FTOs play a crucial role in preparing human resources needed for aviation sector, says Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s goal is to develop Andhra Pradesh into an aviation hub, and Kurnool district is being developed into a key centre for the aviation, drone, and industrial sectors.

Mr. Rammohan Naidu on Saturday inaugurated the Orient Flights Aviation Academy at the Kurnool Airport in the presence of State Ministers B.C. Janardhan Reddy and T.G. Bharath Gupta.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rammohan Naidu described the establishment of the first Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Andhra Pradesh at Kurnool as a historic development. “Measures are being taken to develop a comprehensive aviation ecosystem — encompassing not just airport construction but also training, maintenance, ground operations, and airport management — rather than focusing solely on infrastructure,” he said.

“FTOs play a crucial role in preparing the human resources required for this expanding aviation sector,” he said, adding that the Central Government was taking steps to increase both the number and capacity of FTOs across the country.

The Union Minister emphasised the strategic importance of the Kurnool region, noting that its proximity to Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu made it an ideal location for aviation activities. He further stated that the presence of an already operational airport provided an additional advantage for the FTO.

The Union Minister noted that while some FTOs in the country relied on small landing strips with limited facilities, the availability of an FTO alongside a fully operational airport in Kurnool offered significant advantages to the trainees. He highlighted that Kurnool’s year-round favourable weather conditions created an ideal environment for pilot training, and assured his full support for the development of the FTO established there.

Speaking about the Drone City being developed in Kurnool, Mr. Rammohan Naidu highlighted that the use of drones was set to expand significantly in the future. He noted their growing application across various sectors, including defence, agriculture, commerce, law and order, land surveys, and ground surveillance.

The Union Minister noted that there were currently around 36 FTOs across the country, a number insufficient to meet future requirements. He stated that the demand for pilots was set to rise significantly as the aviation sector expands rapidly. With aircraft orders in the country reaching approximately 1,600 and each aircraft requiring at least 20 to 30 pilots, the nation would need roughly 25,000 to 30,000 pilots over the next 10 to 15 years, he explained.

Measures to establish more FTOs nationwide were being accelerated, Mr Rammohan Naidu said, and added approvals had been granted for 11 FTOs across the country. He noted that competition and opportunities in the aviation training sector in Andhra Pradesh were set to increase, with a new FTO coming up in Kurnool and approvals granted for two FTOs in Kadapa. He mentioned that the groundbreaking ceremony for one FTO had already taken place in Rajahmundry, with another one also planned for the location.