IndiGo has expanded its Cadet Pilot Training Program partnership to include Marigold Aviation.

Investing in pilot training

Yesterday, one of India’s largest airlines, IndiGo, announced it was expanding its Cadet Pilot Training Program. The most recent announcement now means that the airline has nine partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to the next generation of pilots and the expansion of Indian aviation.

“India is home to the third largest and fastest-growing aviation market in the world. As we continue to scale up our operations and work towards doubling our strength, the need for skilled pilots will be pivotal in achieving this vision.” – Captain Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, IndiGo

Mittra added,

“Our partnership with Marigold Aviation is a key milestone in that journey, providing access to world-class training with emphasis on safety, quality, and excellence, while nurturing the aspirations of New India’s future pilots. We are delighted to welcome Marigold Aviation to our Cadet Pilot Program and look forward to shaping the future of Indian aviation together.”

Marigold Aviation is one of the leading pilot training academies in India. The company is led and backed by management and an advisory team made up of experts in the aviation industry. According to the academy, its airline philosophy, advanced avionics, standards and safety, and skills beyond flying, are what sets it apart.

IndiGo NextGen EFB Program for ATR Pilots

Photo: IndiGo

The new program, in partnership with Marigold, will last 21 months and consists of three major phases:

  • Phase 1 (15 months): Ground School, DGCA & Commercial Pilot License Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (CPL-MEIR) Training and Licensing at Marigold Aviation’s world-class facilities.
  • Phase 2 (4 months): Foreign License Conversion
  • Phase 3 (2 months): Airbus A320 type rating

Indian aviation forecast

Early this year, Boeing published a forecast on what Indian aviation will look like in coming years. The country already has one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. According to Boeing, India will lead the South Asia region as the largest growth in the next two decades.

Boeing predicts that South Asia will need an additional 37,000 pilots and 38,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 years. Of 2,705 new deliveries, 72% will support fleet growth, while the remaining 28% will be for fleet replacement.

IndiGo and Airbus executives when the airline ordered 500 Airbus A320neo aircraft

Photo: Airbus

Although India has surpassed China as the most populous nation in the world, its aviation capacity is still well behind. According to a study from OAG, India’s current capacity is just 20% of that of the US and 25% of that of China. Despite recent orders from Indian carriers for significant amounts of aircraft, these new planes will bring the country’s fleet to just over 3,000 planes, while China has already reached 4,000 and continues to grow.

As of April of this year, India’s domestic market had grown to be the third-largest in the world. Six months ago, its capacity was 15.6 million, nearly double what it was just ten years ago. In that time frame, domestic capacity has grown about 6.9% annually.

The Indian market has been dominated by low-cost carriers, which, in April, accounted for 78.4% of domestic capacity. IndiGo has nearly 1,000 aircraft on order, both narrowbodies and widebodies, which will continue to significantly drive growth.

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