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Home > Articles > Leading 20 Flying Schools in India With Fees: Eligibility, Training, Specilizations
Updated on 18th September, 2024 , 14 min read
As in India, civil aviation is regulated through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which as of 2023 accredits 35 Flying Training Organisations (FTO) for flight training and seven Aircraft Type Training Organisations or Approved Training Organisations (ATO) for type rating from around the world, including one in Singapore. There are aircraft flown by the Indian Air Force, the Army Aviation Corps, the Indian Naval Air Arm, and even the Indian Coast Guard that are each responsible for training officers within their respective military establishments. |
There are around 100+ best Flying training colleges in India. Out of which, 60 colleges belong to Private institutions while there are 2 colleges owned by Public/Government organizations. Admission through Class 12. The Bombay Flying Club, Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Adventure Flight Education Private Limited, Bangalore, Silver Oak University, IGIA (Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics) Janakpuri, Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd., Adventure Flight Education Private Limited, Pune, CAE - National Flying Training Institute, PTC Aviation Academy, Chennai, and many more.
There are two types of aircraft in India: civil and military. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees the regulation of civil aviation. Along with the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard all have aviation branches that educate officers at their respective military bases. These branches are known as the Army Aviation Corps, Indian Naval Air Arm, and Indian Coast Guard, respectively.
A good pilot must have the knowledge, intelligence, capacity to think fast and respond, the ability to operate in challenging environments, and even the flexibility to work unusual hours. Every college offers a varied set of courses, specialties, and techniques for studying. Fees for flying to schools in India are comparatively high. An applicant must get a CPL in order to become a commercial pilot (Commercial Pilot License).
Candidates must have completed flight training at an institution recognised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in order to get a CPL ( DGCA). It is a statutory body established by the 2020 Aircraft (Amendment) Bill. This department looks into aircraft mishaps and accidents. This work has its share of difficulties because a pilot needs to be well-trained to manage any hard or difficult conditions with ease. The country now has a large number of DGCA-approved flight schools in order to meet the need for skilled, well-trained pilots.
Many schools base admission on the candidates' academic credentials, while others base admission on the results of the entrance exam. IGRUA, or the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, is one of the most esteemed tests offered to candidates seeking to become commercial pilots. This entrance exam is a national level-based entrance examination that grants admission depending on the candidate's eligibility. The exam is given to candidates who wish to enrol in the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) programme.
An applicant must invest in an organisation that offers the appropriate flying training because flying schools require a significant financial expenditure. When choosing a school, applicants should pay close attention to the institution's quality. Check here everything you should confirm before applying for admission to flying schools in India:
Following is the list of top 20 flying schools in India.
Below is the detailed information about top 10 flying schools in India including the courses they offer, fee structure, etc.
One of the best flying schools in India is IGRUA. It has an outstanding reputation and is one of India's top and oldest flying schools. This school has produced some of the top pilots and is now producing skilled pilots. Not everyone is a good fit for this institution, though. The admission of candidates is based on a two-hour written exam, which is followed by an aptitude test and a panel interview. Candidates are trained at this institute using a range of aircraft, including the TB-20, Zlin, DA-40, and DA-42.
Particulars | Details |
Type | centrally-owned |
Location | Uttar Pradesh |
Established | 1985 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Simulator training as per candidate's requirements, Multi-engine endorsement Instrument rating, CRM workshop, MCC course Course for foreign nationals |
Fee Structure | INR 45L – Full CPL |
In 1951, the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club was founded. Up until 1982, it was employed by the Madhya Pradesh government for the first 31 years and was responsible for maintaining its planes and aircraft. In order to train fighter pilots, the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club also collaborates with the Indian Air Force. The club has grown to become one of most well-known flying schools in India, and the minimum requirement for receiving commercial pilot training is completion of a class I fitness test and a 10+2 education.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Public |
Location | Madhya Pradesh |
Established | 1951 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Instrument Rating (IR) Multi Engine Rating Simulator Training Or Instrument Procedure Training |
Fee Structure | INR 8.5L – Per Year |
The National Flying Training Institute, popularly known as CAE Gondia, is the next institution on our list of the top flying schools in India. The Airport Authority of India and CAE own it jointly. It is among the most well-known pilot training facilities in the nation. The Institute adheres to the International Civil Aviation Organization's and DGCA's requirements (ICAO). Merit in the 10+2 system is the primary criterion for eligibility, followed by a DGCA-certified medical examination.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Private |
Location | Maharashtra |
Established | 2007 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Airline Pilot Training Business Pilot Training Helicopter Pilot Training Aviation Maintenance Training Cabin Crew Aircraft Platforms |
Fee Structure | INR 34.6L – Full CPL |
One of the greatest flying schools in India was founded in 1994 and is called Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Ltd. The club's main goal is to develop potential members to become excellent pilots. The club also owns Mehsana Airfield, a hangar, which is located at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport. It also has a sizable inventory of trainer planes, notably the Cessna 152 with a single engine.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Public |
Location | Gujarat |
Established | 1994 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Ground Class for CPL Course Commercial Pilot Licence Private Pilot Licence Aspirant Pilot Licence Instructor Rating Flying Hours Building |
Fee Structure | INR 24.6L – Full CPL |
The Bombay Flying Club was founded in 1928 and is considered to be among the greatest flying schools in India. The institution's first recipient of the commercial pilot licence was Mr. JRD Tata, the Bombay Flying Club's founder. The DGCA and Mumbai University are currently connected with the institute. Additionally, Bombay Flying Clubs is outfitted with top-notch aircraft like the Cessna 152A, PIPER PA18, Seneca, and others. Basic requirements for commercial pilot training include completing a 10+2 education and passing a class I fitness test. Also open to applicants is the BSc in Aviation.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Society |
Location | Maharashtra |
Established | 1928 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot License Aircraft Maintenance Engineering BSc Aviation Degree BSc Aeronautical Degree Hobby Flying – Executive PPL Remotely Piloted Aircraft System(Drones) Course |
Fee Structure | INR 41L – Full CPL |
On July 14, 1959, the "Kerala Flying Club," now known as the "Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology" in Thiruvananthapuram, was incorporated under the Indian Companies Act of 1956. The name "Kerala Flying Club" was changed to "Kerala Aviation Training Center" in 1980, and later that year, in 1981, the Keralan government took direct management of the institution. KATC was afterwards renamed Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology a Society under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955 with the Director General of Civil Aviation's approval. Starting on June 1, 2006, the newly established "Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology" went into effect.
