Dhaka: Air India and Airbus have opened an advanced pilot training centre in Gurugram, Haryana, marking a major step in strengthening India’s aviation training infrastructure as the country’s rapidly expanding air travel market drives soaring demand for skilled pilots.

The 12,000-square-metre facility will train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade. It will feature 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), advanced classrooms and briefing rooms, and will provide training for Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft. The courses are approved by both India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The centre currently houses two A320 simulators, with six additional A320 and two A350 simulators to be installed in phases.

“This inauguration marks a strategic investment in India’s aviation future,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia. “It reflects our shared vision with Air India and the Tata Group and our confidence in India’s aerospace potential.”

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the facility supports the airline’s transformation and fleet expansion, with 570 new aircraft on order. “This is a major step in our journey to become a world-class airline and to make India more self-reliant in aviation. With Airbus, we are building the infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets,” he said.

Air India is consolidating its pilot training operations at the Gurugram academy, the largest aviation training complex in South Asia. Established in 2024, it currently trains more than 2,000 aviation professionals daily and is expected to train over 50,000 pilots, cabin crew, engineers, ground handlers and security staff in the coming years.

The airline is also setting up South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Amravati in Maharashtra. The DGCA-licensed FTO at Belora airport will train around 180 commercial pilots annually to meet growing demand.

In addition, a Basic Maintenance Training Organisation (BMTO) is being built near Air India’s new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru, expected to open in fiscal 2027. The BMTO will offer a two-year DGCA-certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) programme followed by two years of practical on-the-job training at the MRO.

-B