Airlines in the Asia Pacific region continue to grow at unprecedented rates and source a large proportion of their workforce from India. This will cause massive pressures on the currently inadequate levels of aviation training capacity. Shortages are already emerging across Asia, according to Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), the region’s leading aviation knowledge practice.
The region currently has training capacity to meet only 35 per cent of its annual pilot requirements of almost 14,000, an annual shortfall of 9,000 pilots, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Capa, the region’s leading aviation knowledge practice, and Subramanya Construction & Development Company (SCDC), a Bangalore-based real estate developer, have signed a joint venture agreement to develop Capa AeroPark.
Capa AeroPark will offer a university and international standard academies for airline and airport management, pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and regulators.
“This world first integrated aviation university and training campus, which will see an investment of $125 million, will be developed on a 50 acre site in Bangalore, with satellite academies in Delhi and Mumbai, the country’s two largest aviation markets. There are plans for further roll-out to other metro cities across India, South Asia and the Gulf,” said a statement.
Each academy will be developed in partnership with the leading global providers in their field. The fully developed campus will include academic facilities together with full flight simulators, a flying school, engineering workshops and laboratories, research centres, accommodation for students and faculty, recreational facilities, a hotel and convention centre.
The park has the potential to develop an adjacent aerospace technology and research park in Bangalore, to further enhance cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the facility and industry, the statement added.
The demand for skilled personnel in India alone is expected to triple over the next decade, driven by strong economic growth. The country is expected to emerge as the third largest aviation market in the world within 12-15 years.
“There is an emerging global shortage of skilled human resources in the industry, which is particularly acute in rapidly emerging markets such as India and neighbouring regions. The aviation industries in India and the Gulf alone are expected to see investment of in excess of $200bn over the next decade and availability of skills is critical to support this,” said Peter Harbison, Group Executive Chairman, Capa