Sat Nov 15 16:41:05 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
Summary:
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu stated that India will need 30,000 more pilots to accommodate the 1,700 aircraft on order. He highlighted the current pilot shortage and the need for more Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). Naidu also discussed plans for cargo airports, the growth potential of the Indian aerospace manufacturing sector, and the long-term goal of designing and manufacturing aircraft in India. He noted the increasing number of air travelers in the country.
News Article:
India Faces Pilot Shortage as Aviation Sector Prepares for Expansion
Visakhapatnam, India – November 15, 2025 – India’s booming aviation sector is poised for significant growth, but faces a critical challenge: a looming pilot shortage. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu addressed this issue today at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, stating that the country will require an additional 30,000 pilots once the 1,700 aircraft currently on order by Indian carriers are delivered.
“With 1,700 new planes coming into service, requiring 10 to 15 pilots each, the demand is going to be immense,” Minister Naidu explained. “We estimate needing around 25,000 to 30,000 pilots to meet this growth.”
Currently, India has approximately 8,000 pilots for its 834 aircraft, but Minister Naidu acknowledged that a significant portion are not actively flying. To address the impending shortage, he emphasized the need for expanding Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) to increase the number of qualified pilots.
Beyond passenger transport, Minister Naidu also outlined plans to bolster the aviation cargo sector. Inspired by companies like FedEx, the government is considering establishing dedicated cargo airports across the country. He also acknowledged the sector currently faces tough competition from the rail and road transport, which are cheaper.
The Minister also highlighted the ambition for India to become a global hub for aerospace manufacturing. “Our goal is to reach $4 billion by 2030,” he stated. India also had it’s long-term goal to have a full aircraft designed and manufactured in the country itself.
India’s aviation sector is currently transporting 4.8 lakh people every day, with a peak of 5.3 lakh passengers on November 10th. This growth underscores the importance of addressing the pilot shortage and further developing the aviation infrastructure to support the continued expansion of the industry.
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