Latest Aviation News | Updated Global Aviation News

Skip to content

Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube

About Us
Contact Us
Advertisement

About Us
Contact Us
Advertisement

Aviation Newsletter

WhatsApp Channel

Search

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Search

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

News

Civil Aviation

Pilot Training

Flight School Analysis

Aviation Jobs

Training

Services

About Us

Contact Us

Search

Latest News

Washington, D.C: India and the United States have announced a new phase of defense cooperation during a bilateral meeting at the White House on Feb 13. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US officials discussed defense co-production, emerging technologies, and other areas of collaboration | Aviation Today

India

India – US Boost Defense Ties with F-35 Fighter Jets, Advanced Aircraft Procurement

February 14, 2025

Bengaluru: At Aero India 2025, Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth addressed a seminar organized by the Indian Navy, themed ‘Transition to Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation – 2047 and its Associated Ecosystem | Aviation Today

India

Indian Navy Reveals Atmanirbhar Roadmap 2047, Focuses on Naval Aviation & Innovation

February 13, 2025

San Diego: A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island on Wednesday morning | Aviation Today

Accidents

U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Crashes in San Diego Bay, Pilots Rescued by Fishing Boat

February 13, 2025

Bengaluru, India: Himalayan Heli Services Limited has placed an order for two Airbus H125 helicopters during Aero India 2025. This procurement will expand the company’s fleet to eight H125 helicopters used for its operations in commercial air transport and aerial work missions across northern India | Aviation Today

Helicopter

Airbus Secures 2 New H125 Helicopter Orders from Himalayan Heli Services

February 12, 2025

MOJAVE, CA and DENVER: Boom Supersonic, the company developing the Overture supersonic airliner, has announced the successful demonstration of "Boomless Cruise," a technology that enables supersonic flight over land without generating an audible sonic boom. This breakthrough was confirmed during the XB-1 test aircraft’s first supersonic flight on January 28, 2025 | Aviation Today

Supersonic Flight

Boom Supersonic Achieves Silent Supersonic Flight — No Sonic Boom Over Land

February 12, 2025

Airshows & Events

For the First Time, Russia’s Su-57 & US’ F-35 Jets Seen Together at Aero India 2025

February 11, 2025

Boeing projects that the commercial airplane fleet in India and South Asia will nearly quadruple by 2043, driven by strong economic growth, improved connectivity, and air travel liberalization. The company’s latest Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) forecasts that air traffic in the region will grow annually by over seven percent, with airlines expected to take delivery of 2,835 new aircraft between 2024 and 2043. This includes 2,445 single-aisle aircraft, 370 widebody jets, and 20 freighters | Aviation Today

Aircraft

Boeing Forecasts 2,835 New Aircraft for India and South Asia by 2043

February 10, 2025

Athens, Greece:– An EasyJet flight from Hurghada, Egypt, to Manchester, UK, was forced to make an emergency landing in Athens after the captain became incapacitated mid-flight on Saturday | Aviation Today

Incidents

Pilot’s Medical Emergency Forces UK-Bound EasyJet Diversion to Athens

February 10, 2025

Unalakleet: A search is underway for a Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that vanished while en route from Unalakleet to Nome with nine passengers and one pilot aboard. The aircraft took off at 2:37 p.m. local time on February 6, 2025, but lost contact roughly an hour later over Norton Sound, about 12 miles offshore | Aviation Today

United States

Authorities Search for Missing Plane carrying 10 Passengers in Alaska

February 7, 2025

Philippines: A U.S.-contracted military aircraft crashed in Maguindanao del Sur, Philippines, on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of one U.S. Marine and three defense contractors, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command | Aviation Today

Airplane Crashes

Four Killed in US Military Surveillance Aircraft Crash in the Philippines

February 7, 2025

Bengaluru: The highly anticipated Aero India 2025 is set to take place from February 10 to 14 at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. Recognized as Asia’s largest aerospace and defense exhibition, the 15th edition of this biennial event will bring together global leaders, modern military technology, and strategic defense discussions | Aviation Today

Airshows & Events

Aero India 2025: Asia’s Largest Airshow to display Nxt-Gen Aerospace Tech in Bengaluru

February 7, 2025

Pune: The Indian government is set to introduce indigenously developed air taxi services in metro cities with trial operations expected by 2026, announced by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu during the National Conference on Challenges in Aerospace for Viksit Bharat 2047 in Pune | Aviation Today

eVTOL

India’s eVTOL Future: Air Taxi Trials Slated for 2026, Says Minister Naidu

February 6, 2025

« Previous Next »

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Email

Recent News

TAIC Identifies Q300 Flight-System And Crew Monitoring Issues In 2023 Incident

TAIC Identifies Q300 Flight-System And Crew Monitoring Issues In 2023 Incident

October 1, 2026

Flydubai Suspends Israel Flights Following Serious FZ1073 Cockpit Incident

Flydubai Suspends Israel Flights Following Serious FZ1073 Cockpit Incident

October 1, 2026

All Six On Board Killed After Private Helicopter Crashes And Burns In Zimbabwe

All Six On Board Killed After Private Helicopter Crashes And Burns In Zimbabwe

October 1, 2026

Airbus A350F Completes Maiden Flight, Begins Flight-Test Campaign Ahead Of 2027 Entry

Airbus A350F Completes Maiden Flight, Begins Flight-Test Campaign Ahead Of 2027 Entry

September 30, 2026

Flydubai 737 Flight Triggers Hijack Alert After Reported Pilot Altercation In Cockpit

Flydubai 737 Flight Triggers Hijack Alert After Reported Pilot Altercation In Cockpit

September 30, 2026

Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility - PART 4

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 4

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility Citywide Networks Must Be Designed Around Real Travel Patterns

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 3

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility Part 2- Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 2

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility - Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility

Automation Rises, But Are Indian Pilots Being Trained To Keep Pace With The Future?

