Aerospace major Airbus today announced it plans to set up a pilot and maintenance training centre in the National Capital Region of Delhi with an investment of $40 million.
This facility, expected to be ready by the end of next year (2017), wili be fully owned by The Airbus Group India and is aimed at training pilots to be delivered by Airbus specialised training instructors, Srinivasan Dwarakanath, President, Airbus Division in Inidia, said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India Aviation 2016 event here, the Airbus official said, "On an average, One Airbus aircraft per week is expected to be delivered to India carriers over the next 10 years. The need for top quality training will be perpetual."
Airbus has shortlisted sites near the airport area of Delhi, and will soon work towards finalising the agreements for land, construction and simulator installation in 2017. Airbus operates similar centres in the Americas, Europe and Asia covering Airbus' range of aircraft.
The India centre will join this existing network and will welcome its customer pilots and engineers in 2018.
The training centre will also serve some of the neighbouring countries in the region.
He said the investment in a training centre is a key strategic Airbus initiative in line with the country's Skill India programme launched in 2015 by the Indian Government. Airbus is committed to offer training skills comparable to best anywhere in the world.
The long term vision is to equip pilots and engineers with superior flying and maintenance skills to operate contemporary and next-generation Airbus aircraft to be delivered to airlines in India.
Airbus has predicted India requires over 1,600 passenger and freighter aircraft in the next 20 years up to 2034.