Vienna to Amravati: Two Air India Diamonds and a flight to the future

Two brand-new Diamond DA 42NG trainer aircraft, with their propellers glinting in the Alpine sun, trace a flight path with not one, but six hops, bringing home to India the wings that will teach more of its own to fly, on its own soil.

Key Highlights
- Aircraft Type:
Two brand-new Diamond DA 42NG trainer aircraft in Air India’s new livery.
- Purpose:
These are part of Air India’s order of 34 trainer aircraft (placed in December 2024) to be used at its Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra.
- Training Capacity:
The Amravati FTO will train 180 cadet pilots annually, reducing reliance on overseas academies. Graduates will continue advanced training at Air India’s Aviation Academy in Gurugram.

The Journey
- Departure: 7 December 2025, from Diamond Aircraft’s factory at Wiener Neustadt (Vienna, Austria).
- Routes Taken:
- Aircraft 1: Vienna → Dubrovnik (Croatia)
- Aircraft 2: Vienna → Mykonos (Greece)
- Then both flew together:
- Heraklion (Crete, Greece) → Hurghada (Egypt)
- Hurghada → Al-Qassim (Saudi Arabia)
- Al-Qassim → Dubai (UAE)
- Dubai → Muscat (Oman)
- Muscat → Ahmedabad (India)
- Distance & Altitude: ~6,700 km across 6 countries, mostly below 15,000 ft, occasionally up to 20,000 ft.
- Arrival: Landed at Ahmedabad on 10 December 2025 for customs clearance, then onward to Belora airfield, Amravati.

Significance
- Pilot Training Revolution: Marks the beginning of India’s largest FTO, enabling domestic pilot training at scale.
- Economic & Strategic Impact: Acquisition via GIFT City (Gandhinagar) highlights India’s use of its international financial hub for aviation deals.
- Symbolism: Echoes J.R.D. Tata’s pioneering 1932 flight that launched Indian aviation, now renewed with modern aircraft for future aviators.

Why It Matters
This journey isn’t just about two aircraft—it’s about India reclaiming self-sufficiency in pilot training, strengthening its aviation ecosystem, and symbolically connecting past milestones with future ambitions.