India – The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the government body responsible for managing and developing civil aviation infrastructure across the country, has issued a formal tender to appoint a consulting firm for the establishment of Full Flight Simulator (FFS) and Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) facilities at airports within its network. AAI's entry into the simulator training segment introduces a government-backed competitor into a market currently served by private providers and airline-owned facilities, with implications for simulator slot availability, pricing dynamics, and type rating capacity across the Indian market at a time when the country's airlines have more than 1,700 aircraft on order.

The tender (Bid Reference No. 2026_AAI_277365_1), published on 13 May 2026, carries a 122-week contract period and specifies a minimum average annual turnover requirement of ₹300 crore (approximately $36 million USD) for eligible bidders, with an earnest money deposit of ₹25 lakh (approximately $30,000 USD).
A pre-bid meeting was held on 20 May 2026 at AAI's corporate headquarters in New Delhi, chaired by Shri Chandra Shekhar Tewari, General Manager (Business Development), with three bidders participating in-person and online.
During the pre-bid meeting, AAI confirmed the scope is limited to FFS and TRTO facilities and does not extend to Flying Training Organisation (FTO) operations; bidders seeking clarification on FTO inclusion were directed that this falls outside the project scope.
Varanasi has been identified as a proposed location, with AAI citing proximity to the Civil Aviation Training Centre (CATC) in Allahabad, the presence of international airline operations, and strategic importance within the regional aviation ecosystem.
The consultant's mandate covers market demand assessment, identification of suitable airport locations, infrastructure requirements, partnership model recommendations, financial projections for capital and operating expenditure, revenue streams, and return on investment analysis.
India currently holds 10,261 valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) holders, while government projections indicate a requirement for approximately 30,000 pilots over the next 15–20 years.
The financial bid opening was scheduled for 3 July 2026; no foreign firms are eligible, and consortium or joint venture bids are not permitted.
AFM has previously reported on AAI's existing presence in the pilot training sector through its joint venture with CAE at the National Flying Training Institute (NFTI) in Gondia, Maharashtra, which provides ab-initio flight training to CPL standard. The current tender represents a move into the adjacent type rating and simulator training segment, distinct from NFTI's ab-initio training mandate.

Source: Airports Authority of India

Government Airport Authority Tenders for 2026 Full Flight Simulator and TRTO Strategy Consultancy Engagement

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