Air India will require 6500+ pilots for the recently ordered 470 aircraft

Air India will require more than 6,500 pilots to operate 470 aircraft that are to be supplied by Airbus and Boeing in the coming years, according to industry sources. Currently, Air India has around 1,600 pilots to operate its 113 aircraft fleet and in recent times, there have been instances of ultra-long-haul flights getting cancelled or delayed due to a shortage of crew.

Seeking to expand its fleet as well as operations, the airline has placed orders for acquiring a total of 840 aircraft that includes an option to buy 370 planes. This is one of the largest aircraft orders by any airline. According to Air India, the first of the new aircraft will enter service in late 2023 and the bulk of the planes are to arrive from mid-2025 onwards.

The airline's two subsidiaries -- Air India Express and AirAsia India -- together have around 850 pilots for flying their 54 planes while the joint venture Vistara has more than 600 pilots. The latter has a fleet of 53 aircraft. Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and AirAsia India together have a little over 3,000 pilots to operate the combined fleet of 220 aircraft.

ALSO READ - From A350s to B777Xs, Air India finalizes the Historic 470 Aircraft deal with Airbus & Boeing

The latest Airbus firm order comprises 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR and 40 A350-900/1000. The Boeing firm order comprises 190 737-Max, 20 787s and 10 777s.

Air India will require 6500+ pilots for the recently ordered 470 aircraft

"Air India is taking these 40 A350 majorly for its ultra-long-haul routes or flights which last over 16 hours. The airline will require 30 pilots -- 15 commanders and 15 first officers -- per aircraft, which means some 1,200 pilots for A350s alone," the source in the know said.

ALSO REA - Multiple Aircraft Types, Benefits Air India

According to the source, 26 pilots are required for one Boeing 777. If the airline inducts 10 such planes, it will require 260 pilots while 20 Boeing 787 will require some 400 pilots considering that each such aircraft needs 20 pilots -- 10 commanders and 10 first officers.

Taken together, the induction of 30 wide-body Boeing planes will require a total of 660 pilots, the sources said. On average, each narrow-body plane, whether it is the Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 Max, requires 12 pilots, implying that 400 such planes in the fleet will require not less than 4,800 pilots for their operations.

On Thursday, February 15 Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Agarwal in a Linkedin post said "the order comprises 470 firm aircraft, 370 options and purchase rights to be procured from Airbus and Boeing over the next decade".

According to Air India's former Commercial Director Pankaj Shrivastava, enough opportunities have to be created for the Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) holders to get them to type ratings. Type ratings are a particular training that makes a pilot qualify to operate a particular type of aircraft.

"Air India would definitely have some plan in place. They would not be buying these planes to put them on the ground," he said.

These aircraft are not going to be inducted tomorrow but over a period of time. During that period, Shrivastava said that he was confident that Boeing and Airbus along with Air India will be able to create a large enough pool of pilots by having in place the required number of flight simulators and pilots training.

ALSO READ - What should an Ideal Air India Training Academy be like?

Air India earlier this year announced its plans to set up a training academy, which is a new initiative for the Tata Group. The academy, being headed by AirAsia India's former CEO Sunil Bhaskaran, will rival the biggest and the best anywhere in the world, Air India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson had said.

"Over the coming years, the ambitious new Air India and aviation industry generally will require thousands of home-grown pilots, engineers, cabin crew, airport managers and other function specialists. As India's flagship airline, we have the need and duty to develop this talent," he had said earlier.

In recent years, India's civil aviation sector has witnessed significant growth, with passenger traffic reaching new heights. This growth has not gone unnoticed by American firms, which are now eyeing a share of India's civil aviation market pie. The potential for increased business in India has prompted several American aviation companies to explore opportunities in the country.

One of the significant developments in this regard is the US-India Open Skies agreement. Signed in 2005, this agreement allows airlines from both countries to operate an unlimited number of flights to and from any city in each other's country.

Since then, several American airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines, have increased their services to India.

American firms eye share of India's civil aviation market pie.

Another key factor driving American firms' interest in India's aviation market is the government's efforts to modernize the sector. The Indian government has been investing heavily in infrastructure development, including the construction of new airports and the expansion of existing ones.

Recently, Adani Enterprises, an Indian conglomerate, won the bid to operate six airports in the country, and the company has since entered into a strategic partnership with Elbit Systems, an American aviation company.

Additionally, the Indian government has relaxed regulations to allow foreign airlines to own up to 49% of Indian carriers, creating opportunities for American airlines to acquire stakes in Indian airlines.

American firms' interest in India's aviation market is the government's efforts to modernize the sector.

