The Global Backdrop and a Regional Opportunity
As the world enters a phase of economic realignment, few sectors reflect this transformation as clearly as aviation. Amid shifting supply chains and redefined alliances, India has emerged as a strong contender poised to lead the next chapter in aerospace evolution.
This was the overarching sentiment at the 8th International Conference on the Future of Aviation and Aerospace, hosted by IIM Bangalore in collaboration with TBS Education, France. The focus was not just on where India stands, but on how quickly and confidently it can rise.
More Than Participation: A Call for Global Leadership
Aviation is no longer a field dominated by a few nations. With global trade recalibrating due to prolonged tensions such as the US China tariff standoff, fresh opportunities are surfacing for nations like India. Srinivasan Dwarakanath, Director General of the Aerospace India Association, emphasized that India should not be content with simply contributing to global supply chains. Instead, he encouraged the nation to take the reins and expand its role significantly.
His remarks encouraged stakeholders to aim for a tenfold growth in India’s share of the global aerospace value chain. This is not just about economic ambition, but about fulfilling a strategic responsibility.
Innovate, Do Not Imitate
The tone of the conference was forward-thinking and aspirational. Industry voices such as Anuj Jhunjhunwala of JJG Aero and Kaushal Jadia of Cyient pointed out that innovation must be at the heart of India’s aviation roadmap.
FR Singhvi of Sansera Engineering challenged the industry to reject a passive mindset inherited from the past. His perspective was particularly compelling. To build a globally competitive aerospace ecosystem, Indian companies must become fearless innovators rather than cautious followers. This is a subtle shift with profound implications. It demands not just investment in research and development, but a rethinking of risk tolerance and enterprise culture.
Beyond the Skies: The Rise of Vertical Innovation
Innovation in aviation is no longer confined to traditional aircraft and airports. The conference showcased exciting prospects in electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, drones, and artificial intelligence powered aviation technologies.
These advances are creating a new class of opportunities, especially for startups and mid-sized firms. What was once the exclusive domain of large multinational corporations is now becoming accessible to a wider range of players. For India, this means that entrepreneurship can serve as a second runway, helping the country achieve liftoff in global aviation.
Training for Takeoff: Building Human Capital
No vision of industrial growth is complete without people. Sunil Bhaskaran of the Air India Aviation Academy outlined a compelling challenge that doubles as an opportunity. With an aircraft order book crossing seventeen hundred units, India will require up to thirty five thousand pilots in the next five years.
This is a striking indicator of both the size and pace of the industry’s expansion. However, it also brings a clear mandate for action. India must rapidly scale up its capacity to train not only pilots but ground staff, engineers, and air traffic controllers. More importantly, this talent pipeline must also be globally deployable, serving markets in the developed world that are facing their own shortages.
Fueling the Future: The Role of Sustainable Alternatives
Sustainability was not overlooked at the conference. Bhaskaran also addressed the reality that fossil fuels will continue to dominate aviation through at least 2050. Despite this, sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF, offer a transitional path that cannot be ignored.
While SAF is currently four to five times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, India possesses a largely untapped advantage in the form of solid waste. As regulatory frameworks move towards SAF mandates—potentially requiring one to two percent usage by 2027—this could create a win-win scenario. On one hand, it addresses waste management; on the other, it opens a new chapter for domestic fuel production aligned with international sustainability goals.
Infrastructure Expansion Signals Confidence
Infrastructure growth is another sign that India’s aviation ambitions are being grounded in reality. The development of second airports in Delhi and Mumbai and proposals for an additional airport in Bengaluru are not just symbolic. They reflect a pragmatic understanding that infrastructure bottlenecks can hold back even the most promising growth stories.
The message is clear: India is not just placing bets on aviation—it is laying the physical and institutional foundation to support it.
A Mindset Shift That Goes Beyond Metrics
What stands out most from the conference is a subtle but significant shift in mindset. The dialogue is no longer about catching up. It is about setting the pace. It is not just about growth in numbers—it is about growth in confidence, capability, and strategic foresight.
This is a crucial and often overlooked point. Leadership in aviation is not only defined by how many aircraft are in the sky but also by how a nation positions itself across the aviation value chain—from innovation and manufacturing to training and sustainability.
Conclusion: Taking Flight on New Wings
India’s aviation sector is experiencing more than an economic uptrend. It is undergoing a transformation in vision, leadership, and self-perception. From boardrooms to research labs and training academies, the narrative is shifting.
The question is no longer whether India can compete globally. The real question is how quickly it can shape a leadership role that is sustainable, innovative, and inclusive.
With the right blend of talent, policy, and purpose, India is ready not just to fly, but to chart the course for others to follow.