India Panel Proposes Simulator-Based Pilot Training to Address Crew Shortage

The proposal would allow pilots to complete a larger share of required flight hours in simulators rather than actual aircraft. The change is intended to reduce training costs and speed up the process of qualifying new pilots.

Background on the Shortage Indian airlines have reported difficulty hiring enough pilots to meet growing demand for air travel. The panel's document states that current training requirements contribute to the bottleneck. The recommendations have not yet been formally adopted by regulators.

Implementation would require approval from aviation authorities before any changes take effect. The panel's report outlines specific hour reductions for in-aircraft training and corresponding increases for simulator sessions. No timeline for regulatory review was included in the document.