Tata Group-owned Air India said it has ordered 34 trainer aircraft for a pilot training school it is building at Amravati in Maharashtra. The order comprises 31 single-engine aircraft from US planemaker Piper Aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft from Austria-based Diamond Aircraft. The airline is planning to open the school in the second half of 2025 after getting regulatory approvals.

Aspiring pilots will get the opportunity to enrol in a full-time aircraft flying course at the academy and earn a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit on successful completion of training. ET reported on 18 June about the airline's plans to start a pilot training school.

Air India's initiative marks a major shift in strategy on how Indian carriers trained pilots. Till now, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet have set up branded training programmes affiliated with independent flight schools in India and abroad. For instance, IndiGo has a tie-up with seven flight schools. "The new flying training organisation 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," said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India. "With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia's largest Flying Training Organisation, 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."