Automation Rises, But Are Indian Pilots Being Trained To Keep Pace With The Future?

START: India is emerging as the fastest-growing aviation market worldwide, yet it faces a significant hurdle: a shortage of trained technical personnel, including pilots, engineers, and technicians. This challenge is expected to become more acute as Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles enter the market within the next year or two, creating an additional need for pilots. The issue stems largely from inadequate planning and foresight by the authorities. Consequently, many aspiring Indian pilots are pursuing training in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bosnia, Montenegro, and the Philippines. In fact, approximately 700 out of every 1,000 commercial pilot licenses issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are earned abroad. India’s Potential as a Global Hub for Aviation Education Considering India’s expansive geography and favorable weather for flying, the country is ideally suited to be a global hub for aviation education. In the 1980s and 1990s, students from nations such as Iran, Jordan, Palestine, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and several African countries came to India for flight training. Today, the trend has reversed, with Indian students going overseas for pilot education. One key reason is the slow pace of domestic training programs and the cumbersome security clearance process for foreign students, which discourages them from enrolling in India. Competition from International Flight Schools Meanwhile, nations like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have established world-class flight schools. Students from neighboring Arab countries now mostly prefer the United States, Canada, and Europe for training, despite these regions lacking ideal weather for primary flight instruction. Domestic regulations further complicate matters. The DGCA allows a flight school to operate only if it meets minimum requirements for aircraft and paid-up capital, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) imposes additional capital requirements. These rules do not guarantee quality education but are often sufficient to prevent many capable entrepreneurs from opening flight schools. By contrast, an Indian entrepreneur started a flight school in New Zealand with a single rented aircraft, which has since expanded to a fleet of over 20 planes and now attracts Indian students. Shortage of Trainer Aircraft The shortage of trainer aircraft is another pressing challenge. In the 1970s, Prof. David Hazen of Princeton University, invited by the Indian government to establish the first aeronautical department at IIT Kanpur, outlined a roadmap for India to achieve self-reliance in aviation training. However, progress has been slow. The DGCA developed the Swati light aircraft, manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), but a fatal accident during testing brought the program to an end. Similarly, the Hansa trainer created by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) was rejected by most flight schools. Lessons from the Pushpak Aircraft A comparison with the Pushpak aircraft is instructive. Manufactured in the 1950s, HAL produced 160 Pushpaks, which served India reliably for over 50 years and maintained an excellent safety record. In 1968, the government gifted one Pushpak each to Singapore and Malaysia to help them establish their flight training programs. The Pushpak’s success was largely due to it being modeled closely on the proven US Aeronca Chief. NAL later developed the next-generation Hansa (NG Hansa), which was showcased at the 2020 Wings India airshow, but production has yet to start, and setting up the necessary infrastructure would still take several years even if action begins immediately. Global Trainer Aircraft Shortages and LSAs The shortage of trainer aircraft is not unique to India. Major manufacturers such as Cessna and Piper had slowed production, underestimating demand, and now struggle to meet global requirements. Other countries have tackled this problem by incorporating Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) into flight training. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, LSAs are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and widely used in the US and EU for commercial pilot instruction. However, Indian regulations currently do not permit LSAs for commercial pilot training. Despite being equipped with only a magnetic compass, pilots trained on Pushpaks have gone on to fly advanced aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A320. Allowing LSAs in India could reduce aircraft shortages, encourage domestic manufacturing, generate employment, and attract foreign investment. Lack of Experienced Flight Instructors The lack of experienced flight instructors adds another layer of difficulty. Rapid growth in airlines such as Indigo and Air India has led many instructors to leave training schools for better pay, career progression, and recognition in commercial aviation. This high turnover leaves less-experienced instructors teaching students, unlike other professional fields where teachers usually have extensive industry experience. In countries like the US, airline pilots can provide primary flight training in their spare time, giving trainees the advantage of learning from seasoned professionals and ensuring higher safety standards. Without urgent, proactive measures, India will continue to rely on foreign nations to fulfill the increasing demand for skilled professionals in its civil aviation sector. https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/knowledge/flight-training-a-challenge-in-civil-aviation-101727069965710.html

India’s Aviation Boom Threatened By Severe Pilot, Instructor And Aircraft Shortages

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in X-twitter Youtube

AVIATION TODAY brings the latest in aviation and aims to cater information to professionals and Aviation Enthusiasts about the Industry.

Quick Links

About Us
Contact Us
Services
Advertise
FAQ

Navigate

Latest News
Civil Aviation
Pilot Training
Flight School Analysis
Aviation Jobs
Training

General Support

info@aviationtoday.in

News Desk Support

news@aviationtoday.in

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in X-twitter Youtube

© Copyright 2026 Aviation Today. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer

Search

About Us
Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
Contact Us
Advertisement

Aviation Newsletter

Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube