Air India and Airbus have officially launched an advanced pilot training center at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, Haryana. This cutting-edge facility will train over 5,000 pilots over the next decade, addressing the growing demand for skilled pilots as India’s commercial aviation industry experiences rapid expansion.
The joint venture, with equal participation from both companies, was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, along with Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, and Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India, along with other key figures from the Tata Group, Air India, and Airbus.
The newly built 12,000-square-meter center is designed to support the training of pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families. Equipped with 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), the center will provide advanced classrooms and briefing rooms, ensuring that pilot training meets international standards. Currently, the center is equipped with two A320 simulators, with plans to add another six A320 simulators and two A350 simulators in the near future. The facility’s courses are fully accredited by both the DGCA and EASA, aligning with the highest global aviation training standards.
Jürgen Westermeier, President & Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, commented “We’re excited to collaborate with Air India and the Tata Group on this essential project. The launch of this training center is a clear reflection of our collective vision for the future of Indian aviation. This venture isn’t just about commercial success; it’s a strategic investment in India’s aerospace industry, and we have great confidence in the potential of this market.”
Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India, added “With 570 new aircraft on order, Air India is embarking on a major expansion, and this pilot training center is a key part of that. It will help us train and upskill the pilots who will drive Air India’s growth and global competitiveness. This facility is crucial to our transformation, making Air India and India’s aviation industry more self-reliant as we strive to become a world-class airline.”
This new training center will consolidate Air India’s pilot training operations, which have been spread across multiple locations, into a centralized facility in Gurugram. The Air India Aviation Training Academy, which opened in 2024, is now South Asia’s largest aviation training institution. It currently trains over 2,000 aviation professionals daily and aims to graduate more than 50,000 professionals, including pilots, cabin crew, ground handling staff, and security personnel in the coming years.
The academy is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for immersive training in Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP), cabin crew service training, grooming, and communication. Training for ground staff includes key areas like departure control, customer service, and airport security.
In addition to the Gurugram center, Air India is setting up South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organization (FTO) at Amravati in Maharashtra. This DGCA-licensed facility, located at Belora airport, aims to produce 180 commercial pilots annually, ensuring Air India has a steady supply of qualified pilots as the fleet grows.
Air India is also working on establishing a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) near its new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru, which is set to be operational by FY27. The BMTO will offer a two-year integrated Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program certified by the DGCA, followed by practical on-the-job training at the MRO facility. With these initiatives, Air India is not only enhancing its own capabilities but is also contributing to the overall growth of India’s aviation sector, helping meet the increasing demand for highly skilled aviation professionals.