Particulars | Details |
Type | State-Owned |
Location | Kerala |
Established | 1959 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot License Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Private Pilot Licence |
Fee Structure | INR 20L- Full CPL |
One of the first flying schools in India was established in 1950 at the Government Flying Training School (GFTS) at Jakkur, Bangalore. The state-owned flying training facility provides ambitious candidates with sustained programmes that result in the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) and Private Pilot Licences (PPL). The GFTS covers a total area of 214 acres, including hangars and maintenance areas that are leased to private parties, an airstrip, a fuel station, and facilities for flying training (the "Training School '').
Particulars | Details |
Type | State-Owned |
Location | Karnataka |
Established | 1950 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) Private Pilot Licences (PPL) |
Fee Structure | Not specified |
OFAA is one of the other flying schools in India and it exists in the city of mysore. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has given its approval. Its fleet of training aircraft is among the best in Mysore. The institute offers a wide range of courses, including a BBA in Aviation as well as commercial, private, and student pilot licences. The institute uses cutting-edge technology techniques to educate its students. Throughout the training, their top priority is making sure that everyone is safe.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Private |
Location | Karnataka |
Established | 2015 |
Approved | FTO |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) Private Pilot Licences (PPL) Cabin Crew Training Student Pilot Licence |
Fee Structure | Not specified |
The Indian Aviation Academy, one of the flying schools in India, is operated by The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Its beginnings may be traced back to 1986, when Patterson Farm House, a nearby property of Indira Gandhi International Airport, served as the Institute of Airport Management's first place of business. In 1988, the Institute relocated to its current campus. In December 1988, the ICAO Secretary General officially opened the new structure. In 1997, it underwent a renaming to become the National Institute of Aviation Management and Research (NIAMAR). NIAMAR changed its name to the Indian Aviation Academy in 2010.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Government |
Location | Not Specified |
Established | 1986 |
Approved | DGCA |
Courses Offered | Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) Private Pilot Licences (PPL) Cabin Crew Training Student Pilot Licence |
Fee Structure | Not specified |
One of the flying schools in India run by Treasure Coast Flight Training is called Adventure Flight Education Private Limited in Bangalore (TCFT). It has multiple branches in India, including one each in Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, and Pune. It is primarily situated in Stuart, Florida (USA). Commercial Pilot Training is the most sought-after of the institute's six pilot-based training programmes. Several different types of aircraft, including Cessna 152s, 172Ms, 172Ns, 172Rs, 172Ps (with G1000 instruments), Piper Archer IIIs, Piper Arrow IIIs, Seneca Is, and Beech Duchess, are used to transport students to Florida for practical flying training.
Particulars | Details |
Type | Private |
Location | Bangalore |
Established | 2010 |
Approved | FAA |
Courses Offered | Private Pilot Training Student Pilot License Training Commercial Pilot Training Instrument Pilot License Training CFI/CFII or Flight Instructor Cadet Program |
Fee Structure | Not Specified |
Due to budget constraints, it can be difficult to join the best training institute. However, tabulated below are the low-cost training schools in India:
Low-cost Colleges | Tuition Fees( Total) |
IGIA (Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics) Janakpuri | INR 2 lakh |
Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy | INR 38,000 - INR 40,000 |
Kaushalya The Skills University | INR 15,000 |
Fortune Aviation Academy Dehradun | INR 1 lakh |
Airport Aviation Academy | INR 1 lakh |
Many specializations are offered by the Best Aviation Academy in India such as Aircraft, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Helicopter, etc. Below table is illustrated specializations offered by a number of colleges:
The most crucial licence for becoming a commercial pilot is this one.
