Amravati to Get South Asia's Largest Flying Training Organization; Know its Significance for India's Aviation Market

Indian airline company Air India is all set to establish South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organization (FTO) in Amravati, located in the Vidarbha region. This new FTO will significantly enhance India's pilot training capacity.

The Amravati airport runway has been recently extended by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company. Managing Director Swati Pandey stated, “The infrastructure at Belora airport has been recently upgraded and now includes instrument-landing and night-landing systems.”

The initiative was initially taken by former President Pratibha Patil, whose son Rajendra Shekhawat was a state MLA from the Vidarbha region. It has now been continued by Devendra Fadnavis, whose mother is from Amravati.

South Asia’s Largest Flying Training Organization (FTO)

According to reports, South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organization (FTO) is expected to be operational by mid-2026. Once fully functional, the FTO will produce 180 professionally trained commercial pilots annually.

The first FTO operated by an Indian airline, it will be equipped with 31 single-engine aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft for training. 

The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has issued a tender to Air India, which will establish and manage this FTO under a 30-year license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Training Facility at FTO

Spread across ten acres, the flying school will feature a digitalized operations center, world-class dormitories, smart classrooms, and a dedicated repair facility to enhance operational efficiency.

The infrastructure includes a recently extended 1,850-meter runway, modern navigational aids, and night landing capabilities. Amravati with 300 days of clear visibility annually offers ideal conditions for pilot training, making it a best choice for Airb India’s training school.

The FTO is designed to provide the highest safety standards and top-tier training to its students.

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What is its Significance?

The establishment of the FTO promises numerous benefits, including enhancing Indian aviation's self-sufficiency and opening up new opportunities for Indian students to pursue careers as pilots, as highlighted by Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson.

"It marks a significant stride in enhancing India's aviation self-reliance," remarked Wilson. “As Air India progresses on its transformative path, the emerging pilots from this FTO will bolster the airline's aspirations of achieving global prominence.”

Over the next decade, the collaboration between MADC and Air India is projected to create more than 3,000 new job openings in the aviation sector and related industries, contributing over Rs. 1,000 crore to the state's GDP.

"The establishment of South Asia's largest FTO will undoubtedly inspire students in Maharashtra to pursue careers in aviation, fostering a profound sense of pride and inspiration among the state's citizens," remarked Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company.

Air India's Commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat

Air India's Director of the Aviation Academy, Sunil Bhaskaran, reiterated the airline's commitment to advancing the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda. By enhancing India's aviation infrastructure, Air India aims to meet the needs of one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. 

Over the past two years, the airline has recruited over a thousand pilots and currently operates a fleet of approximately 140 aircraft.

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