India to Establish 11 New Flying Training Organisations Across Seven AAI Airports, Boosting Pilot Training Capacity
In a major boost to India’s civil aviation sector, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu awarded Letters of Intent (LoIs) for the establishment of 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across seven Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s pilot training ecosystem and meet the growing demand for skilled aviation professionals.
At present, 41 Flying Training Organisations operate from 63 flying bases across the country. With the addition of the new FTOs, India’s annual pilot training capacity is expected to increase by 750 cadets, significantly enhancing domestic pilot training infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. He noted that the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat focuses not only on expanding aviation infrastructure but also on creating a future-ready workforce.
Highlighting recent progress, Shri Naidu said that six new FTOs have already been established over the past two years. During the same period, the number of training aircraft increased from 324 to 385, resulting in a 25% rise in annual flying hours across India’s pilot training ecosystem.
The expansion has also led to a notable increase in pilot certifications. The number of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) issued rose from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025, the highest in the last decade, with even higher numbers expected in 2026.
The Minister highlighted that Indian airlines currently have 1,640 aircraft on order, with nearly 500 aircraft expected to join airline fleets over the next five years. To support this rapid growth, the government is promoting the vision of “Train in India, Fly in India.”
He also outlined several policy reforms aimed at strengthening pilot training, including the liberalisation of FTO policies, removal of airport royalties, rationalisation of land rentals, digitisation of the CPL examination process through the Pariksha Portal, and the introduction of Electronic Pilot Licences, making India only the second country globally to issue such licences.
The Minister also praised the DGCA’s FTO Ranking Framework, stating that it has improved transparency and training standards. He noted that the framework has already reduced the number of lower-performing Category ‘C’ FTOs while increasing the number of Category ‘B’ institutions.
Additionally, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) recorded an average of 1,765 flying hours per aircraft over the last six months—well above the global benchmark of around 1,500 hours. The academy also reported a 27% increase in revenue during FY 2025–26 and posted a budget surplus after more than two decades.
The Minister further highlighted the development of the indigenous HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft as another important milestone in building a self-reliant aviation training ecosystem.
During the event, Shri Naidu also launched the FTO IFR Slot Booking Mobile App, a digital platform designed to help Flying Training Organisations book Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training slots at AAI airports more efficiently and transparently.
Concluding the event, the Minister emphasized that safety must remain the highest priority in pilot training. He called for stronger instructor oversight, strict adherence to standard operating procedures, and the development of a robust safety culture across all Flying Training Organisations.