AIR INDIA GROUP TO SET UP AIRCRA FT MAINTENANCE TRAINING INSTITU TE
AIR INDIA GROUP TO SET UP AIRCRA FT MAINTENANCE TRAINING INSTIT UTE IN BENGALURU TO TO DEVELOP A POOL OF MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS, SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE FLEET EXPAN SION
Institute to offer integrated 2+2 years Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (A ME) program, certified by DGCAT TO
go live by mid-2026 to cater to the in-h ouse requirement of aircraft mainten enance engineers, making Air India gr oup self-reliant
GURUGRAM, 22 November 2024: Air India, India’s leading global airline gr oup, is setting up a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO), which will offer an integrated 2+2 years Aircr aft Maintenance Engineering (AME) pr ogram certified by the Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The Air India BMTO is a step towards building a robust, future-ready aviati on ecosystem in India. It will serve the ambitions of the airline as it moves ah ead in its transformation journey, stre ngthening the availability of aircraft maintenance engineers as Sir.
BENGALURUIndia expands its fleet, making it self-reliant.
Air India has signed an agreement wit h Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BAC L), a subsidiary of Bangalore Internati tional Airport Limited (BIAL), to devel op a build-to-suit facility for the AME program that will feature modern clas srooms, well-equipped laboratories fo or practical training and a team of qu alified trainers. The purpose-built ca mpus, spread over 86,000 square feet at Bengaluru Airport City, is expected to be operational by mid-2026.
The BMTO will be housed close to Air India’s new 12-bay Maintenance, Rep bair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in B engaluru that will be operational in e arly 2026. The program at the BMTO w ill include two years of in-classroom a cademic coursework followed by two years of practical on-job training at t he MRO.
The aim of the BMTO is to foster a wor kforce of skilled professionals for airc raft maintenance and engineering ope rations where students will receive h ands-on experience and training, adh ering to industry standards and Air In dia’s specific requirements.
Till the new BMTO facility commences operations, Air India will implement a Cadet AME program with other reputa ble institutions across Bengaluru and Hyderabad to ensure continuity in its commitment towards AME education and workforce development as well as to support its requirements for aircra ft maintenance engineers.
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“The Basic Maintenance Training Org anization will establish a pipeline of s killed engineers trained to Air India st andards from the outset. This facility and program, combined with proxim mity to Kempegowda International Ai rport, will enable our AME cadets to ga in hands-on, real-world experience as part of their training, supporting their future as industry-ready professionals aligned with Air India’s ongoing fleet expansion needs,” said Sunil Bhaskar an, Director, Aviation Academy, Air In dia.
The program is designed to meet Air In dia’s growing fleet maintenance requir ements and provides specialised caree er paths for its AME graduates. Studen ts will also be encouraged to pursue a simultaneous bachelor’s degree throu gh university partnerships, which will enhance their academic and career op portunities.
“Air India’s commitment to eastablishi establishing a state-of-the-art training facility symbolises a bold step forward in enhancing India’s aviation capabilit ies. Education and skill development a re vital to sustaining the growth of Ke mpegowda International Airport Beng aluru. The Air India BMTO reinforces our vision of developing a thriving eco system that drives innovation and coll aboration,” said Rao Munukutla, Exec utive Director & CEO, BACL.
Air India has embarked on a five-year transformation journey, Vihaan.AI, th at has seen commitment to more than 500 new aircraft, delivery of which is well underway, and the commenceme nt of a USD 400 million interior retrofit program for legacy aircraft. Air India has also begun in-housing of line main tenance operations across group airlin es that will strengthen its self-reliancn ce. In September 2024, Air India Group announced the commencement of cons truction of a mega MRO facility comin g up in Bengaluru, reiterating its com mitment to building a strong self-relia iant aviation ecosystem for India.
About Air India
Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Ai r India is a pioneer of Indian aviation. Since its first flight in 1932, Air India h as built an extensive global network t hat spans 29 countries across five conti nents, connecting India with major des tinations in USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia, and the Middle East.
After its homecoming in 2022, from the Government of India to the Tata group , Air India embarked on Vihaan.AI, a f ive-year transformation journey, with a vision to be a global airline with an I ndian heart. The first two phases of th is transformation, ‘Taxi’ and ‘Take-off ’, were focused on fixing the basics and building foundations for growth. The a irline has now entered the ‘Climb’ pha se, which will focus on achieving exce llence in operations and customer exp erience.
A member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading in ternational airlines, Air India offers s eamless connectivity to passengers as a full-service global airline, while its w holly owned subsidiary Air India Expr ess operates as a low-cost airline flyin ng within India and nearby countries.
