Hyderabad: Affordability has emerged as one of the biggest barriers to pursuing a career in aviation, with many aspirants dropping out due to the high costs involved, particularly in pilot training, panellists said.Speaking at the ‘Flying Training: Skilling in Aviation’ session, Sanjay Aditya Singh, CEO of Jettwings Airways, said, “Almost 90% of aspirants do not go ahead with pilot training because of the high costs involved. There has to be govt-backed financing mechanisms to ensure talent is not lost due to economic constraints.”Another speaker, Hemanth DP, CEO of Asia Pacific Training Academy, called for financial collaboration, including greater use of CSR funds from large operators and OEMs, to make aviation training more accessible. “People should not be forced to mortgage their homes to become pilots or engineers. Institutional funding support is the only way this industry can scale,” he said.Christine Bohl, director, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing, stressed the need to reach youth in remote and underserved regions, where aviation is often seen as an unattainable career. Many students in these areas, she said, have never seen an aircraft and do not view aviation as a viable option.Speakers also flagged the lack of dedicated aviation training airfields, suggesting that India would need at least 10–12 airfields exclusively for training over the next 15 years. Skill shortages and the absence of a defined career progression framework for instructors were identified as critical bottlenecks. Long approval timelines for Flight Training Organisations (FTOs), regulatory delays, and complex DGCA processes were also cited as barriers slowing capacity expansion.While acknowledging improvements in DGCA engagement, panellists said bureaucratic delays, especially in licensing, certification and approvals, continued to hurt training. Comparisons were drawn with the US, where pilot licences are issued almost instantly after verification.Panellists also underscored the importance of modern training tools such as VR, AR, AI, 3D modelling and simulation, saying these are essential to scaling capacity without compromising safety. Advanced technologies, they noted, can shorten training timelines, improve retention and enhance safety, as India grapples with a severe pilot and technician shortage.
