India centre gets nod for Airbus, Boeing pilot training

Pilot training facility FSTC has got an European regulator's approval for training Airbus A320 and Boeing pilots, making it the only one in India to have the rating.

Located close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC) is a Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) allowing it to train pilots to fly the Boeing and Airbus 320 types of aircraft.

"At present, the centre has two simulators for Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 with plans to install six full flight simulators in three stages over a two-year period. This will make it the largest facility in the southeast Asian region," FSTC founder Sanjay Mandavia told IANS here.

During the current fiscal, FSTC plans to induct two more simulators, costing around $10 million each, Mandavia added.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the European regulator of aviation safety, while its approval has already resulted in UAE's Rotana Jet tying up with FSTC for training their pilots, he said.

He told IANS: "The Sri Lankan airline Mihin Lanka has expressed an interest to opt for our pilot training."

FSTC is a joint venture between Fly Wings Aviation and SIM Industries, a Lockheed Martin Corp. company.

According to Airbus' latest market forecast, Indian carriers will require 1,290 new passenger aircraft worth around $190 billion between now and 2032 to satisfy surging annual demand.

Mandavia pointed out that Indian annual passenger traffic growth rate of 8.6 percent is well above the Asia-Pacific region's average figure of 6.1 percent and the world tally of 4.7 percent.