Updated: Mar 12, 2025 04:08:10pm
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India’s First Private Trainer Aircraft Manufacturing Facility to Come Up in Haryana
Hisar, Mar 12 (KNN) Haryana’s Hisar is set to host India’s first private-sector manufacturing facility for trainer aircraft by the end of the year.
Tamil Nadu-based Sakthi Group and Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries have partnered to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the DA40 NG trainer planes, catering to flight schools across the country.
Sakthi Aircraft Industry, a joint venture between the two entities, signed an initial agreement with the Aero Club of India to supply 200 DA40 NG aircraft to flying training organisations (FTOs).
The first 50 aircraft will be imported as complete knocked-down (CKD) kits from Austria and Canada, while the remaining 150 will be assembled in India. The facility at Hisar Aerodrome is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
The venture plans to produce up to 100 trainer aircraft annually, addressing the growing demand in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.
Sakthi Aircraft Industry aims to achieve 60-70% local component sourcing within five years, leveraging Indian suppliers who already work with aerospace giants like Airbus and Boeing.
The 200-aircraft order, one of the largest globally for trainer planes, is slated for completion by 2027. While financial details remain undisclosed, the DA40 NG aircraft is estimated to cost around USD 600,000 per unit.
The four-seater aircraft is well-regarded for its safety, efficiency, and modern technology, competing with global brands like Cessna and Tecnam.
With Indian airlines ordering over 1,700 aircraft and pilot demand soaring, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu highlighted the need for robust pilot training infrastructure.
India currently has 38 FTOs, a number expected to rise. The collaboration aims to train 1,000 pilots annually, contributing to the 30,000 pilots India will need over the next two decades.
(KNN Bureau)