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Flying Training Organisations

41% Of India's Newly Licensed Commercial Pilots Trained At Foreign Flight Schools SEO DES: India issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences in the first half of 2026; The country currently has 41 DGCA-approved FTOs across 63 flying bases SOCIAL: India issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences in the first half of 2026, with 540 pilots, or around 41%, having completed their training at foreign flying training organisations. The country currently has 41 DGCA-approved FTOs across 63 flying bases, supported by more than 400 training aircraft and a capacity to train around 3,500 students at a time. The figures come as India's aviation sector expands, highlighting the need to strengthen domestic pilot-training capacity and maintain a steady pipeline of qualified flight crew to meet future demand. New Delhi, India: India issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) in the first six months of 2026, with around 41% of the newly licensed pilots having completed their training at foreign flying training organisations (FTOs), according to data presented by the government in Parliament. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued CPLs to 791 cadets trained at Indian FTOs and 540 cadets trained at foreign FTOs as of June 30, 2026. The figures mean that more than four in every 10 pilots receiving their commercial licences during the period had undergone training overseas. The latest figures come as India's aviation sector continues to expand, with airlines growing their fleets and networks and demand for qualified flight crew expected to rise alongside the industry's growth. The number of CPLs issued in India has remained relatively strong in recent years. The DGCA issued 1,652 CPLs in 2025, compared with 1,347 in 2024, 1,622 in 2023 and 1,165 in 2022. The figures point to sustained growth in the number of pilots obtaining commercial licences, although a significant share of newly licensed pilots continues to complete their initial training outside India. According to the government, India currently has 41 DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisations operating across 63 flying bases, with a fleet of more than 400 training aircraft. Under DGCA requirements, FTOs are required to maintain an aircraft-to-instructor-to-student ratio of 1:1:10. Based on the existing infrastructure, the country's approved FTO network has the capacity to train approximately 3,500 students at any given time. Government data presented separately in Parliament also shows that the Indian pilot-training ecosystem has been expanding. A 2026 parliamentary response stated that 41 FTOs had been approved by the DGCA across 63 flying bases, although three were non-operational at the time, leaving 38 operational FTOs. The same response said the DGCA had approved three new FTOs during the financial year 2025-26 and that FTOs inducted 61 training aircraft in 2025 to expand pilot-training capacity. The government has also taken steps to strengthen the pilot-training ecosystem by simplifying the approval and oversight process for FTOs and revising training regulations with the aim of improving capacity and operational efficiency. These measures are intended to support the expansion of domestic pilot training as India's commercial aviation market continues to grow. The issue of pilot availability has gained greater attention as Indian airlines continue to add aircraft and expand operations. While the government has previously stated that there is no overall shortage of pilots or crew in the Indian aviation sector, it has acknowledged a shortage of experienced commanders for certain aircraft types, with foreign pilots being employed under the Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) framework to address those requirements. The latest licensing data therefore highlights both the growing output of India's pilot-training system and the continued reliance on overseas training. With airlines expected to expand their fleets further, increasing domestic training capacity and ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified pilots will remain important to supporting the country's long-term aviation growth.

41% Of India’s Newly Licensed Commercial Pilots Trained At Foreign Flight Schools

Aviation Today News Desk / July 25, 2026

New Delhi, India: India issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) in the first six months of 2026, with around 41%

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 DGCA had announced on July 9 the launch of a bi-annual ranking system for flying training organisations nationwide, effective by 1 October 2025 and then 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. 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. Rammohan 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.

MoCA Calls Review Meet After DGCA Report Finds No A+ Or A Rated Flying School In India

Aviation Today News Desk / October 27, 2025

New Delhi, India: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is set to convene a comprehensive review meeting with India’s flying

