Air India and Airbus Launch Advanced Pilot Training Facility with Rs 1,000 Crore Investment in Haryana

The simulators will be installed with an investment of more than Rs 1,000 crore. (Representational)

New Delhi:

Air India and Airbus have established a joint venture training facility in Haryana for A320 and A350 aircraft pilot training, with investments exceeding Rs 1,000 crore for simulator installations.

The state-of-the-art pilot training center at the Air India Aviation Training Academy aims to train over 5,000 new pilots in the next decade, according to the airline's Tuesday announcement.

This equal partnership facility spans 12,000 square meters and features 10 full-flight simulators alongside advanced classrooms and briefing rooms. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu inaugurated the center on Tuesday.

Currently, the facility houses two full-flight simulators for A320 family aircraft, with plans to progressively install six more A320 simulators and two A350 simulators.

Minister Naidu shared on X that the simulator installation represents an investment exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.

"Had the honour of inaugurating the Air India-Airbus Pilot Training Centre at Air India's Aviation Training Academy alongside Airbus Board Chairman, Rene Obermann and Air India CEO, Campbell Wilson.

"Through this joint venture, 10 cutting-edge simulators, including India's first A350 simulators, will be installed with a planned investment of over (Rs) 1,000 crore," the minister stated on X.

Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, emphasized that the venture represents more than a partnership.

"It is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry itself. India is a strategic powerhouse for Airbus, and this state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our belief in its immense potential."

Wilson described the facility as a significant advancement in the airline's transformation journey and a step toward making both Air India and the Indian aviation industry more self-reliant.

The Tata Group-acquired airline, which was taken over in January 2022, has ordered 570 new aircraft, including both narrow-body and wide-body planes from Airbus and Boeing.

With this training center, Air India is consolidating its pilot training infrastructure at the Air India Aviation Training Academy located in Gurugram, Haryana.

In a separate statement, Airbus noted that the Gurugram facility will complement the four A320 family full-flight simulators at the existing Airbus India Training Centre in the national capital.

Together, these two hubs will feature a combined total of 14 full-flight simulators, creating a comprehensive training network. Additionally, Airbus is working with local partners to provide world-class maintenance training, ensuring a strong pipeline of technicians and engineers to support future fleet operations.

Established in 2024, the Air India Aviation Training Academy plans to train more than 50,000 aviation professionals over the next few years, including pilots, cabin crew, ground handling staff, engineers, and security personnel.

The airline is also developing South Asia's largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra.

Furthermore, a new Basic Maintenance Training Organisation (BMTO) is being established near Air India's upcoming Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru, scheduled to be operational in FY27.

The BMTO will offer a two-year integrated Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program certified by DGCA, followed by two years of practical on-the-job training at the MRO facility.