad for training, which can cost as much as Rs 10.5-20 billion.

Anticipating a shortage of pilots, Air India is establishing a school in Maharashtra?s Amravati to train up to 180 pilots annually. Aspiring pilots without any flying experience will be able to enroll in the full-time academy, which offers a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit after completing subsequent stages of training. This represents a significant shift in how Indian airlines have traditionally trained pilots. Previously, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet set up branded training programs affiliated with independent flight schools in India and abroad. For example, IndiGo has partnerships with seven flight schools. Air India has chosen to acquire around 30 single-engine and four multi-engine aircraft from the American company Piper and the European manufacturer Diamond. Air India aims to control the supply of the next generation of pilots, with the school being a crucial part of the national carrier?s long-term talent pipeline. Additionally, the airline wants to ensure the quality of training, addressing gaps in the quality of training provided by flying schools in India, which often forces students to seek training abroad. The Tata-group-owned airline has placed an order for 470 aircraft, and CEO Campbell Wilson stated that they will induct one new aircraft every six days in 2024. The government is encouraging the promotion of commercial pilot training within India, as over 40% of students currently go abroad for training, which can cost as much as Rs 10.5-20 billion.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

CPCL crosses $10 million revenue milestone

Chaitanya Projects Consultancy (CPCL), a leading infrastructure and engineering consultancy, has surpassed $10 million in annual revenue for FY 2024–25, marking a five-year compound annual growth rate of 28.2 per cent—well above the industry average. Established in 2004, CPCL has delivered over 300 projects across highways, bridges, urban infrastructure, water, transport, and environmental sectors. Its achievements include over 600 km of six-lane highways, 2,000 km of national highways, and 100 major bridges. “Our goal has always been to improve India’s infrastructure,” sai..

Next Story
Resources

KPIL secures new orders worth Rs 37.89 billion

Kalpataru Projects International Ltd (KPIL), a major EPC player in power transmission and civil infrastructure, has secured new orders worth approximately Rs 37.89 billion along with its international subsidiaries. The orders include a significant contract in the Buildings and Factories (B&F) segment in India, marking KPIL’s largest B&F order to date. The project involves the development of over 12 million sq ft of residential space with supporting infrastructure, awarded on a design-build basis. Additionally, the company has won new transmission and distribution (T&D) order..

Next Story
Real Estate

Apartment loading rises to 40 per cent in top cities

Driven by rising demand for premium amenities, the average apartment loading across India’s top seven cities has reached 40 per cent in Q1 2025, up from 31 per cent in 2019, according to ANAROCK Research. The loading factor, or the area paid for beyond the usable carpet area, covers common spaces such as lobbies, staircases, and clubhouses. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) continues to lead with the highest loading at 43 per cent. Bengaluru saw the sharpest jump, from 30 per cent in 2019 to 41 per cent in Q1 2025. Chennai recorded the lowest average loading at 36 per cent. “Sixty..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?