Simaero Pledges $100 Million To Train 5,000 Pilots In India Amid Record Aircraft Orders

France-headquartered full flight simulator provider Simaero announced last week a $100 million investment in India to train up to 5,000 pilots over the next five years.

The firm plans to introduce this investment in phases to meet the increasing demand for pilot training in India and the South Asian region.

Simaero is currently developing a state-of-the-art training centre near the the main terminals of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi, scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2024. Spanning 4,500 square metres, the facility will feature eight full-flight simulators for A320, B737 Max, and ATR 72-600 aircraft types.

"The facility will offer comprehensive training solutions, with devices certified by both DGCA and EASA authorities, and an in-house ATO (Approved Training Organisation) covering all main pilot recurrent training programmes, including initial type rating and recurrent training, with various aircraft-type simulators for airlines," the company said in a release.

The decision to enter the Indian aviation market is driven by record-setting aircraft orders, which have surpassed the current active fleet. Indian carriers have over 1,200 Airbus aircraft and 470 Boeing aircraft on order.

Currently, India has around 12,000 active pilots. With growing demand, many airlines are forced to send their pilots overseas for training, increasing costs in an industry with minimal margins, the company noted.

"Our substantial investment in India reflects our confidence in the country's strong economic foundation and the promising growth of its aviation industry," said Simaero CEO Nicolas Moute.

According to a study by US aircraft maker Boeing, India may require 31,000 pilots and some 26,000 mechanics over the next 20 years amid the growing order book of the aircraft original equipment manufacturers.