India Takes Flight: MoU to Manufacture 200 Diamond DA40 NG Aircraft

Sakthi Aircraft Industry Ltd and the Aero Club of India have signed an MoU to produce 200 Diamond DA40 NG aircraft in India, aiming to enhance aviation manufacturing and training. The collaboration will create jobs, train pilots, and boost India's ambition as a global aviation hub.

The Sakthi Aircraft Industry Private Limited (SAIPL) and the Aero Club of India (ACI) have officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to manufacture and supply 200 Diamond DA40 NG trainer aircraft domestically. The agreement designates ACI as the central aggregator, tasked with consolidating demand and managing aircraft allocation, ensuring seamless handovers to Flight Training Organizations (FTOs).

This venture, a collaboration with Austria's Diamond Aircraft Industry, involves setting up a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in India. SAIPL plans to start deliveries by May 2025, initially targeting 70 aircraft by year-end, and ramping up production to 100 aircraft annually. The initiative is poised to train 1,000 pilots each year, accumulating to 10,000 certified pilots over the coming decade.

The partnership is expected to generate around 250 direct and a multitude of indirect jobs, fostering substantial economic growth. At the MoU signing, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, celebrated this step as pivotal in realizing India's aspirations to be a global hub for FTOs, reinforcing the vision of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' Rajiv Pratap Rudy of ACI and Vaibhav D from SAIPL highlighted the collaboration's importance in enhancing India's aviation infrastructure.

(With inputs from agencies.)