Hindustan Institute of Engineering and Technology (HIET), part of the Hindustan Group of Institutions (HGI), announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Air India Limited at Wings India 2026, India’s premier civil aviation exhibition held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. The Hindustan Group stall at the event was inaugurated by Shri B.C. Janardhan Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Roads & Buildings, Infrastructure and Investments, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The MoU aims to launch an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Cadet Programme focused on building a pipeline of licensed aircraft maintenance professionals.
Under the agreement, HIET, a DGCA CAR 147 (Basic) approved institute will deliver structured training for Category B1.1 (Aeroplane Turbine) and Category B2 (Avionics) engineers selected by Air India. The programme is designed to support the airline’s growing requirement for licensed aircraft maintenance engineers amid rapid fleet expansion and operational scale-up.
The partnership brings together Air India’s operational expertise and HIET’s regulatory-approved training infrastructure, ensuring industry-aligned curriculum delivery, standardised selection processes, and practical exposure aligned with airline maintenance requirements.
The MoU was announced during HGI’s strong participation at Wings India 2026, where the Group showcased its expanding footprint across pilot training, aircraft maintenance engineering, and aviation education.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman, Hindustan Group of Institutions, said, “Wings India 2026 provided an important platform to demonstrate how education and industry can work together to support India’s aviation growth. Through partnerships such as this with Air India, our focus is on building a strong pipeline of skilled, licensed engineers and aviation professionals aligned with global standards and industry needs.”
Dr. Ashok George Verghese, Pro-Chancellor, Hindustan Group of Institutions, added,
“India’s aviation sector is expanding at an unprecedented pace, and the demand for trained pilots and licensed maintenance engineers continues to rise. Through our institutions and long-term industry partnerships, we are committed to creating clear training-to-employment pathways that combine quality education, practical exposure, and global best practices.”
In addition to the Air India partnership, Orient Flights Aviation Academy (OFAA)—the Group’s pilot training arm—announced the induction of a new Tecnam training aircraft and outlined a fleet expansion plan to enhance training capacity and reduce student turnaround time. Planned additions include next-generation aircraft such as the Tecnam P2010 and Piper Archer DX, supporting both ab-initio and advanced pilot training with modern avionics and enhanced safety systems.
OFAA also outlined its advanced training infrastructure through detailed interactions and video presentations, including ALSIM AL250 flight simulators for single-engine and multi-engine operations, which enable DGCA-approved, weather-independent training. The team also shared insights on aircraft models and student-led drone projects, highlighting the Group’s focus on innovation and future-ready aviation technologies.
Alongside HIET and OFAA, other institutions from the Hindustan Group—including Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), KCG College of Technology, and Hindustan College, Mysuru—presented their academic programmes in Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Management, Defence Technology, and allied disciplines, reinforcing HGI’s position as a comprehensive, end-to-end aviation education ecosystem.
