Ahmedabad: Gujarat is set to double its number of flying training organisations (FTOs) to 10, as the state seeks to tap rising demand for commercial pilots. Five FTOs currently operate in Gujarat. Another five are expected to become operational soon, according to the state govt.The existing FTOs have trained more than 5,200 aviation students and produced over 3,200 commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders. At least 200 aspiring pilots are currently undergoing training in the state, govt said.The expansion comes as Indian airlines ramp up fleet additions. Domestic carriers have placed orders for around 1,700 aircraft, according to govt. This could create demand for about 25,000-30,000 commercial pilots in the coming years.Gujarat govt is developing the FTO ecosystem through its civil aviation department and Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd (GujSAIL). The projects are being developed under the public-private partnership model. Operators have received land at state-owned airports and airstrips through a bidding process while the govt has allocated around 1,500 sq m for each eligible operator.Four of the five existing FTOs operate from state-owned airstrips at Mehsana and Amreli. The fifth operates from Bhavnagar airport on land allocated by Airports Authority of India.The existing operators are Skynex Aero Pvt Ltd and Blue Ray Aviation Pvt Ltd at Mehsana. Vision Flying Training Institute and Gujarat Flying Club operate from Amreli. Dunes Aviation Pvt Ltd operates from Bhavnagar.State govt is positioning favourable flying weather and its network of airports and airstrips as key advantages for pilot training. Gujarat also has established road, industrial and logistics infrastructure. The expansion could create demand for aviation-related infrastructure and services. FTOs require aircraft, flight simulators, maintenance hangars, fuel facilities, classrooms, hostels and administrative infrastructure.The ecosystem could also support jobs for flying instructors, aircraft maintenance engineers, flight dispatchers, operations staff and safety professionals. The growth in pilot training is expected to benefit allied sectors such as maintenance, repair and overhaul, aviation fuel, aerospace manufacturing and drone training.Greater use of state-owned airports and airstrips could also generate revenue through land rentals, lease premiums, aircraft parking, hangar facilities and fuel sales.Gujarat Flying Club, established in 1958 at Vadodara Airport, is among the country’s longest-operating DGCA-recognised flying training institutes.
