State-run, Air India is planning to send its pilots to Singapore to train on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is expected to be delivered in December.

About 30 pilots will go to Singapore for training on simulators starting this week. Th training plans will go ahead even as the acquisition of the planes is yet to be approved by the government.

According to a source, the training will go on for 15-30 days and the pilots seltected fro training are senior captains and first officers from Boeing 747, Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 fleets. The training periods have been designed to suit the delvery schedule of the new aircrafts.

After receiving training on simulators, the pilots will take a check flight with pilots from Boeing. A told of about 70 AI pilots are expected to be trained in flying the jumbo aircraft. The aircraft maker is also providing a simulator to Air India as part of the deal to purchase the planes but the airline will only receive the simulator if it accepts the deliveries.

The latest move has upset one of the pilot unions related to the promotion issues.