Akasa Air launches 'SkyCadet' programme to train next generation of pilots

Akasa Air, India's fastest-growing carrier, unveiled Akasa SkyCadet, a pilot training programme designed to produce future-ready commercial pilots in line with DGCA regulations and the airline's global standards. The initiative, announced in New Delhi on June 11, is being developed with approved Flight Training Organisations Skynex Aero and Dunes Aviation Academy. It seeks to nurture aspiring pilots by blending comprehensive aviation education, flight training, and airline-aligned preparedness, reflecting India's rapid aviation expansion and the projected surge in qualified pilots as fleets grow. The programme outlines three phases, beginning with Ground School to cover air regulations, navigation, meteorology, aircraft knowledge, and human performance to prepare cadets for DGCA examinations, followed by Commercial Pilot License (CPL) flight training. Belson Coutinho, Akasa Air's Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, described the initiative as essential to sustaining long-term growth and building a pipeline of talent able to scale with the airline's expansion. He emphasized safety, operational excellence, discipline, and service as core values, while industry projections underline rising pilot demand as Indian carriers place major orders.