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Highlighting the rapid growth in the Indian aviation sector, Jitendra Singh lauds NAL, CSIR-NAL and the private sector for achievements like Hansa-3, SAAS Mk II and UDAN.
Passengers wait at Terminal 2 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. (Image: PTI)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday asserted that the Indian aviation sector is poised for rapid growth over the next decade.
He highlighted the key role played by institutions such as the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in supporting the “whole-of-government approach” adopted by the government with strong involvement from the private sector.
Speaking after the virtual inauguration of the HAP and NAviMet airframe manufacturing facility here, Singh said the government was very willing to engage the private sector to the maximum extent.
“Most of the success stories written over the last 10-11 years of Prime Minister Modi’s tenure can be attributed to private sector participation and engagement. This applies to different areas – biotechnology, vaccines, first-ever antibiotics – all of which were developed with private sector involvement. The same applies to space,” he said, citing the recent Skyroot launch.
Referring to the National Aeronautics and Space Laboratories’ (CSIR-NAL) Hansa-3 two-seat trainer aircraft, Singh recalled his attendance at the technology transfer ceremony held in New Delhi in April this year and expressed satisfaction with the pace of progress.
He said: “Today we are witnessing the actual development of the aircraft. In just five or six months, the pioneering team has achieved remarkable progress, and they were truly pioneers in this field.”
Noting that India’s civil aviation sector is expanding rapidly, the minister said it is expected that by 2027, the country will handle around six crore passengers.
Recalling Prime Minister Modi’s early remark that “Hawai chappal wala Hawai jahaj mein chalega (The man wearing Hawaiian chappals will fly in an airplane),” Singh said the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme was launched to make this vision possible. He added that a cost-effective and comprehensive ecosystem is essential.
“Accordingly, the number of airports has increased significantly. In 2014, when this government took office, there were only about 69-70 airports. Today, we have more than 130 airports. The number of aircraft will also have to increase accordingly,” he said.
According to Singh, the need for pilots is also increasing.
Current projections indicate that in the next 10 years, India may need 200 to 300 additional aircraft to serve the new routes emerging every day.
The minister also inaugurated the SARAS Mk II Iron Bird test facility and unveiled the Hansa-3 (NG) production standard aircraft, which he said represents a major achievement, is in line with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission and will help reduce dependence on foreign sources.
He also attended the signing of a cooperation agreement with industry partner Solar Defense and Aerospace Ltd, Nagpur, to develop loitering munitions UAVs for CSIR.
“Currently, we have about 6,000 to 7,000 pilots in the country. But with the rapid expansion of routes and aircraft, we may need 25,000 to 30,000 pilots in the next decade. This is a huge jump. We must expand; otherwise we will continue to depend on foreign sources. This is again in line with the slogan of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
Even small aircraft require 25 to 30 pilots due to rotation needs, while larger aircraft require more than 30 pilots, Singh added.
“In this context, both NAL and Pioneer deserve recognition. They have been pioneers not only in aircraft development but also in motivating many others to enter this field, which is emerging as a new means of livelihood and entrepreneurship. With an investment of Rs 150 crore, NAL has committed to producing 100 aircraft annually,” he said.
He welcomed NAL’s work on high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles designed for high-altitude platforms, with trials planned at altitudes of up to 20 kilometers by 2027, and its ongoing collaboration with the Solar Group and the DRISHTI aerosol laboratory programme.
Stressing the need for public awareness, Singh said NAL should increase its visibility. “We have to communicate with people in the language they understand, because that is the power of media and social media – clips and short videos that younger audiences watch,” he said, urging the institute to form a social media creative team that includes scholars and communications experts.
“Since you are undertaking a whole-of-government endeavor, you need a team that reflects this ethos – scientists and innovators working together to ensure we reach those who need this information. Through these initiatives, we are simultaneously catering to scientists, the defense forces, the lower middle class and potential investors,” Singh added.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Transportation Authority)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break down and analyze the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explanations, the office offers…Read more
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break down and analyze the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explanations, the office offers… Read more
Delhi, India, India
29 November 2025, 5:00 PM IST
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