Air India to Start Its Own Flying School in India

Air India is set to change the course of the pilot industry in the country with its plan to establish its own pilot training academy. With the plan, Air India will become the first airline in India to start its own flying school.

Air India Aviation Academy

According to The Economic Times, Air India is all set to start its own pilot academy in India. The one-of-its-kind academy, Air India Aviation Academy, in India will be set up in Amravati, Maharashtra, and around 30 single-engine Piper aircraft and 4 Diamond aircraft will be used for the flying school. Sunil Bhaskaran, former CEO, AirAsia India, has been appointed as the director of Air India Aviation Academy.

The academy will train around 180 pilots in every yearly batch, and the admission requires a Class XII-pass certificate. Once the training is complete, Air India will induct the graduated pilot.

Issues of the Industry

The school is being set up to supply the next generation of talented pilots to the Indian aviation sector. Due to high demand and low-quality supply, many aspiring pilots in India are forced to investigate foreign education options, which is not feasible for everyone. Reports suggest that around 40% of pilots in India train abroad, and the government wants to reduce this number.

Another troubling factor for the industry seems to be the shortage of supply when it comes to pilots. If figures are to be believed, India will need more than 6,000 pilots by 2027, a number that seems unlikely to match if the situation is not rectified. With poor working conditions in India and foreign airlines, especially Middle Eastern airlines, offering better packages, the Indian aviation sector is in need of a wakeup call.