Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

FlightLogger Adds “Days Since Last Training” Widget to Business Insights Module

Global – Flight school management software provider FlightLogger has rolled out a new feature set aimed at increasing training visibility and reducing administrative burdens. The platform’s latest update introduces two new “Days Since Last Training” widgets within its Business Insights module, targeting both flight and ground training activity.

  • The new widgets provide real-time insight into student activity by tracking the number of days since each cadet’s last flight or ground session.

  • Designed for flight schools, universities, and training centers managing high cadet volumes, the tools support early identification of inactive students, ensuring timely intervention and continuous training momentum.

  • Benefits include streamlined oversight, reduced manual check-ins, improved student throughput, and better scheduling efficiency.

  • The widgets require activation of the Business Insights module and are available without additional complex setup or retraining.

  • FlightLogger emphasizes that these enhancements are intended to refine existing workflows, not overhaul them, offering clarity for instructors and leadership alike.

Source: FlightLogger

Related Posts

ICAO Rejects IATA Proposal to Raise Pilot Retirement Age Beyond 65

Global – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has rejected a proposal to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, following deliberations at its 42nd Assembly, held from September 23 to October 3, 2025.

  • The proposal was submitted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and supported by numerous airlines seeking relief from a regional specific global pilot shortage.

  • IATA’s position emphasized that extending the retirement age would enable operators to retain experienced pilots longer while mitigating training pipeline bottlenecks.

  • However, ICAO member states opposed the measure, citing concerns around aviation safety and age-related health risks, and ultimately voted to maintain the current age cap.

  • As a result, pilots aged 65 and above remain prohibited from operating international commercial flights, consistent with ICAO’s standing international standards.

Source: ICAO

Related Posts

Anjum Yadav Appointed Team Leader of Airbus India Training Centre in 2025

India — Airbus India Training Centre Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Airbus focused on pilot training in the South Asian region, has appointed Anjum Yadav as Team Leader – Flight Simulator. Mr Yadav was previously Associate Manager (Flight Simulator Engineer) at Air India Limited.

Please note that the Airbus India Training Centre was launched last week – Air India and Airbus Opened their New FFS Training Center at Air India Training Academy – AFM.aero

Source: Anjum Yadav

Related Posts

Indian Flight Training Group Chimes Aviation Academy Ranked No. 1 FTO in India by DGCA

India — Chimes Aviation Academy (CAA), which operates multiple flight training bases in India, has been ranked as the No. 1 Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in India in the first-ever official rankings released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

  • The recognition highlights CAA’s consistent focus on safety, quality, and training standards since its establishment in 2008.

  • The academy operates from Dhana Airfield in Madhya Pradesh and has become one of India’s most prominent flight training providers.

  • Over its 18 years of operations, CAA has trained hundreds of cadet pilots for Indian and international airlines including a cadet program with IndiGo

Statement

  • “Delighted and proud that CAA has been ranked as the No.1 FTO in India in the first ever official DGCA FTO rankings released today. A true testament to the 18 years of passion and unrelenting efforts by the core team. Now to move onwards and upwards till we are recognised among the world’s best. In the words of Robert Frost, we have “miles to go before we sleep!”” shared Aniruddha Bose, Vice President Operations.

Source: Chimes Aviation Academy

Related Posts

Acron Aviation Team Attends Air India and Airbus Training Centre Inauguration

India — Acron Aviation, the provider of full flight simulator’s for Air India and Airbus’s new training center venture, deployed a team to the inauguration event. Represented by Regional Vice President Kinda Sarrage, Subha Saha and Darren Lee, Acron Aviation celebrated the installation of two of its manufactured Airbus A320neo full flight simulators (with both devices already approved for entry into service).

Acron Aviation’s UK-based simulation division designed, manufactured, shipped, installed, and certified the initial simulators in compliance with DGCA standards. The flight simulator manufacturer will also install an additional two A320 full flight simulators at the training center in 2026.

Source:  Acron Aviation

Related Posts

India Regulator DGCA Publishes First Flight School Rankings – Chimes Aviation Academy Leads the Ranking in 2025

India – In a landmark regulatory intervention, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has published the first-ever rankings of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). The ranking regime was published on October 1, 2025 and will be updated bi‑annually (April 1 and October 1).

