Short answer: To fly for an airline in India you need a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Under Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, you must be at least 18 when you apply, have passed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics, hold a Class 1 medical, pass the DGCA written exams, hold a radio telephony licence and complete at least 200 hours of flying. Training is long and expensive, so check your medical first and ask for every fee as a written schedule before you pay.
This guide is for students and parents planning a flying career, and for education entrepreneurs watching the pilot training market. This article is general information, not legal advice.
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The pilot licence ladder in India
Each licence has its own minimum age in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
| Licence | Minimum age | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| Student Pilot Licence (SPL) | 16 | Training flights under an instructor's authority, with no passengers and no payment |
| Private Pilot Licence (PPL) | 17 | Personal flying, not for payment |
| Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) | 18 on the date you apply | Flying for payment, the licence airlines look for |
So you can start training before 18.
Step 1: Check your eligibility
The CPL requirements in Schedule II, Section J of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 are:
- Age: at least 18 on the date you apply for the licence.
- Education: Class 10+2 or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board or university.
- Medical fitness: a certificate from an approved medical board, against the standards DGCA notifies.
If you studied Commerce or Biology, you can usually clear Physics and Mathematics as a private candidate, for example through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), before you apply. Plan for the extra time.
Step 2: Get your medicals first
DGCA uses two medical classes. A Class 2 medical is enough to start training as a student pilot. The CPL itself needs a Class 1 medical. Book the Class 1 assessment before you commit money to a flying school. Finding a disqualifying condition after paying a deposit is an expensive way to learn.
Step 3: Register with DGCA and clear the written exams
You register on DGCA's online exam system for a computer number, then book papers. Schedule II lists the written subjects as Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology, and Aircraft and Engines. DGCA's CPL syllabus splits the technical side into a general paper and a paper on the specific aircraft type you fly, so most students sit five papers:
- Air Regulations
- Air Navigation
- Aviation Meteorology
- Technical General (Aircraft and Engines)
- Technical Specific (your aircraft type)
You also need a Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence, usually called RTR, to use the aircraft radio. DGCA also requires English Language Proficiency at ICAO Level 4 or above on your licence, assessed by a DGCA approved organisation.
Step 4: Fly at least 200 hours
Schedule II requires at least 200 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane, which must include:
- at least 100 hours as pilot in command
- at least 20 hours of cross country flying as pilot in command, including one flight of at least 300 nautical miles
- at least 10 hours of instrument time, of which up to 5 can be on an approved simulator
- at least 5 hours of night flying
These sit inside the 200, not on top of it. You fly at a DGCA approved flying training organisation (FTO) in India, or train abroad and convert your licence. After the hours, you pass a skill test with an examiner.
Step 5: Apply for the licence, then get type rated
You apply for the CPL on DGCA's eGCA portal once your exams, medical, RTR, English proficiency, logbook and skill test are in place. DGCA began issuing the CPL as an electronic licence on 20 February 2025, according to a DGCA paper presented at ICAO.
Airlines also need you rated on the aircraft type they fly. Some run cadet programmes that combine selection, training and a type rating; others hire licensed pilots and train them on type. Either way, airline selection has its own tests and interviews.
The steps at a glance
| Step | What you need | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Eligibility | Age 18 at application; 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics | Aircraft Rules, 1937, Schedule II, Section J |
| 2. Medicals | Class 2 to train; Class 1 for the CPL | DGCA medical standards |
| 3. Exams | DGCA written papers, RTR and English proficiency Level 4 | Schedule II and DGCA requirements |
| 4. Flying | 200 hours, with the minimums above inside them | Schedule II, Section J |
| 5. Skill test and licence | Skill test with an examiner, then the eGCA application | Schedule II and DGCA |
The government published draft replacement rules, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2025, for comment in July 2025, so check the rules in force on DGCA's website before you start and before you apply.
What drives pilot training cost in India?
There is no single fee, and we do not quote one here because no neutral source publishes a current figure. What you pay depends on:
- Flying hours. The 200 hours are the biggest cost, and extra hours for failed checks add up.
- Aircraft and fuel. Twin engine time costs more than single engine time.
- Delays. Weather, aircraft availability and instructor availability can stretch training out, and every extra month adds living costs.
- Where you train. Training abroad adds travel, living and currency costs, plus licence conversion.
- Exam attempts. Every repeated paper adds a fee and time.
