Air India and Airbus Establish Cutting-Edge Pilot Training Center
A new pilot training facility has been inaugurated by Air India and Airbus in Gurugram, which aims to train over 5,000 pilots in the next decade.
Overview
Air India and Airbus have unveiled a state-of-the-art pilot training center at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, Haryana. This facility is set to train over 5,000 pilots within the next decade, catering to the rising demand in India’s commercial aviation sector.
Facility Details
This innovative training center, part of a joint venture owned 50:50 by both companies, covers 12,000 square meters and will come equipped with ten Full Flight Simulators (FFS). It aims to prepare pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families.
Official Inauguration
The center was inaugurated by Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. The event was attended by high-profile executives including Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, Campbell Wilson, MD and CEO of Air India, and notable figures from the Tata Group.
Training Infrastructure
The center is currently outfitted with two A320 Full Flight Simulators, with plans for additional simulators. The training programs are sanctioned by both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), ensuring adherence to global standards.
Future Prospects
Jürgen Westermeier, President & Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, expressed pride in collaborating on this project, stating that it represents a significant investment in the future of Indian aviation.
Campbell Wilson reiterated Air India’s commitment to an expansive growth strategy, with an order of 570 new aircraft. He emphasized that this facility marks a considerable advancement in achieving the airline’s vision of becoming a world-class operator, bolstering the self-reliance of India’s aviation infrastructure.
In addition to the new training center, Air India is also establishing South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organization (FTO) at Amravati, Maharashtra, with an expected annual output of 180 commercial pilots. A Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) is also under development near Air India’s future Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru.
