Air India has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to establish its own flying academy at Belora Airport in Amravati, Maharashtra. With this approval, Air India becomes the first Indian airline to have its own flying training academy in the country.
The Air India Flying Academy will operate a fleet of 34 aircraft, comprising 31 single-engine and three twin-engine planes, for pilot training. The facility is spread across 10 acres and is designed to strengthen India’s aviation training infrastructure amid growing demand for commercial pilots.
10-Acre Pilot Training Facility
The academy will feature digitally enabled classrooms, student accommodation, a digital operations centre and a dedicated aircraft maintenance facility. These facilities are intended to provide aspiring pilots with integrated training infrastructure.
The DGCA approval marks an important step in Air India’s plan to develop its own pilot training ecosystem. The academy will complement the airline’s 600,000-square-foot training academy in Gurugram, which it describes as South Asia’s largest aviation training institution.
India’s Growing Demand for Pilots
The move comes as Indian airlines prepare for significant fleet expansion, increasing the need for trained pilots. The country’s aviation sector is expected to require tens of thousands of additional pilots over the next decade.
Air India had announced plans for the Amravati flying training organisation in July 2024. The facility was designed to train up to 180 commercial pilots annually.
By developing its own flying academy, the airline aims to strengthen its pilot training capacity while contributing to India’s wider aviation talent pipeline. The initiative is also expected to support the development of a more self-reliant aviation ecosystem.
