The new centres will raise India’s pilot training capacity by 750 cadets annually, giving a major boost to the domestic ecosystem.
In a significant step towards strengthening India’s pilot training ecosystem and supporting the country’s rapidly expanding civil aviation sector, letters of intent were awarded on Wednesday for the establishment of 11 new flying training organisations (FTOs) across seven Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports by Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
Forty‑one FTOs are currently operating from 63 flying bases across the country. With the addition of these 11 new centres, India’s annual pilot training capacity is expected to rise by 750 cadets per year, providing a substantial boost to the domestic training ecosystem.
Naidu said, “India has emerged as one of the fastest‑growing aviation markets in the world. Guided by the vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we are simultaneously expanding aviation infrastructure and building a future‑ready workforce to support the sector’s long‑term growth.”
Highlighting progress over the last two years, he noted that six new FTOs have already been established, with training aircraft numbers increasing from 324 to 385. This has resulted in a 25 per cent rise in annual flying hours, reflecting both expanded capacity and improved utilisation.
The expansion has translated into higher pilot output. Commercial Pilot Licences issued rose from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025, the highest in a decade, with 2026 expected to see further growth.
Naidu added, “Indian airlines currently have 1,640 aircraft on order, and nearly 500 aircraft are expected to be inducted over the next five years. Meeting this unprecedented growth requires a strong domestic pipeline of trained aviation professionals. Our vision is clear: ‘Train in India, Fly in India’.”
He also highlighted policy reforms to encourage pilot training, including liberalisation of the FTO policy, abolition of airport royalties and rationalisation of land rentals. CPL examinations have been digitised, with applications now managed through the Pariksha Portal. India has also become the second country to issue electronic pilot licences, enhancing global competitiveness.
A major focus of his address was the DGCA’s FTO Ranking Framework, introduced to make pilot training more transparent and data‑driven. The Minister said the framework is already yielding improvements, with fewer Category ‘C’ FTOs and more Category ‘B’ centres.
Naidu also noted progress in indigenous trainer aircraft development through HANSA‑3 (NG), describing it as an important step towards strengthening India’s self‑reliant aviation training ecosystem.