New Delhi, India: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is set to convene a comprehensive review meeting with India’s flying training organisations (FTOs) after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released its first-ever ranking report, revealing that none of the country’s training academies met the top performance standards.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had first announced in March 2024 its plan to introduce a ranking system for India’s Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) to reduce training delays and improve the overall quality and safety of pilot education. The framework, formally launched on July 9, 2025, evaluates FTOs based on key parameters such as the average time taken to complete required flying hours, aircraft utilisation, student-to-instructor ratios, safety performance, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure standards.
The system, effective from October 1, 2025, grades FTOs from A+ to C and publishes rankings twice a year to promote accountability and transparency in flight training. In its first ranking report, released on October 1, none of the 35 evaluated FTOs achieved an A+ or A grade, with most placed in categories B and C prompting the DGCA to urge lower-ranked academies to address deficiencies and enhance their training standards.
According to the DGCA’s assessment, covering the period from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, none of the 35 evaluated flying schools achieved an “A+” or “A” grade. The rankings placed 13 FTOs in the ‘B’ category and 22 in ‘C’, indicating widespread gaps in operational efficiency, safety practices, and training quality.
The grading framework classified institutions based on their overall performance:
- A+ (85% and above)
- A (70–84.99%)
- B (50–69.99%)
- C (below 50%)
A senior ministry official said the upcoming review will focus on identifying systemic shortcomings and developing corrective measures. “The objective is to improve training quality and ensure that India’s flying schools meet international standards in safety, efficiency, and student outcomes,” the official stated.
FTOs placed in the “C” category have been directed to undertake self-assessment exercises and submit improvement plans to the DGCA within a stipulated timeframe. The aviation regulator is expected to monitor compliance closely and provide targeted support to address performance deficiencies.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu has emphasised that the ranking initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability within the pilot training ecosystem. The DGCA will now publish rankings every six months, with the next report scheduled for April 1, 2026.
The government’s move comes at a time when India is witnessing a growing demand for pilots to support the expanding civil aviation sector. Strengthening training infrastructure and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards are seen as key priorities to meet this demand sustainably.
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