India’s first private manufacturing facility for trainer aircraft is expected to be set up in Hisar, Haryana, by the end of the year. This project is a collaboration between Tamil Nadu-based Sakthi Group and Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries.

The two companies plan to set up a final assembly line (FAL) for Diamond Aircraft’s DA40 NG trainer planes. These aircraft will be supplied to flying schools across India.On Tuesday, Sakthi Aircraft Industry, a joint venture of Sakthi Group and Diamond Aircraft, signed an agreement with the Aero Club of India. As part of this deal, they will provide 200 DA40 NG aircraft to flying training organizations (FTOs) in India.

Out of the 200 planes, the first 50 will be imported from Austria and Canada as complete knocked-down (CKD) kits. These will then be assembled in India.

Diamond Aircraft was bought by China’s Wanfeng Aviation Industry in 2017. Vaibhav D, CEO of Sakthi Aircraft Industry, told a news outlet that they are investing ₹500 crore in the project. Over the next 2 to 3 years, as the facility grows, the total investment could reach ₹1,500–2,000 crore.

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu praised the project, saying it shows India's progress in aerospace manufacturing. He added, "By making these aircraft in India, we are reducing imports and building a self-reliant system for pilot training."

The first deliveries of the DA40 NG, a single-engine, four-seater trainer aircraft, are expected to start in May. The facility will eventually be able to produce 100 planes per year.

Sakthi Aircraft Industry said the project will create around 250 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs. CEO Vaibhav D said, “Making the DA40 NG in India will help solve the shortage of trainer aircraft, create skilled jobs, promote innovation, and make India a key player in global aviation.”

India currently has 38 flight training organizations (FTOs) approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These training schools mostly use foreign-made aircraft like the Cessna 172 and Piper PA-28. These models are popular because they are reliable and easy to handle, making them ideal for beginner pilots.

Sakthi said its partnership with ACI aims to train 1,000 pilots every year and 10,000 pilots over the next 10 years. These pilots will be trained to fly all types of commercial aircraft.

In December last year, Air India ordered 34 trainer aircraft for its new flying school in Amravati. This school is expected to train 180 commercial pilots every year and will be ready by mid-2025.

The order includes 31 single-engine planes from US-based Piper Aircraft and three twin-engine planes from Diamond Aircraft. Since early 2023, Air India, backed by the Tata Group, has ordered a total of 570 commercial aircraft: 220 from Boeing (USA) and 350 from Airbus (Europe).

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