Air India receives DGCA approval for flying academy in Maharashtra

Air India has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to establish its flying academy at Belora Airport in Amravati, Maharashtra. This initiative is a joint project between Air India, a Tata Group company, and the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC).

The academy will operate a fleet of 34 aircraft, including 31 single-engine Piper Archer planes and three Diamond DA42 NG twin-engine aircraft. These planes are equipped with advanced Garmin G1000 NXi cockpit systems and ADS-B technology. To support training, the 10-acre facility will include digitally enabled classrooms, student accommodation, a dining hall, briefing rooms, aircraft hangars, and a dedicated maintenance facility.

Practical instruction will be supplemented by three flight simulators: two for single-engine aircraft and one for multi-engine aircraft. The academy aims to maintain a ratio of six trainee pilots for every flight instructor. This development follows Air India’s investment in a 600,000 sq. ft. training academy in Gurugram, positioning the airline to support the growing demand for pilots within India’s expanding aviation sector.