India's major aviation companies are taking proactive steps to address future talent needs by establishing their own training institutions. Air India, for instance, is launching its pilot training school, while the GMR group, which owns GMR Aero Technic, India's largest airframe maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, has allocated Rs 500 million to establish an engineering school. To meet the growing demand for engineers, GMR Aero Technic has ventured into skill development with the GMR School of Aviation, noted Ashok Gopinath, President & Accountable Manager, GMR Aero Technic, which also operates Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa airports. The school plans to commence its inaugural courses by mid-July, welcoming applicants who have completed their 10+2 education with physics, chemistry, and mathematics. It will offer a globally recognized four-year program, including two years of academic study and two years of hands-on training at its MRO facility in Hyderabad. With orders exceeding 1,200 aircraft from airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa, there is a pressing need for trained manpower. Industry estimates indicate India will require approximately 5,000 aircraft maintenance engineers in the next five years. Concerns over potential shortages and the quality of training provided by external institutions have prompted these aviation firms to take direct control over talent development. According to a senior executive at Tata Sons-owned Air India, The quality of training in India's flying schools often leaves significant gaps. Air India is committed to ensuring top-quality training for its future pilots. Gopinath highlighted similar concerns for aircraft engineers, stating, Frequently, we find new recruits joining our MRO with training gaps that render them not fully industry-ready. This necessitates additional training, resulting in wasted man-hours. To enhance training standards, GMR has partnered with Airbus, enabling access to technical handbooks, an examination database, and the Airbus Competence Training (ACT) package. ACT provides a comprehensive maintenance training software solution that familiarises students with the latest Airbus aircraft technologies and maintenance procedures. Gopinath added, Encouraged by India's growth, foreign MROs are keen to establish operations here, but they face challenges in sourcing skilled personnel. Senior executives from global aerospace and MRO firms have shown strong interest in partnering with our school to ensure a pipeline of skilled talent. (Source: ET)