- Extras. Ground school, medicals, RTR, English proficiency, uniforms and the type rating.
A March 2025 parliamentary standing committee report listed long training times, high cost and shortages of trainer aircraft and instructors as problems in Indian flying training.
Questions to ask a flying school before you pay
- Is it a DGCA approved FTO, and for which aircraft?
- Can I have a written schedule of every charge, including extra hours and exams?
- How many students share each aircraft and instructor, and how long have recent students taken to finish?
- What is the refund policy if I stop or fail a medical?
Is there demand for pilots in India?
The government says yes. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) projects a need for 30,000 to 34,000 pilots in the next 10 to 15 years. In November 2025, the Civil Aviation Minister said India had about 8,000 pilots for a fleet of 834 aircraft, with about 1,700 aircraft on order. The March 2025 parliamentary report said airlines need about 1,000 new commercial pilots a year, while Indian FTOs produce about 300.
Hiring still goes in cycles, and a licence is not a job offer. Domestic air traffic for January to August 2026 was flat compared with 2025, according to DGCA data. Read our overview of the aviation industry in India for the wider picture.
Not sure about flying? Other aviation careers
Many people who love aviation build careers as cabin crew, in airport and airline customer service, in ground handling or in travel and hospitality. These need less time and money to enter. Our guide to aviation courses after 12th covers them.
For education entrepreneurs: what the pilot gap means for training businesses
The pilot gap is one reason aviation training is growing as a business. Flying training itself needs DGCA approval as an FTO. Most aviation academies instead train students for cabin crew, ground staff, customer service, travel and hospitality roles, and some expand through franchise centres.
If you are looking at an aviation academy franchise, check these first:
- Which courses you may run. Ask exactly which courses your centre may offer and who delivers any pilot related training.
- Student outcomes. Speak to past students and centre owners. Any academy that promises jobs is a warning sign.
- Your full cost. Fees to the brand, fit out, rent, staff and cash for slow months. Our post on unit economics before ambition shows what to ask.
- The agreement. Term, renewal, territory and exit. Have a qualified lawyer review it before you sign or pay any token amount. The Franchise Insiider is not a law firm.
Read our guides to the education franchise in India and how to buy a franchise in India. If you want an outside check before signing, the DB Green Flag Assessment reviews you and the brand together. It costs ₹50,000 and is charged only if you sign.
One academy we work with is Aerostar Aviation Academy, which trains students for aviation, hospitality and travel careers in Gujarat and is offering franchise centres. The Franchise Insiider runs franchise enquiries for Aerostar. Yes, The Franchise Insiider charges brands, and brands pay us. That is how franchising works everywhere. With 300+ franchises awarded, our job on each enquiry is to check fit before anyone signs.
Talk to The Franchise Insiider
If you run or plan an education business and want to explore aviation training, tell us your city and background on our enquiry form, and our team will call you.
Enquire now Explore the Aerostar franchise
Licence requirements are from the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and DGCA. Demand figures are from the government sources named in the text. Aerostar franchise details are subject to the brand's confirmation and final agreement.
FAQs
What is the qualification to become a pilot in India?
For a Commercial Pilot Licence you need Class 12 or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board, a DGCA Class 1 medical, and you must be at least 18 when you apply for the licence.
Can I become a pilot after 12th Commerce or Biology?
Yes, but you first need to pass Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, for example as a private candidate through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Then you meet the same requirements as other applicants.
How many flying hours do I need for a CPL in India?
At least 200 hours of flight time, including at least 100 hours as pilot in command, 20 hours of cross country flying as pilot in command, 10 hours of instrument time and 5 hours of night flying.
What exams does DGCA conduct for a commercial pilot licence?
Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules lists Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology, and Aircraft and Engines. DGCA sets the technical side as two papers, Technical General and Technical Specific, so most students sit five papers. You also need a Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence (RTR), English Language Proficiency at ICAO Level 4 or above, and a skill test with an examiner.
How much does pilot training cost in India?
There is no single fee. Cost depends on the flying hours, aircraft type, fuel, delays, whether you train in India or abroad, and extras such as ground school, medicals, exams and the type rating. Ask every flying school for a written schedule of all charges and its refund policy.
Can I start pilot training before I turn 18?
Yes. Under Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, you can hold a Student Pilot Licence from 16 and a Private Pilot Licence from 17. The age of 18 applies on the date you apply for the Commercial Pilot Licence, not to the start of training.