Calcutta to Get First Flight Simulator Centre

Simaero, a leading French aviation training firm, is set to bring a crucial pilot training infrastructure to eastern India with the launch of a flight simulator centre in Calcutta. This move aims to address a longstanding gap in the region, where there is currently no such facility, forcing pilots to travel to other parts of India or abroad for essential training. The Calcutta facility will be one of the satellite centres following Simaero’s primary pilot training centre near Delhi-NCR, which is expected to become operational by early 2025 with two to three simulators.

This development underscores the pressing demand for flight simulators in India’s growing aviation sector, which has around 12,000 active pilots but requires triple that number to meet future needs. Pilots in eastern India, as well as those from neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, are expected to benefit from the Calcutta-based simulators, potentially reducing training costs and time. The company has plans to set up three to four simulators in Calcutta, while also looking at additional facilities in southern India, likely in Bangalore.

The Delhi-NCR facility will house simulators for popular aircraft models such as the Airbus A320, ATR 72-600, and Boeing 737. Industry insiders estimate that each simulator costs between $10 million to $12 million to set up, a significant financial outlay, but a necessary one to keep pace with the burgeoning aviation industry. The scarcity of such facilities has resulted in higher training costs in India—up to 20 per cent more than in other countries, which Simaero’s investments aim to alleviate.

From a sustainability perspective, investing in flight simulators significantly reduces the carbon footprint of pilot training, as they simulate real-world conditions without the need for fuel-consuming flights. Pilots must undergo regular skill tests, which can either be conducted in a simulator or on actual aircraft, but the latter is not only costly due to aviation fuel use but also less environmentally friendly. Expanding access to simulators aligns with broader environmental goals while also addressing critical infrastructure gaps in India’s aviation sector.