Centre clears 11 new flying training schools to add 750 pilot seats annually

The Union government on Tuesday issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) for setting up 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across seven airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The move is expected to increase India’s annual pilot training capacity by 750 cadets, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The decision marks a significant step towards strengthening the country’s aviation training infrastructure amid growing demand for pilots in the domestic and global markets. The new FTOs will be established at AAI airports, utilising existing infrastructure to expedite the process.

In a statement, the ministry highlighted that India has already seen the establishment of six new FTOs over the last two years. During this period, the number of training aircraft available with Indian FTOs increased from 324 to 385, resulting in a 25% rise in annual flying hours across the pilot training ecosystem.

“This is not just expansion in numbers; it is a clear improvement in training capacity and operational utilisation,” said Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu at an event. He added that the government is committed to strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem for trainer aircraft and seaplanes, which would further reduce dependency on imported equipment.

The ministry also reported that the number of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) issued in India rose from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025 — the highest annual figure in the last decade. This reflects the growing demand for trained pilots as Indian airlines expand their fleets and global carriers increasingly recruit from India.

The move is part of a broader effort to address the shortage of trained pilots and reduce the need for Indian cadets to seek training abroad. By increasing domestic training capacity, the government aims to make pilot training more accessible and affordable, while also ensuring that training standards align with international requirements.

Industry experts note that the expansion of FTOs will have a multiplier effect on the aviation ecosystem, including job creation for instructors, maintenance staff, and ground handling personnel. It will also support the government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme, which requires more pilots for smaller aircraft operations.

The seven airports identified for the new FTOs were not named in the official statement, but the Airports Authority of India is expected to release a detailed list in due course. The LoIs are the first formal step in the approval process, after which the selected organisations will need to obtain necessary clearances and set up infrastructure.

With air passenger traffic in India projected to grow significantly over the next decade, the need for a robust pilot training pipeline has become critical. The government’s focus on expanding FTOs is seen as a timely intervention to ensure that the country can meet its own demand as well as emerge as a training hub for the region.