Air India establishes South Asia’s largest FTO in Amravati to transform Pilot Training.
Air India is partnering with Maharashtra Airport Development Company to establish South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation in Amravati, Maharashtra. This initiative aims to enhance pilot training capacity and bolster India’s aviation sector. This FTO will bolster the airline’s transformation journey and enhance pilot training capacity in India. Scheduled to be operational in Q1 FY26, the facility will feature 31 single-engine and three twin-engine aircraft for training. Consequently, the organisation aims to graduate 180 commercial pilots annually, significantly advancing the nation’s aviation sector.
Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India, said, “The FTO at Amravati will be a significant step towards making Indian aviation more self-reliant and offering more opportunities to the youth in India to fulfill their ambitions of flying as pilots. The young pilots coming out of this FTO will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline, as it moves ahead in its transformation journey.”
The DGCA-licensed FTO at Amravati’s Belora airport will be operational by Q1 FY26, aiming to graduate 180 commercial pilots annually. Air India, the first Indian airline to establish an FTO in the country, will have 31 single-engine aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft for training. Air India won a tender from MADC to operate the FTO in Amravati for 30 years.
Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India, said, “The FTO will be operational by Q1 FY26 and offer aspiring pilots an opportunity to undergo training with world-class curricula at par with best-in-class global schools. 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.”
At the FTO in Amravati, Air India will develop a state-of-the-art training institute spanning 10 acres. This facility will include digitally enabled classrooms and hostels meeting global academy standards. Additionally, a digitized operations center and an on-site maintenance facility will enhance operational efficiency. Curated to deliver the highest safety standards, the FTO aims to provide best-in-class training.
Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maharashtra Airport Development Company, said, “This collaborative initiative between MADC and Air India will not only boost the economy of Maharashtra by focusing on over 3,000 new employment opportunities within the aviation sector, but also create employment in multifarious allied activities in skilling, technical and small entrepreneurial ventures culminating in an impressive contribution of over Rs 1,000 crore to the state’s GDP over the next decade. The establishment of South Asia’s largest FTO will certainly encourage students in Maharashtra to pursue careers in aviation which would further instill a deep sense of inspiration and pride for the state of Maharashtra and the Indian citizenry.”
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Air India, as part of its commitment to aviation training, announced a new Training Academy in Gurugram earlier this year. Spanning 600,000 sq ft, it is the largest in South Asia. Additionally, the new FTO in Amravati will complement Air India’s efforts to enhance India’s aviation ecosystem. This commitment aims to support and advance the aviation industry in the coming years.
Q. – What is Air India establishing at Amravati, Maharashtra?
A. – South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation.
Q. – When will the FTO at Amravati be operational?
A. – Q1 FY26.
