Mumbai: Air India ordered a fleet of 34 trainer aircraft to train cadet pilots at its upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Maharashtra’s Amravati. The aircraft ordered from United States and Austria will be used to achieve the airline’s aim to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year at Belora Airport.

On Thursday, Air India announced placing an order for 34 trainer aircraft as it prepares to start training of cadet pilots at South Asia’s largest FTO coming up in Amravati by the second half of 2025, post regulatory approvals. The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft in the United States and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria.

The trainer aircraft, are equipped with glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems and Jet A1 engines that will ensure advanced training for aspiring pilots. The fleet is expected to be delivered in 2025.

At the FTO in Amravati, Air India is developing a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms at par with global academies, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency. The FTO is coming up at Amravati’s Belora airport and will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year.

Sunil Bhaskaran, director of Air India’s Aviation Academy, said, “The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry. With this order of 34 trainer aircraft, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

The FTO is a significant attempt by the Air India to bolster its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program. The airline company is planning to cultivate a pipeline of pilots as it is constantly expanding its fleet after becoming self-reliant and multiple mergers.

With an aim to invest in aviation training, Air India opened its new Aviation Training Academy, spread over 600,000 sq ft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram. It is also the first airline in India to announce the setting up of an FTO.