Adani Group eyes entry into pilot-training sector with possible FSTC buyout
The Adani Group is exploring a new expansion into the aviation sector by considering the acquisition of Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC), one of India’s largest independent pilot-training companies, according to a report in The Times of India. If the deal goes through, it would mark Adani’s first move into the pilot-training business, an industry that is booming due to rising demand for trained cockpit crew in India and across the Asia-Pacific.
India is among the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Airlines and regulators require pilots to undergo several hours of mandatory simulator training every year. With more aircraft being inducted and flight networks expanding, both airlines and the armed forces are facing an acute need for more trained pilots.
International forecasts highlight the scale of this demand. CAE, a global leader in pilot training, recently estimated that India will need nearly 20,000 new pilots in the next decade, while the Asia-Pacific region will require around 98,000. This rising demand is turning pilot training into a high-growth, high-investment industry making it an attractive area for large aviation players.
FSTC, set up in 2012, operates four full-flight simulator centres in Gurugram, Hyderabad and Mumbai. It also runs four flying academies in Haryana, Surat and Solapur, serving commercial airlines as well as the Indian Air Force and other defence wings.
The company has been expanding quickly. In FY24, FSTC reported revenue of INR 214.5 crore and an operating profit of INR 124.2 crore, supported by continuous additions to its simulator and training-aircraft fleet.
When contacted about the potential buyout, FSTC co-founder and MD Dilawer Singh Basraon told TOI, “You are giving me shocking news. I’m boarding a flight. I’m going on a holiday.”
According to the report, the proposed acquisition would be executed through Horizon Aero Solutions, a 50:50 partnership between Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (ADST) and Prime Aero. ADST operates under Adani Enterprises, while Prime Aero is backed by Prajay Patel, son of NCP leader Praful Patel.
The Adani Group has already built a strong presence in aviation infrastructure by operating several major airports and entering the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) business. In December 2024, ADST acquired a controlling stake in Air Works, followed by taking half of Indamer Technics, another large Indian MRO company.
Entering the pilot-training space would help Adani complete a significant part of the aviation value chain, from airports to aircraft maintenance to future pilot training.