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On January 2, 2025, a Van's RV-10 aircraft crashed into a furniture warehouse near Fullerton Municipal Airport, California, resulting in two fatalities and 19 injuries. | Aviation Today

Airplane Crashes

Two Dead, 19 Injured in Fatal Aircraft Crash near Fullerton Airport, California

January 4, 2025

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) invites applications for the Online On-Demand Examination (OLODE) for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) and Flight Crew (FC) for Session 01 of 2025. This examination will be conducted at designated centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru | Aviation Today

Exams

Online On-Demand Examination (OLODE) Dates for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) and Flight Crew (FC) for Session 01 of 2025 Released

January 4, 2025

Senior IAS Officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai from the 1996-batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

DGCA

Senior IAS Officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Appointed New Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India

January 3, 2025

The Kaveri engine has been cleared for inflight testing, announced by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), brings the country closer to achieving its long-standing goal of developing an indigenous fighter jet engine. It represents a crucial advancement in India’s drive for military self-reliance, particularly in aerospace technology | Aviation Today

India

India’s Kaveri Engine Cleared for Inflight Testing: Closer to Homegrown Fighter Jets

January 3, 2025

State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) in India have announced a significant reduction in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices commencing January 1. This provides relief to both airlines and consumers following recent pricing hikes | Aviation Today

News

Recent Reduction in ATF Prices may result in Cheaper Airline Ticket Prices

January 2, 2025

Air India becomes the first Indian airline to offer in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic and international flights, providing passengers with entertainment, the opportunity to take work calls and respond to emails, and stay connected during their journey | Aviation Today

Airlines

Now Enjoy FREE WiFi in Air India Flights: Introductory Offer Effective from Jan 1 2025

January 2, 2025

A member of the cabin crew of Swiss International Air Lines Flight 1885 passed away on December 30, 2024, due to problems resulting from smoke inhalation after a mid-flight mishap. This is the first fatality associated with an Airbus A220 | Aviation Today

Incidents

Cabin Crew Member Dies After Smoke-Filled Swiss A220 Makes Emergency Landing

January 2, 2025

Starting April 1, 2025, airlines flying internationally to and from India will be required to share detailed passenger information with Indian Customs. This new rule, issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), aims to strengthen border security and improve risk management. It applies to all airlines, including those using Global Distribution Systems (GDS), with specific deadlines for compliance | Aviation Today

News

Airlines Must Share Passenger Data with Customs from April 1, 2025

December 31, 2024

India's "one cabin bag" rule: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has suggested new limitations on hand bags on flights, a substantial change aimed at streamlining air travel while improving security | Aviation Today

India

Airline Passengers can no longer carry more than one Carry On Baggage

December 31, 2024

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), is a greenfield project in Maharashtra, India, is slated to start operations in mid-2025. This development is expected to revolutionize the aviation landscape of Western India enabling accessible international connections for passengers who now use airports in Mumbai, Hyderabad, or Bangalore | Aviation Today

Airports

Navi Mumbai International Airport to Debut in 2025: India’s First Airport with Multimodal Connectivity

December 31, 2024

A devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea claimed the lives of 179 people on Sunday, December 29, 2024, including a 3-year-old boy. The Jeju Air flight, identified as 7C2216, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok when it tragically crash-landed | Aviation Today

Airplane Crashes

179 Dead in Devastating Jeju Air Crash-Landing in South Korea

December 30, 2024

Air Kerala and Alhind Air are set to launch in 2025, boosting Kerala’s aviation sector with affordable regional and international flights, especially for Gulf-bound travelers.

Airlines

Two New Airlines from Kerala Set to Launch in 2025

December 30, 2024

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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

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