Page 30 - 15th july 2024

TRAINING

Air India launches South Asia’s

largest FTO in Maharashtra

Air India establishes South Asia’s largest FTO in Amravati to transform Pilot Training.

ir India is partnering with Ma- mercial pilots annually. Air India, the Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman &
Aharashtra Airport Development first Indian airline to establish an FTO in Managing Director, Maharashtra Airport
Company to establish South Asia’s the country, will have 31 single-engine Development Company, said, “This col-
largest Flying Training Organisation in aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft laborative initiative between MADC and
Amravati, Maharashtra. This initiative for training. Air India won a tender from Air India will not only boost the econo-
aims to enhance pilot training capacity MADC to operate the FTO in Amravati my of Maharashtra by focusing on over
and bolster India’s aviation sector. This for 30 years. 3,000 new employment opportunities
FTO will bolster the airline’s trans- Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation within the aviation sector, but also cre-
formation journey and enhance pilot Academy, Air India, said, “The FTO will ate employment in multifarious allied
training capacity in India. Scheduled to be operational by Q1 FY26 and offer as- activities in skilling, technical and small
be operational in Q1 FY26, the facil- piring pilots an opportunity to undergo entrepreneurial ventures culminating
ity will feature 31 single-engine and training with world-class curricula at in an impressive contribution of over
three twin-engine aircraft for training. par with best-in-class global schools. Rs 1,000 crore to the state’s GDP over
Consequently, the organisation aims to We are delighted to be playing a part the next decade. The establishment of
graduate 180 commercial pilots annu- in building the aviation infrastruc- South Asia’s largest FTO will certainly
ally, significantly advancing the nation’s ture India needs as one of the world’s encourage students in Maharashtra to
aviation sector. fastest-growing aviation markets and to pursue careers in aviation which would
Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India, support the government’s vision for an further instill a deep sense of inspira-
said, “The FTO at Amravati will be a sig- Atmanirbhar Bharat.” tion and pride for the state of Maha-
nificant step towards making Indian avia- At the FTO in Amravati, Air India will rashtra and the Indian citizenry.”
tion more self-reliant and offering more develop a state-of-the-art training insti- Air India, as part of its commitment
opportunities to the youth in India to ful- tute spanning 10 acres. This facility will to aviation training, announced a new
fill their ambitions of flying as pilots. The include digitally enabled classrooms Training Academy in Gurugram earlier
young pilots coming out of this FTO will and hostels meeting global academy this year. Spanning 600,000 sq ft, it is
fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a standards. Additionally, a digitized the largest in South Asia. Additionally,
world-class airline, as it moves ahead in operations center and an on-site main- the new FTO in Amravati will comple-
its transformation journey.” tenance facility will enhance opera- ment Air India’s efforts to enhance In-
The DGCA-licensed FTO at Amravati’s tional efficiency. Curated to deliver the dia’s aviation ecosystem. This commit-
Belora airport will be operational by Q1 highest safety standards, the FTO aims ment aims to support and advance the
FY26, aiming to graduate 180 com- to provide best-in-class training. aviation industry in the coming years

30 15 July, 2024 www.mrobusinesstoday.com