Pilot training in India & list of DGCA approved flying academies

Pilot training in India is controlled by DGCA or Directorate General of Civil Aviation. It is an Indian Government body which deals with licensing of civil aircrafts, aviation licenses like aerodrome licensing, pilot license issuing, AME license issuing etc. There are more than 30 flying training academies in India giving training for aspiring pilots to become commercial and private pilots. There are both private and government institutes in the field to give pilot training. Here is the complete list of functional approved pilot training institutes in India, as it appears in DGCA website at the time of writing. You may read our reviews about institutes below the table. Detailed review reports of individual institutes are also available by clicking Here.

How to become a pilot in India?

This article deals with commercial pilot training more than airforce pilot training. Commercial pilot training is required for obtaining a CPL or Commercial Pilot License, to fly commercial aircrafts like that in airlines, cargo carriers, chartered aircrafts, aircrafts for organisations etc. For obtaining a CPL, you should enroll yourselves with any of the approved pilot training academies in India. You should be medically fit as per pilot standards in Class-1 medicals for pilots. Medical tests are conducted in DGCA approved hospitals and airforce centers for medicals. You must renew your medicals every year. Flying without valid medicals is not permitted. Your academic training consists of ground class and flying. Flying should be done in approved aircrafts in a flying club. 200 hours of flying is required for your license. The flying hours will be recorded in a book called Pilots’ Log Book, for reference. Flying includes solo flying, dual flying, night flying, cross-country and instrument flying. Written exams conducted by DGCA (once in 3 months) are also there. They are:

1. Aviation Meteorology (fees: 2500 Rs)
2. Air regulations (fees: 2500 Rs)
3. Air Navigation (fees: 2500 Rs)
4. Technical General (fees: 500 Rs)
5. Technical Specific (exam on a specific aircraft you choose) (fees: 500 Rs)

Apart from these, you require a Radio Telephony.Restricted (RTR) license too, issued by Wireless Planning Commission of India. You have to appear for RT exams (fees: 500 Rs, conducted once in 2 months) by WPC. Centers are Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad; one at a time.

Common aircrafts & equipment used

Almost all flying academies use a few models of aircrafts in general. They are Cessna 152 (single engine, piston engine, 7000-10000 Rs per hour), Cessna 172 (single engine, piston engine, 8000-13000 Rs per hour), P68, PA-34,Beech Baron 58 (Multi engine, piston engine, 25000-40000 Rs per hour). Apart from these, flight simulators are also used which simulates an environment similar to actual environment. It will cost around 1200 to 3500 Rs per hour of simulator training in India.

List of all DGCA approved pilot training academies in India

List of top 10 pilot training academies based on our ranking in quality and performance

This list is prepared after close examination of performance, available facilities and quality of training given to students in all pilot training colleges in India. Here is an article on how to find the best pilot training institute for you. 

1. IGRUA (Indira Gandhi Rashtreeya Udaan Academy), UP

The best flying academy in India for many years. Owned and operated by Govt. of India, it is one of the most prestigious flying clubs in India. Perhaps it is the only one academy where a strict entrance exam is conducted for selecting candidates. In almost all other academies, entrance tests are done just for the sake of conducting, where number of applied candidates seldom fill total number of seats. They have a vast fleet of aircrafts too including multi engine aircrafts. Though they don’t offer any placement guarantee, students are too confident to get a job in national airlines Air India and many other airlines.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: CPL package! 32,50,000 Rs INR,

Why we like: Best academy in terms of facilities, fleet of aircrafts, placement history

But still…..: High fees compared to other flying clubs

Website: http://igrua.gov.in/

Rate list for various aircrafts and simulator, copied from IGRUA website.

