India’s first private sector trainer aircraft manufacturing facility is likely to come up in Haryana’s Hisar by the end of this year as Tamil Nadu-based Sakthi Group and Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries have partnered to manufacture single-engine trainer planes for flying schools across the country.
As per the information the joint venture Sakthi Aircraft Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aero Club of India (ACI) to supply 200 DA40 NG trainer aircraft to Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across the country. ACI will act as the central coordinator, managing aircraft demand, allocation, and distribution to FTOs. As part of this agreement, Sakthi will manufacture 200 aircraft exclusively for ACI.
At least 150 aircraft will be produced at Sakthi’s Hisar facility, while the remaining units will be manufactured at Diamond’s facility in Austria under a joint venture.
The first 50 planes will be imported as kits from Austria and Canada and assembled in India, while the remaining 150 will be built at a new facility, likely at the Hisar aerodrome, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
The company aims to produce 100 trainer aircraft annually, with 60-70% of components being sourced locally within five years. The entire 200-plane order is expected to be completed by 2027. The Diamond DA40 NG is a modern four-seater aircraft known for its efficiency, safety, and advanced technology. According to Vaibhav D, CEO of Sakthi Aircraft Industry over the next three years total investment of the Shakthi Aircraft Industry is expected to reach Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 crore from the current Rs 500 crore in the project. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu welcomed the development, calling it a milestone in India’s aerospace innovation and manufacturing.
With India’s aviation sector rapidly expanding, the country will need about 30,000 pilots over the next 15-20 years, up from the current 6,000-7,000. Currently, there are 38 flying training organizations in India, and more are expected to be established to meet the growing demand.
