How India is reshaping regional pilot development?

As India’s aviation sector scales unprecedented heights, the demand for skilled pilots and advanced training infrastructure is rapidly outpacing supply. With over 1,700 aircraft on order and a projected requirement for 30,000 new pilots over the next two decades, India is at the cusp of becoming not just a global aviation giant but the pilot training hub of South Asia.

Khushbeg Jattana, General Manager of Simaero India, a subsidiary of the global full-flight simulator training provider Simaero, outlines why India is poised for this transformation — and how the company’s $100 million investment aims to shape the future of pilot training in the region.

India currently has around 800 commercial aircraft in operation, with approximately 10% grounded due to supply chain and engine issues. Yet with one of the fastest-growing populations and a relatively low aircraft-to-population ratio compared to countries like China, the need for expansion is critical.

“To support this growth, India will require 2,000–2,500 new pilots annually,” says Jattana. “But we’re only producing about 1,500 DGCA-licensed pilots per year, and less than a third of them are trained domestically.” The shortage is amplified by a limited number of simulators — just around 30 nationwide — when India will need at least three times that number over the next decade.

Unless domestic capacity for simulator and CPL training is significantly expanded, this training shortfall will remain the single largest bottleneck for Indian aviation.

Simaero’s $100 million bet on India

Recognizing this urgent need, Simaero has committed $100 million to establish a state-of-the-art training centre in Delhi NCR. Spanning 4,500 square meters and housing eight full-flight simulators, the facility will initially focus on the A320 NEO and progressively expand to include aircraft like the B737 NG, B737 MAX, and potentially wide-body models such as the A330, A340, and A350.

What sets Simaero’s facility apart is its dual DGCA and EASA certification, allowing it to deliver globally benchmarked training programs. “Our focus is to offer initial type rating, recurrent training, and advanced modules at par with leading international centres,” says Jattana. “And we aim to train 5,000 pilots over the next five years, making a direct contribution to bridging India’s aviation talent gap.”

Reversing the training drain

Today, about 70% of India’s commercial pilot licence (CPL) training and 40% of simulator training is conducted overseas, primarily in the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. This trend not only results in significant foreign exchange outflows but also increases costs through travel, accommodation, and longer training durations. Simaero aims to reverse this.

While the Delhi NCR facility serves as a central hub, Simaero’s roadmap includes expanding to Eastern and Southern India. “We chose Delhi to cater not only to Indian carriers but also airlines from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other neighbouring countries,” Jattana says. “Our goal is to create a regional training ecosystem that supports all of South Asia and eventually Southeast Asia.”

Simaero’s global experience, with training centres in France, South Africa, and China — and a simulator portfolio covering 90% of the world’s active fleet — offers a solid foundation for this vision.

Policy alignment, innovation, and more

Recent regulatory reforms by the DGCA are already making an impact. “Opening CPL training to students from arts and commerce backgrounds and mandating competency-based training are major steps forward,” notes Jattana. These policies not only widen the talent pool but also elevate the standards of training in India.

To scale further, Simaero is exploring strategic partnerships with Indian airlines and international carriers. The company also plans to introduce Simulator Engineering Services locally — supporting simulator relocation, repair, upgrades, and certification — further integrating into India’s aviation ecosystem.

While Simaero’s immediate focus is pilot training, the company envisions a broader role. “From MRO to simulator engineering, we are committed to building an ecosystem that supports India’s aviation growth holistically,” says Jattana. This includes serving as a training partner for both narrow-body and, eventually, wide-body aircraft — reflecting the evolving needs of Indian and regional carriers.

India’s moment to lead

With surging aircraft orders, a growing airline network, and increasing regional demand, India is primed to emerge as ‘South Asia’s leading aviation training hub’. Simaero’s investment marks a critical step in this journey — addressing key bottlenecks, reducing reliance on overseas training, and offering world-class instruction at home.

As Jattana aptly concludes, “India has the talent, the market, and now — with the right infrastructure — the opportunity to become the aviation training capital of the region.”