GURUGRAM: Air India, India’s leading global airline, has placed an order for 34 trainer aircraft as it prepares to start training cadet pilots at South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) coming up in Amravati, Maharashtra by the second half of 2025, post regulatory approvals.

The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft in the United States and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria.

The FTO is a leap forward in Air India’s commitment to bolster its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program and cultivate a pipeline of pilots as it expands its fleet, becoming self-reliant.

The trainer aircraft, due for delivery starting in 2025, are equipped with glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems, and Jet A1 engines that will ensure advanced training for aspiring pilots.

The FTO is coming up at Amravati’s Belora airport and will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year.

“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 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 and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India.

As part of its commitment to invest in aviation training, Air India opened its new Aviation Training Academy, spread over 600,000 sq ft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram. It is also the first airline in India to announce the setting up of an FTO that will complement Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years.

At the FTO in Amravati, Air India is developing a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms at par with global academies, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency. The FTO is curated to deliver best-in-class training with high safety standards.

The post Air India Orders 34 Trainer Aircraft appeared first on NRI News.

The certification ceremony saw the presence of Shri Nilambuj Sharan, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, alongside esteemed individuals including Mr. Arindam Lahiri, CEO of Automotive Skills Development Council, Dr. Rodney Reviere, Project Head of IGVET, Ms. Meenu Sarawgi, EVP & Chief – Strategy & Operations ASDC, Shri. Rama Shankar Pandey, CEO, Tata Green Batteries & ASDC GC member, Shri. Suresh Londhe, Joint Director of Industries, Department of Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri. Sachin Jadhav, Additional Commissioner, Maharashtra State Skill Development Society, and Mr. Sagar D. Shinde, Director of Sukhakarta General Engineering Cluster Pvt. Ltd. (SGECPL).

Conducted in collaboration with Sukhakarta General Engineering Cluster Pvt. Ltd. (SGECPL) in Pune, the ToT program successfully trained a total of 189 trainers across eight batches, which consisted of one-month classroom training followed by one-month on-the-job training. The initiative strengthened the public-private partnership in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) domain, upgrading the technical and pedagogical skills of trainers in line with industry 4.0 requirements. Moreover, it effectively bridged the skills gap by involving industry members in curriculum development.

Speaking at the occasion, Shri Nilambuj Sharan, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, MSDE said that “The Cluster-based ToT in the automotive sector is a unique example of synergy between public and private sector as well as industry alignment. The Cluster-based TOT project has been instrumental in providing skill training and upskilling opportunities for trainers in the automotive sector. I would like to appreciate the active involvement of ASDC and the units in the Sukhakarta General Engineering Cluster Pvt. Ltd. for the smooth and successful completion of the initiative undertaken through the World Bank-aided scheme, namely, Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP). With rapid advancements and transformations within the industry, it is crucial to develop a highly competent set of trainers to prepare the workforce to meet the ever-evolving demands. He also congratulated the trainees who were awarded certificates on the occasion“

Mr. Arindam Lahiri, the CEO, of ASDC, emphasized the importance of upskilling in the competitive automotive sector, stating, ” It is worth highlighting that the project is strategically located within one of the largest automotive clusters, comprising over 3,000 industries supporting auto Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across India and manufacturing auto components. This location offers a fertile ground for skills development and fostering industry growth. By continuously enhancing the skills of the workforce, we can drive innovation, efficiency, and excellence within the sector.“

The ToT model was initially piloted in Aurangabad, covering three job roles—Advanced Welding, CNC operations, and Robotics—with one batch each and a total of 75 trainers. Currently, the project is being implemented in Pune, an automotive cluster with over 3000+ industries supporting auto OEMs across India. The Automotive Skills Development Council remains committed to continuously developing and upgrading automotive skills to drive higher value additions and integrate skills with academic pathways, making them aspirational.

Recognizing the crucial role of trainers in imparting knowledge, skills, and pedagogical techniques, the Center has prioritized Training of Trainers (ToT) programs as an integral part of the Skill India mission. These programs aim to build a competent and robust workforce across various sectors, multiplying the impact of skill development initiatives.

The post MSDE certifies 98 Trainers, trained in the cluster-based ToT project, under the SANKALP program, in a convocation ceremony organized by ASDC appeared first on NRI News.