  • The DGCA’s key evaluation parameters include:
    • Safety Standards – 20%
    • Assistance to Students – 10%
    • FTO Performance – 20%
    • Operational Aspects – 40%
    • Compliance Standards – 10%
  • Categorization of FTO ranking is based on following overall score achieved by individual FTO as under:
    • 85% and above  – A+
    • 70% to less than 85% – A
    • Less than 70% to 50% – B
    • Below 50 % – C
  • 13 FTOs were placed in the “B” category. In the following ranking:
    • Chimes Aviation Academy
    • SVKM NMIMS Academy of Aviation Shirpur
    • Bihar Flying Club
    • Orient Flights Aviation Academy
    • Skynex Aero
    • FSTC Flying School
    • Patiala Aviation Club
    • Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation
    • Jet Serve Aviation
    • Nagpur Flying Club
    • National Flying Training Institute
    • Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding & Flying Club, and
    • Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology.
  • 22 FTOs fell into the lowest “C” (below 50 %) category; these will receive DGCA notices for self‑analysis and improvement, and may be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny. These include:
    • Dunes Aviation Academy
    • Garg Aviations Ltd.
    • The Bombay Flying Club
    • Chetak Aviation
    • Ekvi Air Training Organisation Pvt. Ltd
    • Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd.
    • Ambitions Flying Club Pvt. Ltd
    • Flytech Aviation Academy
    • Indian Flying Academy
    • Sha -Shib Flying Academy
    • Government Aviation Training Institute
    • Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA)
    • Redbird Flight Training Academy
    • Telangana State Aviation Academy
    • Alchemist Aviation Private Limited
    • Falcon Aviation Academy
    • Wings Aviation Pvt. Ltd
    • Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited
    • The Gujarat Flying Club
    • The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club Ltd.
    • Pioneer Flying Academy Pvt Ltd
    • Blue Ray Aviation Pvt Ltd
  • According to the regulator, the aim is to push FTOs to improve, enhance transparency, and enable prospective cadets to make informed choices based on quality rather than reputation or fees.
  • Authorities reserve the right to audit or inspect data submitted by FTOs; misreporting, noncompliance or serious deficiencies could affect rankings or trigger regulatory action.
  • The following FTOs have been excluded for this phase of Ranking:
    • Ranking not applicable as the following  FTOs did not complete 18 months (1.5 years) as of 31st August 2025 from date of approval.
      • Avyanna Aviation Academy
      • Vision Flying Training Institute
      • Aviation Connectivity Infrastructure Developers Pvt. Ltd.
      • Jharkard Flying Institute
    • Government Flying Training School’s FTO Approval was not valid as of 31st August 2025

To receive the full report kindly contact us.

Source: DGCA
Photo Credit: Chimes Aviation Academy

Related Posts

Air India appoints Pawan Dhariwal as Head of Operations of Air India Flying Training Academy

India — Air India has announced that Pawan Dhariwal will assume the role of Head of Operations of its new of Air India Flying Training Academy, coinciding with an ambitious expansion of its domestic pilot training infrastructure. The Air India Flying Training Academy, being constructed at Amravati Airfield in Maharashtra, will operate around 34 aircraft and 3 fixed training devices.

  • Air India is the first airline in India to announce the setting up of an FTO that will complement Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years.
  • The fleet will consist of 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria
  • The FTO is a leap forward in Air India’s commitment to bolster its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program and cultivate a pipeline of pilots as it expands its fleet, becoming self-reliant.
  • The FTO will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year as it scales.
  • At the FTO in Amravati, Air India is developing a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms at par with global academies, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency.

Source: Pawan Dhariwal
Photo Credit: Air India (shown as meta image)

Related Posts

Air India and Airbus Open New FFS Training Center at Air India Training Academy

India – Air India and Airbus have inaugurated an advanced pilot training center at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, Haryana. This state-of-the-art facility will train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade to support the exponential growth of commercial aviation in India.

The 50:50 joint venture facility was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the presence of Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus, Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India and other dignitaries from Tata Group, Air India and Airbus.

The new 12,000 sq metre center will be equipped with 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), along with advanced classrooms and briefing rooms. The facility is designed to train pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families and its courses are approved by both the DGCA and EASA, ensuring that India’s pilot training meets the highest global standards. The facility is currently equipped with two Full Flight Simulators for Airbus A320 family aircraft. The remaining six A320 simulators and two A350 simulators will be installed progressively.

With this training center, Air India is consolidating its pilot training infrastructure from across the country into the Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram.

The Air India Aviation Training Academy is South Asia’s biggest aviation training academy. It was set up in 2024 and is currently training over 2,000 aviation professionals every day. The academy is expected to train over 50,000 aviation professionals including pilots, cabin crew, ground handling, engineering, and security staff, over the next few years. With world-class equipment and the latest technology, the training academy currently provides immersive industry-best training with safety as a core focus.

The aviation academy has best-in-class equipment for immersive training on Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP) along with service training, grooming, voice, and accent training for cabin crew. Training for ground and security staff covers key functions such as departure control, customer service, airport security, and refreshers.

In addition, Air India is also in the process of setting up South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Amravati in Maharashtra. The DGCA-licensed FTO at Amravati’s Belora airport will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year, helping fulfil demand for pilots as Air India expands its fleet.

A new Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) is also coming up near Air India’s new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru that will be operational in FY27. The BMTO will offer a two-year integrated Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program certified by DGCA followed by two years of practical on-job training at the MRO.

Statements

  • Jürgen Westermeier, President & Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, said: “We are very proud to partner with Air India and the Tata Group on this critical infrastructure project. The inauguration of the training center is a testament to our shared vision for the future of Indian aviation. This is more than a joint venture; it is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry itself. India is a strategic powerhouse for Airbus, and this state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our belief in its immense potential.”
  • Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India, said: “Air India is in an expansion mode with 570 new aircraft on order and the new pilot training centre at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, a part of which is being executed with Airbus, will help train and upskill pilots who will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline. This facility is a major step forward in our transformation journey and in making Air India and the Indian aviation industry more self-reliant. With our partners Airbus, we are playing our part in building the aviation infrastructure that India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.”

Source: Air India

Related Posts