Encouraging the fresh inductees as they begin their journey with AAI, Shri Vipin Kumar urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, innovation, and safety in all their endeavors. He emphasized that their technical expertise will be pivotal in building and maintaining world-class airport infrastructure across the nation, while reaffirming AAI’s continued commitment to nurturing a highly skilled, future-ready engineering workforce.

Shri Ram Mohan Naidu emphasized the critical need to nurture talent early to keep pace with India’s rapidly growing aviation industry. He explained that the demand for 1,700 new aircraft would create approximately 34,000 pilot jobs, advocating for Indian students to fulfill this need rather than relying on foreign pilots. He highlighted the government’s significant achievements in expanding airport infrastructure, noting that the number of airports has increased from 74 in 2014 to 159, with plans to build 50 more in the coming years.

The Minister also underlined the importance of legislative reforms to support the domestic aviation ecosystem, including the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam and the Aircraft Protection of Interest in Aircraft Object Bill. By featuring women pilots prominently in the program, Shri Naidu sought to challenge traditional career perceptions and encourage young students, particularly girls, to pursue careers in aviation. This initiative aligns with India’s ambition to become a global aviation hub and aims to connect young talent with the industry’s growth trajectory.