List of pilot training institutes in India explained

In India, civil aviation is regulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which recognizes 35 (as of 2023) Flying Training Organisations (FTO) for flight training and seven (including one in Singapore) Aircraft Type Training Organisations or Approved Training Organisations (ATO) for type rating.[1] In Indian Armed Forces, aircraft are used by the Indian Air Force, the Army Aviation Corps, the Indian Naval Air Arm, and the Indian Coast Guard, who train officers at their military establishments.

Civil aviation

Flying Training Organisations

List of approved FTOs as of January 2024[2]
InstituteState/Typeclass=unsortable Notes
Academy of Carver AviationMaharashtraPrivate
Ahmedabad Aviation & AeronauticsGujaratPublic
Alchemist AviationJharkhandPrivate
Ambitions Flying ClubUttar PradeshPrivate
Asia Pacific Flight Training AcademyTelanganaPrivate
Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding & Flying ClubRajasthanSociety
Bihar Flying InstituteBiharState-owned
Blue Ray AviationMaharashtraPrivate
Bombay Flying ClubMaharashtraSocietyThe oldest flying club in India
Chetak AviationUttar PradeshSociety
Chimes Aviation AcademyMadhya PradeshPrivate
Dunes Aviation AcademyGujaratTrust
EKVI Air Training OrganisationTamil NaduPrivate
Falcon Aviation AcademyUttar PradeshTrust
Flytech Aviation AcademyTelanganaPublic
FSTC Flying SchoolHaryanaPrivateSubsidiary of type rating company FSTC
Garg AviationUttar PradeshPrivate
Government Aviation Training InstituteOdishaState-owned
Government Flying Training SchoolKarnatakaState-owned
Gujarat Flying ClubGujaratSection 25 company
Haryana Institute of Civil AviationHaryanaState-owned
Indian Flying AcademyMadhya PradeshPrivate
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran AkademiUttar PradeshCentre-ownedAutonomous institution under the Ministry of Civil Aviation
Jet Serve AviationMadhya PradeshPrivate
Madhya Pradesh Flying ClubMadhya PradeshPublic
Nagpur Flying ClubMaharashtraState-owned
National Flying Training InstituteMaharashtraPrivateJoint venture between CAE Inc. and Airports Authority of India
Orient Flights Aviation AcademyKarnatakaPrivate
Patiala Aviation ClubPunjabState-owned
Pioneer Flying AcademyUttar PradeshPrivate
Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation TechnologyKeralaState-owned
Redbird Flight Training AcademyMaharashtraPrivate
Saraswati Aviation AcademyUttar PradeshTrust
Sha-Shib Flying AcademyMadhya PradeshSociety
Skynex Aero Pvt. Ltd.DelhiPrivate
SVKM NMIMS Academy of AviationMaharashtraPrivate
Telangana State Aviation AcademyTelanganaState-owned
Wings AviationTelanganaPrivate

Aircraft Type Training Organisation

List of approved ATOs as of September 2022[3]
InstituteAircraftNote
AGIPL (Airbus India)A320
Boeing SingaporeB737 MAX, B787India's only foreign ATO
CAE BangaloreA320, B737NG
CSTPLA320, B737 MAX
CTE, Air IndiaA320, ATR 72-600, B737-800, B777, B787
FSTC IndiaA320, ATR 72-600, B737-800, Q400Also approved by EASA for A320neo
Hatsoff Helicopter TrainingAS365 Dauphin, Bell 412, HAL DhruvJoint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics and CAE Inc

Military aviation

Army Aviation Corps

Army Aviation Corps is the aviation branch of the Indian Army. Their inventory consists of helicopters.

SchoolLocationNote
Basic Flying Training SchoolPrayagrajIndian Air Force station
Combat Army Aviation Training SchoolNashikMain training school

Indian Air Force

Training Command is responsible for training Indian Air Force officers who are trained at Flying Training Establishments (FTE). Officers undergo basic Stage-I training at the Air Force Academy and after trifurcating them into Fighter, Transport, and Helicopter streams, they are send to the respective FTEs for Stage-II (advanced) and Stage-III (specialization) training.[4]

SchoolStationLevelStreamNote
Air Force AcademyDundigal AFSStage ICommon to all officers
Air Force SchoolKalaikunda AFSStage IIIFighter
Fighter Training WingHakimpet AFSStage IIFighter
Helicopter Training SchoolHakimpet AFSStage IIHelicopter
Hawk Operational Training SquadronBidar AFSStage IIIFighter
Weapon System Operators' SchoolBidar AFSStage IIIFighterWeapon systems officer training
Fixed Wing Training FacultyYelahanka AFSStage II
Stage III
Transport
No. 112 Helicopter Unit, IAFYelahanka AFSStage IIIHelicopter

Indian Naval Air Arm

Indian Naval Air Arm is the naval aviation branch of the Indian Navy. Officers undergo a mandatory Naval Orientation Course at the Indian Naval Academy[5] and take a pre-flying training at School for Naval Airmen and are send to either Air Force Academy or Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi for ab-initio flying training. On completion, they are trifurcated into Fighter, Fixed wing, and Rotary wing streams and send to respective training stations for advanced training and specialization.[6]

SchoolLocationStreamNotes
Air Force AcademyDundigalIndian Air Force station
Fixed Wing Training FacultyYelahanka AFSFixed wingIndian Air Force station
Helicopter Training SchoolINS RajaliRotary wing
INAS 322INS GarudaRotary wingOperational conversion to multi-engine helicopters
INAS 330INS ShikraRotary wingOperational conversion to multi-engine helicopters
INAS 333INS DegaRotary wingOperational conversion to multi-engine helicopters
INAS 336INS GarudaRotary wingOperational conversion to multi-engine helicopters
INAS 339INS HansaRotary wingOperational conversion to multi-engine helicopters
INAS 550INS VenduruthyFixed wingDornier Operational Flying Training course
INAS 551INS DegaFighterNaval Orientation Flying in advanced jet trainer
INAS 300INS HansaFighterOperational conversion to MiGs
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran AkademiFursatganj Airfield
School for Naval AirmenINS GarudaPre-flying training

Indian Coast Guard

SchoolLocationStreamNotes
Air Force AcademyDundigalIndian Air Force station
Coast Guard Flying Training SquadronDamanFixed wing
Helicopter Training SchoolINS RajaliRotary wing
Indian Coast Guard AcademyMangaloreUnder construction
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran AkademiFursatganj Airfield

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: . India is estimated to require 1,000 fresh commercial pilots every year, says govt . 27 April 2022 . . 3 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Flying Training Organisations. Dgca.gov.in. 5 June 2023. 8 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Aircraft Type Training Organization (Pilots). Dgca.gov.in. 11 November 2022. September 2022.
  4. Web site: IAF-Training . afcat.cdac.in . 28 April 2022.
  5. Web site: Pilot - Join Indian Nav . www.joinindiannavy.gov.in . 28 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Life on Squadron - Join Indian Navy Government of India . www.joinindiannavy.gov.in . 28 April 2022.