A top-level panel of speakers from across India's aviation scene will discuss how the country will recruit and train the thousands of pilots and engineers required to fly and service the country's rapidly growing commercial and business aircraft fleets at the 2nd Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 in New Delhi on 29th October 2025.

The estimates vary, but recent reports suggest that over 16,000 pilots will be needed between now and 2034. "There are several key questions to be answered, including who will train the pilots for Indian airlines over the coming five years and are the current investments made into growing the Indian pilot training infrastructure enough to meet demand?" said Maximilian Buerger, who will moderate the session. He is the Managing Director of AFM, the Dubai-based global knowledge platform for the pilot training industry.

The 2nd edition of Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 is organized by Times Aerospace Events alongside joint venture partner, the MRO Association of India.

This expert session features leading figures in the aviation training field including:

Capt Ashim Mittra, SVP Flight Operations, IndiGo
Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Air India Aviation Academy
YN Sharma, CEO, Chimes Aviation Academy
Khushbeg Jattana, General Manager India, Simaero
Joel Davidson, CEO, Aeroguard Flight Training Center

"Another critical issue to be debated is the potential application of the MPL (multi-crew pilot license) training framework for India," said Buerger. "Furthermore, the session will ask how the growing pilot training infrastructure will be staffed and how can India ensure it has the right flight instructors to train the airline captains of tomorrow."

Under the event headline: "Shaping the pathway for Indian aviation", the Summit promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the commercial air transport community and ecosystem this year in India and builds upon the success of the launch summit in 2024 which attracted 582 delegates. It is expected the 2025 edition will attract over 800 delegates and some 50 exhibitors.

Among the senior names from India's aviation industry taking part in the Summit are Campbell Wilson, Pieter Elbers, Vinay Dube, Salil Gupte, Shri Vipin Kumar, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar and Hari Marar.

Aviation India Summit 2025 builds on the formula of the successful Times Aerospace Aviation Africa events, which began in Dubai in 2015 and have been held in Rwanda, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.