Airways Aviation has entered into a new strategic alliance with India’s Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited (APFT) to provide prospective Indian students and airline cadets access to a new Pilot Pathway Program from May 2023.
"India currently graduates approx. 800 commercial pilots a year against a demand that will more than double with the airline expansions on the anvil,” said Rizwan Taj, Pilot Instructor and Airways Aviation new Indian Territory Manager. “Indian Airlines have acknowledged the pilot shortage from the past years and anticipate that if not addressed well will hamper the growing demands for air travel."
The partnership between Airways Aviation and APFT boasts a combined global training fleet of approximately 80 aircraft.
“APFT has already acquired three Diamond DA 40s from Airways Aviation to boost our existing fleet of four DA 40s and a DA42 all with Jet A1 fuel powered continental engines. This gives APFT the best quality fleet of training aircraft in India today but with the aim to grow to over 20 aircraft in the coming years,” says Hemanth D.P., CEO of APFT, an industry veteran and former Chief Commercial Officer & Chief Operating Officer at GMR Airports.
The Airways Aviation / APFT Program is essentially a modular pathway that includes several flexible training phases which are designed to be adapted to both student and airline partner needs.
Phase 1. Pilot Foundation - Classes will be conducted at the new Airways Aviation facilities at GMR AERO TOWERS at Hyderabad International Airport. Students will experience a tailored curriculum that has been developed by industry professionals to provide a meaningful introduction into the theoretical and practical aspects of aviation. Students will be assessed and assisted through those first critical steps and gain the knowledge required to progress, with confidence, to the practical flight training phase.
Phase 2. Private Pilot License (PPL) practical flight training (with added theory as required) at the APFT operating bases in both Hyderabad & Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Airports in India.
Phase 3. Structured Hour building (SHB) at APFT in India and/or at the students’ choice of Airways Aviation global locations.
Phase 4. Train for an Australian CASA Commercial Pilot License (CPL MEIR) at Airways Aviation Australia or a European EASA Air Transport Pilot License (fATPL) at and Airways Aviation location in Europe.
Indian students joining the Airways Aviation / APFT program have the added benefit and opportunity to earn a Double Qualification of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business plus a CPL MEIR in conjunction with university partners Griffith University or Southern Cross University in Australia or a (fATPL) and Bachelor’s Degree in conjunction with Montpellier Business School (MBS) in France.
All courses and training are conducted in English.
Phase 5. Conversion to Indian DGCA with APFT in India upon graduation from training and the award of either the CASA CPL or EASA License
Phase 6. Airline Interview - Negotiations are afoot to secure interviews with various Indian Airlines for Airways Aviation APFT Graduates. Further announcements are expected on this in the not-too-distant future.
“In partnership with the Airways Aviation Group, APFT believe we will be able to not only help meet the demand for highly trained and qualified Indian pilots, but to also help enhance the standard of training, fleet and facilities thus assisting India attaining her coveted goal of becoming a world class aviation training hub,” says Hemanth D.P.
