Gujarat emerges as national hub for commercial pilot training; five more FTOs to launch

Gujarat has positioned itself as a national hub for commercial pilot training, expanding the number of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) operating in the state. Based on a release from the Chief Minister’s Office, the state currently has five FTOs in operation and five more due to become operational, bringing the total to 10. The initiative is tied to Gujarat’s broader civil aviation infrastructure push under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, carried out through the Civil Aviation Department and GUJSAIL, with FTO development delivered through a Public-Private Partnership model. About 1,500 square metres of land at state-owned airports and airstrips have been allocated to eligible operators through transparent bidding. Four of the existing FTOs operate from airstrips in Mehsana and Amreli, and one operates at Bhavnagar Airport. Together, Gujarat’s FTOs have trained over 5,200 aviation students and produced more than 3,200 CPL holders, with over 200 trainees currently in programs. The state frames the expansion against India’s expected demand for 25,000 to 30,000 commercial pilots driven by passenger growth, UDAN regional connectivity, and airline aircraft orders totaling around 1,700 new aircraft.