Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu yesterday (5 August) awarded Letters of Intent for the establishment of 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across seven Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports.
The addition is expected to increase India's annual pilot training capacity by 750 cadets per year, providing a substantial boost to the country's rapidly expanding civil aviation sector.
Currently, 41 Flying Training Organisations operate from 63 flying bases across the country.
The new facilities will support India's growing demand for qualified pilots as the sector experiences unprecedented expansion.
Indian airlines currently have 1,640 aircraft on order, with nearly 500 aircraft expected to be inducted over the next five years.
The minister highlighted significant progress in the pilot training ecosystem over recent years. India has witnessed the establishment of six new FTOs over the last two years, while the number of training aircraft available has increased from 324 to 385, resulting in a 25 per cent rise in annual flying hours.
The expansion has translated into improved pilot output.
The number of Commercial Pilot Licences issued increased from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025, the highest number issued in the last decade, with 2026 expected to witness further growth.
During the programme, Ram Mohan Naidu also launched the FTO IFR Slot Booking App to streamline instrument flight training at AAI airports.
The minister emphasised that safety must remain central to all efforts, stressing the need to strengthen instructor oversight and build a deep-rooted safety culture across all FTOs.
He also noted progress in the development of the indigenous HANSA-3 trainer aircraft as an important milestone in strengthening India's self-reliant aviation training ecosystem.