India – Air India has taken delivery of the first two Diamond DA42 NG trainer aircraft destined for its upcoming Amravati based Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Maharashtra, marking a major milestone in the Tata Group carrier’s plan to rebuild India’s domestic pilot training capacity.
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The two DA42 NG aircraft are part of a 34-aircraft trainer order placed by Air India in December 2024, intended for use at what is set to become South Asia’s largest FTO.
- In addition to the Diamond twin-engine aircraft, 13 single-engine Piper Aircraft trainers have already been shipped to India as part of the same programme.
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Upon completion of flight training at Amravati, cadets will progress to Air India’s Aviation Academy in Gurugram, where they will complete airline-specific type rating training prior to operating commercial Air India flights.
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The two DA42 NG aircraft departed Diamond Aircraft’s factory in Wiener Neustadt, Austria on 7 December 2025, undertaking a multi-leg ferry flight spanning approximately 6,700 kilometres across six countries.
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Initial routes included stops in Croatia and Greece, before converging on a shared path via Crete, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman, and finally into Ahmedabad, India.
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The aircraft operated predominantly below 15,000 feet, with occasional climbs to 20,000 feet, and completed their longest sector in approximately 4.5 hours.
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After landing in Ahmedabad on 10 December 2025 to complete import and customs formalities via GIFT City, the aircraft continued on their final leg to Belora airfield, Amravati, where new runway infrastructure is now in place.
Source: Air India