India’s Aviation Boom to Create 30,000 Pilot Jobs
India is growing into one of the world’s major aviation markets, and the country will need a large number of new pilots in the coming years. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said that once domestic airlines receive their pending orders for 1,700 aircraft, India will need about 30,000 more pilots to run the expanded fleet.
At the CII Partnership Summit, the Minister said India has around 8,000 pilots for 834 aircraft, with 2,000 to 3,000 not flying at present. He explained that each aircraft needs 10 to 15 pilots to keep operations on schedule, placing the demand between 25,000 and 30,000 pilots. He called for more flying training organisations to help meet this requirement.
Mr. Naidu said the aviation sector has a strong impact on the economy, noting that one aviation job in India creates 15 indirect jobs. He highlighted the need to build better training and skill development systems.
He also noted that the cargo sector is losing business to cheaper rail and road transport. Citing the FedEx model in the United States, he said the government is exploring cargo-focused airports to strengthen the sector.
On manufacturing, the Minister said India produces aerospace components worth $2 billion and aims to reach $4 billion by 2030. The long-term plan is to design and build a fully indigenous aircraft. He said India now can manufacture, design and maintain its own aircraft.
Mr. Naidu added that India sees an average of 4.8 lakh air passengers each day, with 5.3 lakh people flying on November 10.