India's First Private Sector Trainer Aircraft Manufacturing Facility
India's aviation sector is set to witness the establishment of its first private sector manufacturing facility for trainer aircraft in Hisar, Haryana, by the end of the year. This development is a collaboration between Tamil Nadu-based Sakthi group and Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries.
Key Developments
- The facility aims to set up a final assembly line (FAL) for Diamond Aircraft’s DA40 NG trainer planes.
- Sakthi Aircraft Industry, a joint venture with Diamond Aircraft, will supply 200 DA40 NG aircraft to flying schools across India.
- The initial 50 planes will be imported as knocked-down units, while the remaining 150 will be produced locally at the Hisar facility by 2025.
- The targeted annual production capacity is 100 trainer aircraft to meet domestic demand.
Strategic Objectives
- Increase the local content in DA40 NG planes to 60-70% over five years.
- Leverage existing Indian component manufacturers that supply to global aviation leaders.
- The project is expected to deliver all 200 aircraft by 2027.
Aviation Market Demand
- India's rapidly expanding aviation sector highlights the need for a strong pilot training infrastructure.
- With over 1,700 aircraft on order, India requires 30,000 pilots in the next 15-20 years.
- Currently, India has 38 Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), and this number is expected to increase.
Collaborations and Training Ecosystem
- The Aero Club of India is facilitating the 200-trainer aircraft order, acting as an aggregator and partner.
- The agreement includes ACI’s role in managing demand, aircraft allocation, and facilitating handovers to FTOs.
- The collaboration is projected to enable the training of 1,000 commercial pilots annually.
Significance
- The initiative will contribute to creating a world-class flying training ecosystem in India.
- It supports the strategic growth of India's aviation sector by ensuring a steady supply of well-trained pilots.
This summary encapsulates the critical aspects of India's first private sector trainer aircraft manufacturing facility, highlighting its impact on the aviation sector and pilot training infrastructure.