European aerospace major Airbus expects India will require 2,840 new aircraft, 41,000 pilots, and 47,000 technical staff in the coming two decades. Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, outlined Airbus’s commitment to significantly increase its sourcing from India, aiming to reach USD 1.5 billion by the end of the decade, doubling the current amount of USD 750 million during a press conference held on Thursday at Wings India 2024, an aviation conclave and exhibition in Hyderabad.
Highlighting the significant role India is poised to play in global aviation, Maillard stated that last year, Airbus secured orders for 750 aircraft, delivering 75 units to Indian carriers. Indigo received 41, Air India received 19, Vistara received 14, and Go First received one. He emphasised India’s influence on the aviation landscape, projecting it as a driving force for the global industry in the years to come.
Maillard pointed to the A350 aircraft as a revolutionary catalyst for international travel in India, noting that six of these planes were delivered to Air India in the previous year. Additionally, he predicted that India would maintain its status as the world’s fastest-growing economy, expecting a growth rate of 6.2 per cent annually over the next two decades.
Airbus Forms JVs with Air India, GMR
In a significant step towards supporting the ‘Skill India’ initiative, Airbus has collaborated in a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Tata-owned Air India to establish a state-of-the-art pilot training centre in Gurugram, Haryana. Named the Tata Airbus Training Centre, this facility is set to provide A320 and A350 flight training to approximately 5,000 new pilots over the next decade.
Spanning across 3,300 square meters, the expansive centre will be equipped with 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFS), along with dedicated spaces for flight training classrooms and briefing and debriefing rooms, forming a comprehensive Airbus Flight Training Device setup. According to a press statement by Airbus, the training centre is scheduled to commence operations in early 2025; the training centre will initially feature four A320 FFS installations.
In another collaboration, Airbus partnered with GMR Aero Technic to provide Aircraft Maintenance Engineering training courses at the latter’s facility in Hyderabad. Airbus is set to furnish training materials, including trainee handbooks, examination databases, online access to Airbus customised training modules, and the Airbus Competence Training (ACT) for Academy media package. Moreover, Airbus will conduct training sessions for GMR instructors and ensure ongoing assessment of the training centre.
“As the fastest expanding aviation market in the world, India will need 41,000 pilots and 47,000 technicians, as already stated, in the next 20 years to support this growth. The pilot training centre with Air India and the maintenance training partnership with GMR are a testament to Airbus’ commitment to developing human capital. Airbus is directly investing and operating training capabilities to ensure that the growth of the Indian aviation industry is accompanied by adequate skilled manpower that is readily available,” said Maillard.
The recent announcements form a crucial aspect of Airbus’ endeavour to build a comprehensive ecosystem in India. The company is actively broadening its industrial presence with activities ranging from aircraft assembly, component manufacturing, engineering design and development, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) support to pilot and maintenance training. Additionally, Airbus is fostering academic collaboration to enhance human capital.
Furthermore, Airbus has initiated partnerships with key institutions such as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. These collaborations aim to nurture talent specifically tailored for the Indian aerospace sector, the statement stated.
Airbus Awards Manufacturing Contracts to Tata, Mahindra
Affirming its commitment to ‘Make in India,’ Airbus has entered into agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Mahindra Aerospace Structures Private Limited (MASPL) for the procurement of commercial aircraft components.
As per the contracts, TASL and Mahindra Aerostructures are entrusted with manufacturing metallic detail parts, components, and assemblies for Airbus’ A320neo, A330neo, and A350 programs. Both entities are already counted among over 100 Indian-based suppliers contributing components, engineering, and digital services to various Airbus initiatives.
India is a crucial strategic resource hub for Airbus, where the company is actively expanding its industrial presence through various initiatives. This expansion encompasses aircraft assembly, component manufacturing, engineering design and development, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) support, pilot and maintenance training, as well as academic collaboration to enhance human capital.
Significantly, each Airbus commercial aircraft now incorporates components and technologies manufactured in India. Notable examples include the A220 Escape Hatch Door and the Flap Track Beams for A320neo and A330neo aircraft. The company’s annual procurement of components and services from India currently amounts to approximately US$750 million, and the recent contractual agreements are expected to contribute significantly to this figure.
As part of Airbus’ broader commitment to the Indian aerospace ecosystem, efforts are underway to establish a Final Assembly Line for the C295 military aircraft in Vadodara under an industrial contract with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Additionally, Airbus is actively involved in training commercial pilots and maintenance crews to support the development of the aviation sector in India further.
Heritage Aviation Orders Two Airbus Helicopters
Heritage Aviation, an India-based aircraft charter company, has placed an order for Airbus Helicopters for the H125 and H130 models to be operated under India’s regional connectivity scheme, ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). The H125, recognised for its performance, versatility, and low maintenance, is a single-engine helicopter well-suited for high-and-hot and extreme environments. Part of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, the H125 boasts 38 million flight hours globally, showcasing its reputation as a reliable multi-mission workhorse in aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport.
On the other hand, the H130, also a single-engine helicopter, is renowned for its extensive use in sightseeing, charter, and emergency medical services. Featuring a spacious cabin accommodating a pilot and up to seven passengers, the H130 offers a comfortable and quiet ride thanks to state-of-the-art technologies, materials, systems, and avionics.
“We are honoured that Heritage Aviation has put their trust in Airbus Helicopters for their growing network of charter services in India. The Government of India’s UDAN scheme has made huge strides in enhancing regional air connectivity and empowering the Indian tourism sector. We are proud that Airbus Helicopters is contributing to this growth by making remote locations and regions accessible to people. Both the H125 and H130 are great choices that will help further promote this sector in the country,” said Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters, Airbus India and South Asia.
Heritage Aviation, a prominent helicopter operator in India, has been awarded multiple new helicopter routes in the latest UDAN tender.
Team BharatShakti