However, doing business in India's aviation sector can be challenging, given the country's complex regulatory framework, inadequate infrastructure, and fierce competition from domestic players.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation sector globally, with passenger traffic dropping sharply. In India, the pandemic has led to the closure of several airports and airlines struggling to stay afloat.

Now, American firms are eyeing a share of India's civil aviation market pie, driven by the government's efforts to modernize the sector, the US-India Open Skies agreement, and the country's growing middle class. Nonetheless, the potential for growth in the sector makes it an attractive proposition for American companies looking to expand their global footprint.

Airbus, one of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world, has set an ambitious target of delivering 720 planes in 2023. This target, which is higher than the number of planes it delivered in 2019, is a reflection of the company's confidence in the aviation industry's recovery.

However, Airbus also acknowledges that the industry's recovery might be slower and more feasible, given the supply chain snags caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airbus on Thursday slowed the production ramp-up of key narrowbody models after supply disruption, but surprised investors and some suppliers by raising output ambitions for the widebody A350 as long-haul routes join a global travel recovery.

Airbus eyes slower, more feasible recovery after supply snags.

Airbus is coming off a challenging year in which the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in air travel, leading to a drop in demand for new aircraft. The company delivered 566 planes in 2020, down from 863 planes in 2019.

Also read - Multiple Aircraft Types, Benefits Air India

To meet its target of 720 deliveries in 2023, Airbus is ramping up production across its aircraft lines. In addition, Airbus is also investing in new technologies and streamlining its manufacturing processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Despite its optimism, Airbus acknowledges that the aviation industry's recovery might be slower and more feasible than originally anticipated. One of the key challenges facing the industry is the supply chain snags caused by the pandemic. Many suppliers have struggled to keep up with demand, leading to delays in the delivery of aircraft components.

Air India said on Tuesday it would start taking most of its 470 new Airbus and Boeing jets from mid-2025. 

To address these challenges, Airbus is working closely with its suppliers to ensure a steady flow of parts and components. The company is also investing in digital technologies, such as 3D printing and automation, to increase the efficiency of its supply chain and reduce the risk of disruptions.

In conclusion, Airbus's target of delivering 720 planes in 2023 is a reflection of the company's confidence in the aviation industry's recovery. However, the company is also aware of the challenges that lie ahead, particularly with regard to supply chain snags caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By investing in production, supply chain management, and sustainable technologies, Airbus is positioning itself for long-term success in a rapidly changing industry.

Also read - From A350s to B777Xs, Air India finalizes the Historic 470 Aircraft deal with Airbus & Boeing

India's aviation sector is poised for a giant leap after the recent mammoth order from Air India for 470 planes. Indian carriers, including IndiGo, are likely to place big orders for more than 1,100 planes.

Air India, now owned by the Tata Group, placed the order for both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft indicating its expansion plans for domestic and overseas markets. This is the largest so far by an Indian carrier and also one of the largest single aircraft orders in the world.

India's largest carrier, IndiGo, is expected to lead with an order of around 500 planes. The newly launched Akasa Air has ordered 72 Boeing narrow-body aircraft. Out of these, 16 planes have been delivered. Go First, earlier known as Go Air, has 72 planes on order while Vistara is to receive 17 more Boeing planes.

Indian airlines expected to order over 1,100 planes

ALSO READ - Akasa Air to place a large order for new narrowbody jets by year-end

“IndiGo has been planning to place a significant order of around 300 aircraft before COVID, which was deferred due to the pandemic. This is now likely to proceed and could be even larger than previously envisaged, increasing to around 500 aircraft now," Times of India quoted a recently released CAPA report as saying.

Currently, there are around 700 commercial aircraft in the country, with a majority of them being narrow-body or single-aisle planes.

ALSO READ - From A350s to B777Xs, Air India finalizes the Historic 470 Aircraft deal with Airbus & Boeing

India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. On Tuesday, February 14, the aircraft maker Boeing projected the country will require around 2,210 new planes in the next two decades and pegged annual domestic air traffic growth to be nearly 7% through 2041.

On February 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country's growing aviation sector would need over 2,000 aircraft in the next 15 years. Aviation consultancy CAPA on February 8, said Indian carriers are likely to place orders for 1,500 to 1,700 planes in the next one to two years.

In its report, CAPA said the total commercial Indian fleet of around 700 aircraft is smaller than some of the world's largest individual airlines and that given the immense potential that exists, it stands to reason that there is a need to induct more aircraft.

Air India, which is charting the revival path under the Tata Group, will acquire 250 planes from Airbus, including 40 wide-body A350 aircraft, and 220 planes from Boeing.