FAQs on Flying Schools in India |
Q. What is the cost of flying school in India? |
A. The approximate fees for the Pilot course range from INR 35 Lakh to INR 40 Lakh. Career Prospects: Graduates of the Commercial Pilot course can opt for following job profiles such as Private Jet Pilots, Co-Pilots, Commercial Pilots, Air Force Pilots, Flight Instructors, etc. |
Q. Which school is best for pilots in India? |
A. Top Flying Schools In India are following:
|
Q. How many flying schools are there in India? |
A. Today, the country hosts 35 Flying Training Organisations. The government has made efforts to have more flying schools constructed in various parts of the country to train more commercial pilots. |
Q. How to get 100% scholarship for pilot training in India? |
A. The IGRUA scholarship is one of the most coveted scholarships for the young aspiring pilots. It is given according to the performance in the entrance test conducted by the IGRUA. They help with all training expenses, from tuition fees to staying costs and all other expenses. |
Q. Who is eligible for flying school in India? |
A. First and foremost, you need to satisfy the eligibility criteria. That is, you would have crossed 17 years of age for a PPL and 18 years of age for a CPL and should have minimum qualification of 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Then, it begins with selecting a DGCA-approved flying school for starting your training. |
Following are the military flying schools in India-
The Indian Army's aviation division is known as the Army Aviation Corps. They have helicopters in their collection.
School | Location | Note |
Basic Flying Training School | Prayagraj | Indian Air Force station |
Combat Army Aviation Training School | Nashik | Main training school |
IAF officers trained at Flying Training Establishments must be trained by Training Command (FTE). At the Air Force Academy, officers get basic Stage-I training. After being divided into Fighter, Transport, and Helicopter streams, officers are then dispatched to the appropriate FTEs for advanced Stage-II training and specialty-focused Stage-III training.
School | Station | Level | Stream | Note |
Air Force Academy | Dundigal AFS | Stage I | - | Common to all officers |
Air Force School | Kalaikunda AFS | Stage III | Fighter | - |
Fighter Training Wing | Hakimpet AFS | Stage II | Fighter | - |
Helicopter Training School | Hakimpet AFS | Stage II | Helicopter | - |
Hawk Operational Training Squadron | Bidar AFS | Stage III | Fighter | - |
Weapon System Operators' School | Bidar AFS | Stage III | Fighter | Weapon systems officer training |
Fixed Wing Training Faculty | Yelahanka AFS | Stage II Stage III | Transport | - |
No. 112 Helicopter Unit, IAF | Yelahanka AFS | Stage III | Helicopter | - |
The Indian Navy's naval aviation division is known as the Indian Naval Air Arm. Officers are assigned to the Air Force Academy or Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi for first flying instruction after completing a required Naval Orientation Course at the Indian Naval Academy and pre-flight training at the School for Naval Airmen. After completing their training, student pilots are divided into three streams—fighter, fixed-wing, and rotary—and sent to the appropriate training facilities for advanced instruction and specialisation.
School | Location | Stream | Notes |
Air Force Academy | Dundigal | — | Indian Air Force station |
Fixed Wing Training Faculty | Yelahanka AFS | Fixed wing | Indian Air Force station |
Helicopter Training School | INS Rajali | Rotary wing | - |
INAS 322 | INS Garuda | Rotary wing | Operational conversion to multi-engine helicopters |
INAS 330 | INS Shikra | Rotary wing | Operational conversion to multi-engine helicopters |
INAS 333 | INS Dega | Rotary wing | Operational conversion to multi-engine helicopters |
INAS 336 | INS Garuda | Rotary wing | Operational conversion to multi-engine helicopters |
INAS 339 | INS Hansa | Rotary wing | Operational conversion to multi-engine helicopters |
INAS 550 | INS Venduruthy | Fixed wing | Dornier Operational Flying Training course |
INAS 551 | INS Dega | Fighter | Naval Orientation Flying in advanced jet trainer |
INAS 300 | INS Hansa | Fighter | Operational conversion to MiGs |
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi | Fursatganj Airfield | — | - |
School for Naval Airmen | INS Garuda | — | Pre-flying training |
Pilot Salary in India 2024: Starting Salary, Requirements, Qualifications, Per Month Salary
By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. Pilot training in India from a respected flying school with DGCA approval costs between 35 and 40 lacs for a Commercial Pilot licence and a multi-engine instrument rating.
Ans. The most frequent type of higher education to pursue in order to become a pilot is a bachelor’s degree in aviation. Some institutions offer this degree as a Bachelor of Science (BS) program, while other colleges also offer aviation education as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) program.
Ans. Finding a pilot job is not difficult for a candidate who has successfully completed a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) course from a reputed university that offers placement in respectable firms and the best training programs.
Ans. Pilot training in India is a simple process, barring the exams that one must pass. Since the DGCA, the organization authorized in India to conduct pilot training exams, is watchful about maintaining the quality of cadets, tests are made a little more difficult to pass.
Ans. The CPL program lasts for three years.