“Our core has been training and we strive to produce the safest and best pilots,” Khushbeg Jattana, General Manager, Simaero India

International pilot training and flight simulator provider, Simaero, recently announced that it will invest $100 million in India to train up to 5,000 pilots over the next five years. The French aviation training services provider will bring in the investment in a phased manner to create training infrastructure in major Indian cities and install flight simulators to meet the growing demand for pilot training in India and the South Asian region. The simulator in the Delhi NCR facility is already under development phase and is expected to be ready by 2024 end or maximum by Q1 2025. Khushbeg Jattana, General Manager, Simaero India, in an interview with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World, explains in detail about the upcoming training facility and Simaero’s vision towards creating a world-class sim facility in India.Excerpts:

Q: What are Simaero’s plans in India in terms of investment, infrastructure and strategy?
A: Simaero India was started in mid-2023 with the idea of establishing a simulation training centre in India, which will also be an Airline Training Organisation (ATO). It will be a DGCA and EASA-approved centre, similar to our ATO in Paris. The training centre will feature eight full-flight simulators and the building is expected to be ready by Q4 of 2024. It will be located 15 minutes from Delhi airport, right next to the NH8 highway. Initially, two simulators will be set up in this main facility: A320 NEO and the Boeing B737 NG.

We plan to expand to other types of aircraft, including the B737 MAX and ATR 72-600, within 24 months of operation. Our goal is to have at least four full-flight simulators for the Airbus A320 NEO and at least two for the B737 MAX, as the A320 is the dominant type in India. Additionally, we aim to expand our footprint in India by establishing at least two satellite training centres, each hosting anywhere from two to four simulators, creating a hub-and-spoke model in India. The first satellite training centre is expected to be operational by 2026. We are considering locations in the East, with Kolkata being a primary candidate. We are also actively considering Mumbai and Bengaluru. Kolkata is of particular interest because eastern India currently lacks any training centres. Additionally, we see potential in neighbouring countries, such as Nepal, where we already conduct business through Simaero in Paris.

Q: What quantum of pilot training do you project for India per year?

A: As of today, India has more than 1,700 aircraft on order and around 800 aircraft currently flying, with approximately 10 percent grounded due to logistical and engine problems. All these aircraft orders are expected to be fulfilled within the next five to seven years, before 2030.

In terms of aviation and population, India is the largest country in the world by population. If you compare it with China, which now has a smaller population but 10 times more aircraft, it is evident that India will grow to a similar level.

The demand for new pilots is projected to be anywhere between 2,000 to 2,500 per year to accommodate the number of aircraft being inducted into Indian airlines. Currently, around 1,500 commercial pilots obtain their Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) license annually, so we need approximately 500 to 1,000 more pilots every year.

In terms of infrastructure, out of the 1,500 pilots trained annually, not more than 500 are trained in India, with approximately two-thirds of them being trained in facilities outside the country. On the simulation side, it is the same avalanche effect. This growth will necessitate more simulators and aircraft for training in our country. As the fleet grows, the requirement will become even bigger. Over the next 10 years, I foresee a significant demand and the need to triple the current simulator infrastructure in India.

According to the DGCA, there are around 30 active simulators in India. On the aircraft side, we need to increase the number of Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training aircraft by five times to meet the growing demand.

Q: What kind of infrastructure does Simaero have at present globally?

A: Presently, Simaero, as an international group, has training centres in France, China and South Africa. We have two training centres in France: one in Paris and another smaller one in Brittany. We are opening another training centre in Paris, which will be operational by Q1 2025. The first simulator to be installed in this training centre will be an A350. We also have a training centre in South Africa and we recently opened a training centre in Changsha, China.

In terms of infrastructure, we plan to have eight full flight simulator in Delhi NCR and at least eight more at our satellite centres across India. We aim to support 16 full-flight simulators in the next five to six years. This will include a mix of A320s and the new A321XLR, which Indian airlines have significant orders for. Additionally, we will have B737 MAX and ATR 72 600 simulators. We are always open to installing wide-body simulators, as we already have A330/A340 and upcoming A350 in our training centres in Paris. Our plans are adaptable to customer requirements and we are flexible in purchasing and implementing the necessary simulators to meet their needs.

Q: What will be the actual timeline for starting the facility?

A:We have started our application process with the DGCA earlier this month. We expect the delivery of the building to be completed by Q4 this year and the simulators at the same time. Therefore, we aim to be ready for training by December or January 2025 at the latest.

Regarding training costs, we aim to be highly competitive compared to existing facilities in India and those popular among students abroad. In fact, we plan to be cheaper than the international market. Our primary strategy focuses on initial flight training, specifically type rating, which currently sees a significant portion conducted outside India. Approximately 80 percent of this business is currently done abroad, representing a substantial volume. Our core business strategy is to bring this training business back to India and conduct it entirely within our training centre.

Q: How many pilots or type ratings will you start with in a year?

A: The idea is to conduct 100 type ratings per year on each type. We aim to expand this capacity to around 1,500 type ratings annually.
To provide context based on last year’s DGCA data, there were over 3,000 type ratings on P1 and P2 across all types. The majority of these are on Airbus aircraft with an estimated 1,500 type ratings for P1 and P2 conducted outside India each year.

For other aircraft types, like the B737 MAX, which is currently facing supply chain issues, the progress is slower. However, once these issues are resolved, there will be a significant demand because there are currently only three simulators in India for this aircraft type.

Q: How is the response from airlines in India? Have you made any tie-ups with them?

A: We are already in talks with airlines and at this stage, we are close to signing agreements with two airlines in India. I prefer not to disclose their names at this moment. Additionally, we are in discussions with other carriers based in the Indian subcontinent and SouthEast Asia.

As a group, Simaero serves over 250 customers and operates 30 full-flight simulators certified by various civil aviation authorities, including European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and DGCA India. We will extend our services to all neighbouring countries, such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, aiming to expand into Southeast Asia and eventually Central Asia. While there is a significant demand within India, we are also prepared to cater to the needs of its neighbouring countries.