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has unveiled a formal ranking framework for all DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), which will come into effect from 1 October 2025. The new system, published in a public notice on 30 September, will be released bi-annually, with the next edition scheduled for 1 April 2026. Designed around a points-based evaluation, the framework measures FTOs on five core parameters: performance, operational strength, safety, compliance, and student support. Rankings Of Flying Training Organizations: Category A+ No FTOs featured in this category. Category A No FTOs featured in this category. Category B Chimes Aviation Academy SVKM’s NMIMS Academy of Aviation Shirpur Bihar Flying Club Orient Flights Aviation Academy Skynex Aero Pvt. Ltd. FSTC Flying School Pvt. Ltd. Patiala Aviation Club Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Nagpur Flying Club National Flying Training Institute Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding and Flying Club Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology Category C Dunes Aviation Academy Garg Aviations Ltd. The Bombay Flying Club Chetak Aviation Ekvi Air Training Organisation Pvt. Ltd. Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Ambitions Flying Club Pvt. Ltd. Flytech Aviation Academy Indian Flying Academy Sha-Shib Flying Academy Government Aviation Training Institute Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) Redbird Flight Training Academy Telangana State Aviation Academy Alchemist Aviation Private Limited Falcon Aviation Academy Wings Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited The Gujarat Flying Club The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club Ltd. Pioneer Flying Academy Pvt. Ltd. Blue Ray Aviation Pvt. Ltd. The inaugural ranking covers the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 and applies to all FTOs that had completed at least 18 months of approval by the cut-off date. Even training institutes that faced temporary suspensions during this period have been included. The grading system is divided into four categories: A+ (85% and above), A (70%–84%), B (50%–69%), and C (below 50%). Those in Category C will be issued notices by the regulator, requiring them to conduct self-assessment and take corrective measures. Majority of Flight Schools in Category C Raises Concerns The inaugural results reveal a concerning scenario: no FTO achieved an A+ or A grade, while the majority of flight schools were placed in Category C. Only a few institutions managed to secure Category B. The DGCA’s inaugural FTO rankings have raised serious concerns for the future of pilot training in India. With most flying schools underperforming and the majority falling into Category C, the country risks producing pilots who may not be fully prepared for next-generation aircraft, eVTOLs, and advanced aviation technologies. Low scores in safety, operational efficiency, and compliance further raise the possibility of heightened risks in training operations, potentially affecting commercial aviation standards in the future. As India’s aviation sector expands rapidly, failing to improve FTO performance could lead to a significant pilot shortfall, challenging both domestic and international airline growth. DGCA Introduced FTO Ranking System Earlier in March, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced its plan to introduce a ranking system for Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in India. The proposed framework aims to evaluate flight schools based on multiple performance metrics, including the average time students take to obtain a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). This move comes amid rapid growth in India’s aviation sector, which has heightened demand for skilled pilots. Later in July 2025, following its March announcement, the DGCA moved forward with implementing the FTO ranking system that will be effective from 1st October 2025 and will evaluate FTOs on infrastructure, safety, operational performance, and student support, categorizing them into A++, A+, A, or B grades. FTOs in Category B will be required to undertake self-assessment and improvement measures. The move also follows concerns over flight training accidents this year, stressing on the need for stricter oversight and safety standards. Key Metrics Behind India’s FTO Ranking System DGCA explained that the scoring is distributed across key pillars: 20% for FTO performance, 40% for operational aspects, 20% for safety standards, 10% for compliance, and 10% for student assistance. Performance indicators include the average time for trainees to complete 175 flying hours, aircraft utilization, and course completion rates. Operational strength focuses on student-to-aircraft and student-to-instructor ratios, fleet capacity, maintenance resources, and availability of simulators and ground training. Safety remains a critical factor, with accidents or serious incidents resulting in zero marks for that parameter. Non-reporting of incidents will invite a penalty of five marks for each unreported case. The framework also incorporates compliance monitoring and student welfare. Institutions are expected to maintain transparent grievance redressal systems, offer financial or placement support, and ensure clarity in fee structures and refunds. By formalizing this ranking system, DGCA aims to drive accountability, strengthen safety culture, and raise training standards in India’s pilot pipeline. DGCA Ranking Phase Excludes Certain Flight Schools Exclusions from the current phase includes Avyanna Aviation Academy, Vision Flying Training Institute, Aviation Connectivity Infrastructure Developers Pvt. Ltd. and Jharkhand Flying Institute these were not ranked as it had not completed 18 months of approval as on 31 August 2025 and Government Flying Training School, the approval not valid as on 31 August 2025. The launch of the ranking framework marks the first structured performance assessment of flying schools in India. By giving significant weight to safety and transparency, DGCA aims to instill stronger accountability and improve the overall quality of pilot training. Category C institutions, which represent a majority in this inaugural list, will come under immediate regulatory scrutiny and are expected to demonstrate corrective action before the next cycle of rankings in April 2026.

22 of 35 Flying Schools in Category C, None in A or A+ in DGCA’s First Rankings

Aviation Today News Desk / October 1, 2025

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has unveiled a formal ranking framework for all DGCA-approved Flying

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