Hyderabad. Day two of the Wings India 2024 saw industry experts, representatives from the civil aviation ministry, DGCA, flight training professionals, start-up founders and policymakers participating in nine roundtable conferences and panel discussions on trends and evolving prospects in the commercial aviation industry.
The topics ranged from skill development, aircraft leasing, and drone technology, to cargo, advanced air mobility, and small aircraft, with special emphasis on India’s role in the growth of the sector.
Most of the speakers at different sessions cited the issue of shortage of trained personnel and regulatory challenges as the main hurdles for the growth of the civil aviation industry in India
Most of the speakers agreed on the dearth of trained manpower in the country. “While Indian airlines are placing massive orders, the trend is not percolating down to a student-level, with limited or no focus on aerospace engineering,” said Varun Suhag, managing director of Air Taxi, adding that there was a need to recognise and retain talent, too.
Major Indian airlines and airports have been struggling with manpower shortage amid post-pandemic air traffic surge.
Around 1100 to 1200 commercial pilot licenses (CPL) a year are issued in India, while 30 to 40% of Indian pilots get training abroad. Experts estimate that the country would require about 2,500-3,000 pilots in the coming year, but it is producing only 1/3rd of that number due to a lack of adequate infrastructure (flight schools and fleet for training) and flight trainers.
The country has only a low single-digit number of full-fledged flight academies and lacks flight instructors to train young pilots, according to Y.N. Sharma, chief executive officer of Chimes Aviation Private Limited. Many flight training organisations (FTO) in India have shut down owing to a lack of flight instructors, said Ravi Vikram Singh, managing director of Indian Flying Academy.
Stakeholders also underlined the infrastructure constraints that delay FTO-related processes. Mr Vikram Singh advocated faster release of FTO licences and opined that the Airports Authority of India should have the infrastructure in place to speed up paperwork and processes related to FTOs.
According to experts, increasing the frequency of tests for flight instructors to once a month is necessary to meet the demand gap. “Foreign instructors’ (FATA) clearances need to be fast-tracked to deal with the issue of flight instructor shortage,” Chuck Pulakhandam, country leader-India and managing director of CAE India, suggested.
Not just India, countries like Singapore with bigger airports like Changi, are also struggling with manpower shortage and looking for collaborations with peers, including India, to meet the demand, How Choon Onn, advisor of Changi Airport, indicated.
It is not only the pilot shortage, the industry, which sees about 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), is also fighting the scarcity of quality engineers, an area often ignored.
“Entry into the Indian aviation industry and ease of doing business were both in question. The regulatory environment has to be friendly and consistent with some of the other models around the world,” said Romy Howatt, founder and chairman of the Airways Aviation Group.
In this backdrop the announcement by Air India of establishing a Tata Airbus Training Centre came as a pleasant development. Air India has announced the establishment of South Asia’s largest integrated aviation training academy, covering 600,000 sq. ft. at Gurugram, India.
Airbus, in a 50:50 joint venture with Tata-owned Air India revealed plans for the Tata Airbus Training Centre, a world-class pilot training institute, which will train over 50,000 aviation professionals, encompassing pilots, cabin crew, ground handling, engineering, and security staff.
Over 20 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Bays will support Airbus and Boeing fleet training, ensuring crew readiness and enhancing the overall aviation ecosystem.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, emphasised the academy’s role in making India’s aviation industry self-reliant and contributing to the country’s fast-growing civil aviation market.
The academy will include simulators for Airbus A 320 Family, A 350, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, and Boeing 737 family, fostering a comprehensive training environment.
The joint venture is due to be operational starting early 2025.
Further, a roundtable on ‘Travel and Tourism’ aimed to formulate a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of India’s travel and tourism sector, was also hosted on January 19, 2024.
The discussion explored the way forward to position India as a prime destination and market in the global travel and tourism industry. The speakers emphasised that the Atal Tunnel and new green destinations have boosted local economies.
At the ‘Women in Aviation’ panel discussion, speakers shared their experiences and insights on how women are making their mark in the sky, seeking specific training and influencing organisational dynamics despite the obstacles in their path.
A roundtable on ‘Drone Technology – Flight to the Future: Drones Revolutionising the Aviation Landscape’ discussed the ways in which drones are influencing the way individuals work across the globe.
The discussion delved into how drone technologies are transforming the lives of farmers by introducing innovative approaches to cultivation and sustainability.
The second day of the aviation show, also saw air services operator JetSetGo signing a 280 hybrid-electric aircraft deal, including 130 on option, worth over $1.3 billion with Electra.aero, Horizon Aircraft and Overair.
On the occasion Rolls Royce announced that at the show it would be showcasing its Trent family of engines for wide-body aircraft, including the Trent XWB – the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service, the company said.
This future-ready range of turbofan engines offers superior performance, and enables cleaner, quieter operations. All Trent engines have been tested and proven compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), in line with the company’s commitment to enable the transition to cleaner power.
On the second day, the visitors were also treated to the daredevil flying performances.
Three flying display shows throughout the day, kept the audience enthralled while witnessing the aerial formations. Indian Air Force’s Sarang team manoeuvring five indigenously made HAL helicopters captivated the onlookers, along with other aircraft and drone shows. In addition to the fly pasts, around 21 major airplanes and choppers were on static display, including a model aircraft.
