Air India-Airbus may set up South Asia's largest pilot training facility
Air India is in the final stages of forming a joint venture (JV) with European aerospace major Airbus to form a facility for pilot training services that will be the largest in the South Asian region.
People aware of the development said the total investment into the facility will be around ₹3,500 crore with both Air India and Airbus holding 50% stakes in the company.
While the facility will initially start with six simulators for the Airbus A320 family and A350 aircraft types, it will have a capacity of expanding up to 20 simulators, making it one of the largest in the region, they said.
It will cater to the needs of Air India but will also be open for other Airbus customers, sources said.
The company will rival CSTPL, a JV between IndiGo's parent company InterGlobe and CAE Inc, which currently has the largest share of the flight simulation business in India.
CSTPL — which currently has 8 simulators — is looking to add another five simulators in the next two years, people aware of the matter told ET.
Air India is also finalising another JV with US-based L3 Harris for pilot training for Boeing aircraft such as the 737, 777 and 787. Former AirAsia CEO Sunil Bhaskaran is overseeing the setting up of the JV.
«We understand the importance of developing self-reliance of human resources and have invested to build a pilot training facility as the airline caters for a huge need due to expansion of fleet and network,» an official said.
