Sakthi Aircraft Industry Private Limited (SAIPL) and the Aero Club of India (ACI) have signed an agreement to manufacture 200 Diamond DA40 NG trainer aircraft in India. The production is scheduled to begin with the first deliveries expected by May 2025, and annual output projected to reach 100 aircraft.
Under the agreement, SAIPL will establish a manufacturing facility in partnership with Diamond Aircraft Industry, Austria. ACI will act as the central aggregator, overseeing demand consolidation, aircraft allocation, and lease facilitation for flight training organizations (FTOs).
SAIPL aims to deliver 70 aircraft by the end of 2025. The initiative is expected to support the training of 1,000 pilots annually, totaling 10,000 pilots over the next decade. ACI plans to collaborate with financial institutions to provide leasing options for FTOs, potentially reducing capital costs for training providers.
The project involves significant investment and is expected to generate approximately 250 direct jobs, along with additional indirect employment opportunities in the aviation sector.
According to Rajiv Pratap Rudy, President of ACI, the agreement will contribute to increasing the availability of training aircraft and supporting the expansion of India’s pilot training infrastructure. Vaibhav D, CEO of SAIPL, stated that local production of the DA40 NG is expected to address aircraft shortages while supporting workforce development in the aviation industry.
The agreement was formalized in the presence of government officials and representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India.