Indian State Government Backs New Flight Training Academy to Open in 2026

India – Melstarr Group has marked a major development in its aviation training ambitions with the Virtual Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for Melstarr Aviations Tech Private Limited (MATPL), conducted by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, at Kurnool Airport. The event signals the formal launch of a state-of-the-art Flight Training Organisation (FTO) that will begin operations in Q1 FY 2026, expanding the company’s footprint beyond its previously announced Karnataka project and reinforcing India’s strategic shift toward domestic pilot training capacity.

• The ceremony was attended by senior state officials, including the Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Sri Kinjaraapu Atchannaidu, Hon’ble MLA Smt. Gowru Charitha Reddy, and Sri Praveen Adithya C.V., Managing Director of APADCL, underscoring government support for expanding aviation training infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh.
• The upcoming FTO at Kurnool Airport will feature modern flight training facilities designed to train India’s next generation of commercial pilots, supporting both regional talent development and national industry demand.
• The Andhra Pradesh project complements MATPL’s previously announced ₹300 crore (~USD 36 million) aviation training investment in Karnataka, reported by AFM in May 2025. That initiative followed an MoU with the Karnataka government and includes a phased ₹100 crore (~USD 12 million) initial investment.

Together, the two developments position Melstarr as one of the largest private-sector investors in India’s pilot training industry, aligning with national priorities to reduce reliance on overseas training and strengthen domestic training pipelines.

Statements

• “This is one of the most substantial investments by a private company in Indian aviation training. The first phase of ₹100 crore is already committed, and we aim to scale up operations significantly over the next three years,” said Tarun Kashyap, Chief Operating Officer of MATPL, in May 2025.

Source: Melstarr Group