2. CAE NFTI Oxford Gondia, Madhyapradesh

CAE NFTI Gondia is one of the best and probably the best in private sector pilot training academies in India. With a vast fleet and well disciplined system of coaching, they stay undisputed in the position for years. They work closely with Indigo Airlines, one of the largest airlines in India, providing new pilots to their fleet. They have a custom package for pilot training with integrated Aribus A330 rating, which enables students to appear for interviews with this as qualification. However, for that package, fees is a high 60+ lacs Rupees.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: 36,00,000 Rs INR + taxes for pilot training

Why we like: Best in private sector, placement assurance in major airlines, Large fleet of aircrafts

But still…..: High fees, Operates in a private airport

Website: http://www.caeoaa.com/

3. Chimes Aviation Academy, Sagar, Madhyapradesh

Chimes Aviation Academy or CAA is a famous flying club in Madhya Pradesh. With record breaking hours of flying in a day, Chimes has achieved many awards of excellence. Their pilot training programs are well suited for various budgets and you can get a CPL for as low as 24 lacs Rupees.

Why we like: Well disciplined academy with all necessary features, large fleet of aircrafts

But still…..: Operates in a private airport

Website: http://www.caaindia.com/

4. Carver Aviation Academy, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra

Carver Aviation Academy in Baramati (Pune), is one among the best flying academies in India. They have multiple streams of coaching including pilot training and AME training. They have Maintenance Repair and Overhaul approval for light aircrafts, which makes it easy for them to conduct lag-free flying. They hold a record of 1 lac hours of flying in the shortest time, in India.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: 24 lakhs for cpl

Why we like: Large fleet of aircrafts, Very fast flying completion, Approvals for many streams, year-round flying due to specific geographical position in rain-shadow region

But still…..: Operates from a private airstrip

Website: http://www.carveraviation.com/

5. Madhya Pradesh Flying Academy, Indore & Bhopal

Madhyapradesh Flying Club is run by a non-profit public limited company for providing low cost flying training. With two branches in Indore and Bhopal each, they are operating courses at busy airports which makes it easy for the students to learn things easily.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: Cessna 152 @ 8500 Rs per hour, Cessna 172 @ 9500 Per hour, Beech Baron B58 @ 35250 per hour, Simulator single @ 1500 Rs per hour, multi @ 2500 Rs per hour.

Why we like: Operates from busy airports, Low cost of flying

But still…..: Occasional halts in flying as per our student surveys, small fleet of aircrafts

Website: www.mpfc.in

6. Govt. Aviation Training Institute (GATI), Bhuvaneshwar, Odisha

GATI or Govt. Aviation Training Institute in Odisha is one of the prominent flying clubs in North-eastern India. It is probably the best pilot training academy in that region for students from north east. With all necessary features and a relatively good fleet of aircrafts, GATI is a model for most other govt. flying clubs.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: Cessna 152 @ 9500 Rs per hour, Cessna 172 (glass cockpit) @ 11,000 Per hour, Simulators: single engine @ 2000 Rs per hour and multi @ 3000 per hour. CPL course @ 22 lacs and 24 lacs based on the package you select.

Why we like: Best flying club for those from North and east, Operates from a busy airport, Competitive fees

But still…..: Fleet is not so large

Website: www.flywithgati.com

Read our full review here

7. The Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai, Maharashtra

One of the best flying clubs in India, operated by state government, Bombay flying club is one of the pioneers in industry. With a good fleet and faster completion of hours, it must be there in our top 10 list. They offer hostel facilities and all necessary amenities at competitive rates.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: Cessna 152 & 172 @ 9800 Rs per hour. Multi engine Piper Seneca @ 35,000 Rs, Simulator @ 1400 Rs per hour.

Why we like: Competitive rates, Discipline, Hostel facility @ just 7000 Rs per month

But still…..: Large batch of up to 50 students

Website: http://www.thebombayflyingclub.com/

8. Pioneer Flying club, UP

Pioneer is a well know flying club in central India, with a small fleet of aircrafts and a small group of students too. This makes them easy to deliver promises in time, as far as flying hours is concerned. They also conduct sky diving to interested ones @ 25,000 Rs per dive. Rates are negotiable if you are an experienced diver.

Aircrafts, courses & Fees: Cessna 152 @ 9500 Rs per hour, Cessna 172 Skyhawk @ 10,500 Rs per hour (conventional cockpit), Hostel ! 11,000 Rs per month.

Why we like: Competitive pricing, Time bound flying completion

But still…..: No simulator, no multi engine.

We are trying to expand this list and will be doing it as our reviews progress. Check back soon for changes.

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