New Delhi: In a major push to bolster India’s civil aviation sector, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has started the bidding process to establish Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) at six airports across the country.

This strategic move is part of a phased plan to promote domestic pilot training under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision initiated by the Prime Minister. By building world-class training facilities within the country, the government aims to enhance India’s self-reliance in aviation and provide aspiring pilots access to high-quality professional training.

Six Strategic Hubs Identified

The new flight schools will be developed at the following locations:

Dholera Airport (Gujarat)
Kishangarh Airport (Rajasthan)
Hubballi Airport (Karnataka)
Kadapa Airport (Andhra Pradesh)
Solapur Airport (Maharashtra)
Tuticorin Airport (Tamil Nadu)

The Project Model

The selected partners will develop the training centres on a Design, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DBOMT) basis. Under this agreement, successful bidders will be granted lease rights for a period of 25 years.

To ensure a genuine increase in national training capacity, AAI has mandated that selected organisations must deploy additional aircraft at these new centres rather than relocating aircraft from their existing facilities.

Eligibility and Selection

The opportunity is open to a wide range of entities, including proprietary firms, partnerships, private and public limited companies, and government undertakings. Applicants must demonstrate technical capability, such as being a registered FTO, a Scheduled Operator Permit (SOP) holder, or a Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) holder.

The selection process will be strictly competitive, with the highest concession fee offered serving as the primary criterion for awarding the lease.

DeshBharat