The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has announced the establishment of South Asia?s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra, which will be operated by Tata-owned Air India. This new DGCA-licensed FTO at Belora Airport is set to be operational by the first quarter of FY26, with an annual target of training 180 commercial pilots.

?The FTO at Amravati will be a significant step towards making Indian aviation more self-reliant and providing more opportunities for Indian youth to fulfill their ambitions of becoming pilots. The young pilots emerging from this FTO will support Air India?s goal of becoming a world-class airline as it continues its transformation journey,? said Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India.

According to a release, the Air India FTO will have 31 single-engine and three twin-engine aircraft available for training, making it the first of its kind for any Indian airline. MADC has awarded Air India a 30-year contract to build and operate this FTO in Amravati.

Swati Pandey, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, MADC, stated, "This collaborative initiative between MADC and Air India will not only boost Maharashtra?s economy by creating over 3,000 new jobs in the aviation sector but also generate employment in various allied activities, contributing over Rs 10 billion to the state?s GDP over the next decade."

Pandey added, "The establishment of South Asia?s largest FTO will encourage students in Maharashtra to pursue careers in aviation, instilling a sense of inspiration and pride for the state and the nation."

Earlier this year, Air India announced the opening of its new Training Academy in Gurugram, the largest in South Asia, spanning 600,000 square feet, as part of its commitment to investing in aviation training. The addition of this new FTO in Amravati will further strengthen Air India's role in advancing India's aviation ecosystem. (Source: ET)