India has taken another major step towards strengthening its aviation sector after the Central Government approved the establishment of 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across seven Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports. The initiative is expected to significantly increase the country's pilot training capacity and help meet the growing demand for skilled aviation professionals.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu handed over the Letters of Intent (LoIs) to the selected organisations during an event where he also interacted with existing Flying Training Organisations. The minister additionally launched the FTO IFR Slot Booking App, a new digital platform aimed at improving the efficiency of instrument flight training at AAI airports.

Pilot Training Capacity to Increase by 750 Cadets

With the addition of the new training organisations, India's annual pilot training capacity is expected to rise by 750 cadets. The expansion is intended to reduce dependence on overseas pilot training while strengthening domestic aviation education.

Currently, 41 Flying Training Organisations operate from 63 flying bases across the country. The newly approved institutes will further expand India's aviation training infrastructure as airline fleets continue to grow.

Growing Aviation Market Driving Demand

Speaking at the event, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said India's emergence as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets has created an urgent need for more trained pilots and aviation professionals.

He said the government's vision under Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat focuses on simultaneously expanding aviation infrastructure and developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting long-term industry growth.

The minister noted that six new Flying Training Organisations have already been established during the past two years. During the same period, the number of training aircraft increased from 324 to 385, resulting in a 25 percent increase in annual flying hours across the country's pilot training ecosystem.

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Commercial Pilot Licence Numbers Continue to Rise

The expansion of training infrastructure has already led to higher pilot output. According to the ministry, the number of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) issued increased from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025, the highest annual figure recorded in the past decade. Officials expect the number to increase further this year.

India's airlines currently have 1,640 aircraft on order, with nearly 500 new aircraft expected to join airline fleets over the next five years. The government believes this rapid fleet expansion requires a larger pool of professionally trained pilots within the country.

Policy Reforms to Strengthen Aviation Training

The government has introduced several reforms to make pilot training more accessible and efficient. These include liberalising Flying Training Organisation policies, abolishing airport royalty charges and rationalising land rentals for training institutions.

The Commercial Pilot Licence examination process has also been digitised through the Pariksha Portal, making applications easier for aspiring pilots. India has additionally become only the second country in the world to issue electronic pilot licences.

Focus on Quality, Technology and Safety

The minister highlighted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's FTO Ranking Framework, saying it has improved transparency and training standards across institutions. The framework has helped reduce the number of lower-ranked training organisations while increasing the number of higher-performing institutes.

He also praised the performance of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), which recorded average flying hours above global benchmarks and reported improved financial performance during the latest financial year.

Another important milestone is the continued development of the indigenous HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft, which is expected to support India's goal of becoming more self-reliant in aviation training.

The minister stressed that safety must remain the highest priority across all Flying Training Organisations, calling for strict adherence to operating procedures, stronger instructor supervision and a robust safety culture.

To further modernise training operations, the government launched the FTO IFR Slot Booking App, enabling training organisations to book Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) practice slots online at AAI airports, improving scheduling efficiency and better utilisation of airport infrastructure.