In a big push to beef up home pilot coaching capability and cut back reliance on international flying colleges, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has effectively finished the soft procedure for 11 new Flying Coaching Organisation (FTO) slots at seven of its airports below the most recent e-tender spherical introduced in February 2026. The technical bids had been opened on April 30, 2026, and fiscal bids on Might 22, 2026. All of the procedure has been a hit for all websites, AAI paperwork state.
India’s civil aviation sector is ready for speedy growth, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation estimating a demand of 30,000-31,800 further pilots over the following decade. Indian carriers are anticipated to induct round 500 extra airplane over the following 5 years, whilst the airport community is projected to develop by means of 50 airports. Recently, India has 41 DGCA-approved FTOs working from 63 flying bases (as of April 2026). With out quicker growth of home coaching capability, the rising call for can’t be met sustainably, the AAI be aware warns.
In 2021, 9 FTO slots had been awarded at 5 airports and in 2022, six extra slots had been awarded at 5 airports. As well as, the AAI Board had authorised allotment of land on a card fee foundation for 25 years at 20 airports to inspire FTO building.
The 11 new FTOs are projected so as to add 60 to 70 coaching airplane within the preliminary segment, scaling as much as a blended fleet of 110 to 120 airplane at complete capability, in conjunction with a couple of simulators and coaching units. Those amenities are anticipated to create an preliminary annual coaching capability of 400 to 500 aviation pros, together with cadet pilots and technical trainees. At complete adulthood, the output may just upward thrust to roughly 1500 pros in keeping with yr, with a core output of 700 to 750 cadets and trainees.
This extra capability will lend a hand to cut back dependence on in a foreign country pilot coaching, retain coaching expenditure inside of India, reinforce utilisation of regional airports and cause them to preferrred for ab-initio flying coaching.
Home pilot licensing numbers have already proven sturdy expansion; CPL issuances rose from 640 in 2018 to 1628 in 2024. In a contemporary yr, DGCA additionally issued 615 CPLs to foreign-trained cadets along a large 2309 Scholar Pilot Licences, reflecting emerging home enrolment. The brand new FTOs at regional airports are anticipated to additional boost up this development by means of providing extra available and cost-effective coaching choices for aspiring pilots whilst making improvements to productive use of airport infrastructure.
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