Air India Orders 34 Training Aircraft For Flight School

Aspiring pilots will get the opportunity to enrol in a full-time aircraft flying course at the academy and earn a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit on successful completion of training. ET reported on 18 June about the airline's plans to start a pilot training school.

Air India's initiative marks a major shift in strategy on how Indian carriers trained pilots. Till now, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet have set up branded training programmes affiliated with independent flight schools in India and abroad. For instance, IndiGo has a tie-up with seven flight schools. "The new flying training organisation 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," said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India. "With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia's largest Flying Training Organisation, 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."