India’s 1st flight simulator near Delhi airport
To address the growing demand for trained pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers, aerospace giant Airbus will set up India’s first full flight simulator and training centre near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd (DIAL), a GMR-led consortium, has signed a land licence agreement with Airbus India on Thursday to set up the facility. Civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project.
“The land licence agreement was signed between the DIAL and the Airbus India for a period till 31st March, 2036. The DIAL has received the initial security deposit and the advanced development charges (ADC). It will also receive an annual licence fee from this licence,” said a DIAL spokesperson.
India, the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world, is expected to grow at an annualised 9.3% over the next 20 years, outpacing the world average of 4.6%.
To cater to this huge demand, the European aviation major forecasts a requirement for at least 1,600 new passengers and freighter aircraft by 2035. The consequent increase in Indian in-service aircraft fleet will lead to an accompanying need for over 24,000 new pilots and maintenance engineers.
“This training centre will be the first such facility fully owned by us in Asia. It is a symbol of our enduring partnership with this country,” said Airbus CEO Tom Enders.
The Airbus India Training Centre spread over almost 7,000 sqm will be built in a modular concept in order to become operational by end of 2018 with two A320 full flight simulators, increasing to four and potentially to six in due course. It will have an initial capacity to train over 800 pilots and 200 maintenance engineers annually.
Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, has also signed a five-year agreement with Airbus to provide training services to Vistara pilots for the A320 type aircraft.