On February 3, IndiGo said that in the 2022 December quarter, the airline added 22 passenger aircraft (net of deliveries) to reach the 300 aircraft mark. "It is indeed a great milestone in our journey, and we will continue to take further deliveries from our large order book of 500 aircraft".

The latest Air India order is the first one by the airline in more than 17 years and the second one by an Indian airline post the pandemic. In 2005, Air India, under government ownership, had ordered 111 planes -- 68 from Boeing and 43 from Airbus.

IndiGo was the first airline to have placed the largest aircraft order in Indian history -- 100 Airbus narrow-body aircraft -- in 2005. This was followed by 180 Airbus planes ordered in 2011, 250 Airbus planes ordered in 2015 and 300 Airbus planes ordered in 2019.

Rival SpiceJet too had announced acquiring 205 planes in 2017 with 155 of them Boeing Max planes. Wadia Group-owned domestic carrier Go First placed an order for 144 Airbus 320 of 72 planes each in -- 2011 and 2016.

In its report, CAPA said the total commercial Indian fleet of around 700 aircraft is smaller than some of the world's largest individual airlines and that given the immense potential that exists, it stands to reason that there is a need to induct more aircraft.

“There will be a need to align policy, regulation, availability of skills, knowledge development, infrastructure, which includes airports as well as airspace, competition and consumer interests, with global best practices,” it said.

Manpower shortage--pilots, engineers, technicians, and air traffic controllers apart from technocrats for various civil aviation regulatory bodies and security agencies, that is—would be another challenge. Airlines have begun bracing for the climb.

“Air India, for instance, has commenced a project to create a training academy,” said an aviation source, adding that the airline is talking to various potential partners. Air India’s 470-aircraft delivery schedule will commence this year and end in 2032.

Vistara will hike the salaries of its pilots and cabin crew by up to 8% from April amid the deployment of higher capacities to meet rising travel demand, according to a source. The source also claimed that some 30 pilots have quit the airline in the last six months and are serving notice periods after getting job offers mainly from the Gulf carriers.

On Thursday, February 16, a senior Vistara official confirmed the salary hike for the pilots and cabin crew but denied that 30 pilots have left the airline.

The official also said the salary hike decision is part of the annual appraisal exercise and not triggered by any other development, adding that some pilots changed their decision to quit given the long-term opportunities at the airline, which is to be merged with Air India.

Vistara to raise pilots' and cabin crew salaries by up to 8% from April

The official did not provide any specific details about the number of pilots who quit or are serving the mandatory six-month notice period.

Queries sent to Vistara remained unanswered. "Vistara has increased pilots and cabin crew salary by 8% and 6%, respectively, from April," the source said.

With air travel demand picking up significantly, the demand for pilots is also on the rise. Globally, airlines are hiring people as they are expanding their fleets and operations.

"As communicated earlier, management continues to review pilot salaries regularly an increment of 8% in CTC will be allocated across all levels of pilots (except TFO) effective April 1. This increase will be added to the Base Flying Allowance (BFA)," Vistara said in an internal e-mail to its pilots.

This increase is not instead of the Supplementary Allowance (SA), which will be added over and above this adjustment for eligible pilots, as per the e-mail.

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has around 5000 plus employees, including 2,500 cabin crew and pilots. Vistara announced a profitable October-December quarter in 2022, its first since it began operations in 2015.

ALSO READ - IndiGo restores annual increments for around 4500 pilots after the Q3 FY23 profit

This comes just days after reports of IndiGo restoring the annual increments of around 4,500 pilots. It will also implement the salary changes from April 1st.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said on Thursday, February 18 it has received the Indian Technical Standard Order (ITSO) authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its indigenously developed Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

The ITSO is a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, processes, and appliances used on civil aircraft, the Bengaluru-headquartered HAL noted in a statement.

https://twitter.com/HALHQBLR/status/1626093988855042049

CVR and FDR are popularly known as 'black boxes'. However, these recorders are painted orange colour to help in their recovery following an aircraft accident.

CVR and FDR are used to record critical flight parameters and audio environment in a crash-proof memory which is later used for investigation of aircraft incidents or accidents, it was noted.

Black boxes that are resistant to the most extreme situations are one of the most special tools of the aviation research industry with their voice recording features. 

A black box is a flight data recorder that must be in every air vehicle. All flight information is recorded in the black box with a specific algorithm. This makes the recorded flight data accessible to authorities when needed. Black boxes that are resistant to the most extreme situations are one of the most special tools of the aviation research industry with their voice recording features. 

Although the black box is not a new device, it still operates with the same principle today. The last 2 hours of conversations in the cockpit, together with the data from the last 25 hours of the aircraft, are recorded by this device.