India’s massive requirement for pilots — given the over 1,500 aircraft already on order by Air India, IndiGo, Akasa and other airlines — is attracting global training biggies to the country. International flight simulator provider Simaero has decided to invest $100 million in India to train up to 5,000 pilots over the next five years. It will install flight simulators here to meet the growing demand for pilot training in India and the South Asian region. Simaero India GM Khushbeg Jattana shares the company’s plans for the country. Excerpts:
Ques. How do you see the pilot demand panning out in India given the huge aircraft orders?
Ans. (The demand for pilot training is huge.) In recent times India has witnessed record-setting aircraft orders, which have exceeded the current active fleet. Indian carriers have over 1,200 Airbus aircraft and 470 Boeing aircraft on order. In 2023 alone 120 new aircraft were added to the fleet. Each aircraft needs 12 to 16 pilots to be able to run the aircraft efficiently. India presently has about 12,000 active pilots. The country will need close to 8,000 additional pilots in a span of the next five years which means that we need to add close to 1,500 to 2,000 pilots each year to meet the growing demand.
Ques. What percentage of CPL and type-rating simulator or sim training happens in India as of now and how do you see this mix changing in coming years?
Ans. Presently when it comes to CPL, 70% of the training is done abroad. Within the next decade I anticipate that 30% of the training will be done outside of the country while 70% in India. When it comes to flight simulation training, presently significant proportion is done abroad. This will drop to 10% within the next decade.
Where commercial pilot licences (CPL) is concerned, India has 34 to 37 flight schools that are able to cater to less than half of the total licences issued each year. India issued 1,622 pilot licences in 2023, the highest in a decade. Over 95% pilots who train abroad return to India to seek employment in the country each year.
Where flight simulation training is concerned, more than 60% of type rate training is done outside of India due to the lack of adequate training infrastructure here. There is a high deficit in the market for simulator training for all types of aircrafts especially the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 NG and B737Max which are mostly used in India.
Ques. On an average what is difference in cost for doing A320/B737 sim training cost in India and abroad?
Ans. The primary international markets for flight simulation pilot training are Europe, Middle East and SouthEast Asia. Training abroad is much more expensive over training in India. There is the cost of international travel, loss of man hours, mandatory per diem allowance and longer periods of time to complete trainings abroad. Moreover there is a significant loss of the dollar when training at an international destination. The overall cost of training is 30% less if done in India.
Ques. Where all will your set up sims for type-rating in India?
Ans. We are looking to bring training solutions to India to support the growth and operational efficiency of local and regional airlines. Our new training centre in Delhi NCR which will be ready by the end of 2024. We are poised to meet the growing needs of the aviation industry in Asia and are committed to enhancing the simulator fleet to meet the needs of the sector. We also have plans to set up two satellite centres within year three and five of commencing operations. We are looking at Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata as potential cities for the satellite centres.
Ques. What is the investment Simaero will do in India?
Ans. Simaero, will invest $100 million in India to train up to 5,000 pilots over the next five years. The firm will bring in the investment in a phased manner to create training infrastructure and install flight simulators to meet the growing demand for pilot training in India and the South Asian region.
Simaero’s $100 million investment will be strategically allocated to the infrastructure for the training centre and the development of a trained local workforce. The development of a state-of-the-art training facility in Delhi NCR is well underway, with construction expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024. This centre, which is spread over 4,500 square metres, will feature eight full-flight simulators starting with A320 NEO and B737NG aircraft types. The facility will offer comprehensive training solutions, with the training programme and devices being DGCA and EASA certified and an ATO covering all main pilot recurrent training programs, including initial type rating and recurrent training, with various aircraft-type simulators for airlines.
Ques. Do you plan to tie up with some airlines in India?
Yes. We are in talks with all major airlines in India and across Asia. Simaero presently has 220 airlines as its customers globally. We aim to cater to the needs of airlines in India, SouthEast Asia and Central Asia. With Simaero India’s facility coming up in Delhi NCR we are confident that India will be seen as the aviation training hub of Asia.
Ques. How do you see the pilot demand panning out in India given the huge aircraft orders?
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Ques. What percentage of CPL and type-rating simulator or sim training happens in India as of now and how do you see this mix changing in coming years?
Ans. Presently when it comes to CPL, 70% of the training is done abroad. Within the next decade I anticipate that 30% of the training will be done outside of the country while 70% in India. When it comes to flight simulation training, presently significant proportion is done abroad. This will drop to 10% within the next decade.
Where commercial pilot licences (CPL) is concerned, India has 34 to 37 flight schools that are able to cater to less than half of the total licences issued each year. India issued 1,622 pilot licences in 2023, the highest in a decade. Over 95% pilots who train abroad return to India to seek employment in the country each year.
Where flight simulation training is concerned, more than 60% of type rate training is done outside of India due to the lack of adequate training infrastructure here. There is a high deficit in the market for simulator training for all types of aircrafts especially the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 NG and B737Max which are mostly used in India.
Ques. On an average what is difference in cost for doing A320/B737 sim training cost in India and abroad?
Ans. The primary international markets for flight simulation pilot training are Europe, Middle East and SouthEast Asia. Training abroad is much more expensive over training in India. There is the cost of international travel, loss of man hours, mandatory per diem allowance and longer periods of time to complete trainings abroad. Moreover there is a significant loss of the dollar when training at an international destination. The overall cost of training is 30% less if done in India.
Ques. Where all will your set up sims for type-rating in India?
Ans. We are looking to bring training solutions to India to support the growth and operational efficiency of local and regional airlines. Our new training centre in Delhi NCR which will be ready by the end of 2024. We are poised to meet the growing needs of the aviation industry in Asia and are committed to enhancing the simulator fleet to meet the needs of the sector. We also have plans to set up two satellite centres within year three and five of commencing operations. We are looking at Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata as potential cities for the satellite centres.
Ques. What is the investment Simaero will do in India?
Ans. Simaero, will invest $100 million in India to train up to 5,000 pilots over the next five years. The firm will bring in the investment in a phased manner to create training infrastructure and install flight simulators to meet the growing demand for pilot training in India and the South Asian region.
Simaero’s $100 million investment will be strategically allocated to the infrastructure for the training centre and the development of a trained local workforce. The development of a state-of-the-art training facility in Delhi NCR is well underway, with construction expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024. This centre, which is spread over 4,500 square metres, will feature eight full-flight simulators starting with A320 NEO and B737NG aircraft types. The facility will offer comprehensive training solutions, with the training programme and devices being DGCA and EASA certified and an ATO covering all main pilot recurrent training programs, including initial type rating and recurrent training, with various aircraft-type simulators for airlines.
Ques. Do you plan to tie up with some airlines in India?
Yes. We are in talks with all major airlines in India and across Asia. Simaero presently has 220 airlines as its customers globally. We aim to cater to the needs of airlines in India, SouthEast Asia and Central Asia. With Simaero India’s facility coming up in Delhi NCR we are confident that India will be seen as the aviation training hub of Asia.
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