Nagpur: The city is poised to position itself as a regional aviation training hub as the Nagpur Flying Club (NFC) moves to procure a state-of-the-art flight simulator, a step expected to reduce costs and eliminate the need for trainee pilots to travel outside the state for mandatory certification.A tender has been floated by the divisional commissionerate to acquire a combined single-engine and multi-engine simulator system, aimed at meeting training requirements for commercial pilot licence (CPL) aspirants. Currently, trainees from Nagpur travel to centres in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Baramati to complete the required 20 hours of simulator training, incurring expenses of ₹75,000 to ₹1 lakh per student.Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, who heads the NFC, told TOI that the initiative is designed to streamline training access. “We have floated the tender for the simulator, which will be directly available to our students. Currently, they have to travel across states to complete their mandatory training hours. Bringing this facility to Nagpur will significantly ease that process,” she said.The proposed simulator will support both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft configurations, including advanced Garmin-equipped systems and conventional platforms such as the Diamond DA42. Installation is expected within six months of the work order, subject to approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.Bidari said the in-house facility would allow better scheduling and utilisation. “With around 42 students currently undergoing training at the club, the in-house simulator will enable structured scheduling and reduce waiting periods. Additionally, it will help the institution retain training revenue that was previously spent on external agencies,” she added.“By integrating modern simulation technology, Nagpur is expected to attract aspiring pilots from across the country, strengthening its role in the national aviation ecosystem,” as per the NFC officials.
