Presently, out of the total Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), share of foreign trained cadets in about 40 %.
The Government has, however, taken various steps to achieve self-sufficiency in trained Indian pilots. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has, on 25 September 2020, come up with a liberalised Flying Training Organisations (FTO) policy wherein the concept of airport royalty (revenue share payment by FTOs to AAI) has been abolished and land rentals have been significantly rationalised.
AAI has issued award letters on 31 May 2021 and 29 October 2021 for nine FTOs to be established at five airports at Belagavi (Karnataka), Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Lilabari (Assam). Soft launch of two FTOs at Kalabuargi was done on 15 August 2021 under its liberalised policy.
DGCA has introduced new Online On Demand Examination (OLODE) for the AME and FC candidates with effect from November 2021. These license examinations provide an opportunity to the candidates to choose date and time to appear in the examination as per his/her choice on the available slots of the examinations.
DGCA has modified its regulations to empower Flying Instructors with the right to authorise flight operations at FTOs. This will help increase the flying hours and aircraft utilisation at each FTO and lead to faster completion of the CPL requirements.
India’s largest flying academy – Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) at Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) – has been permitted to carry out pilot training in Gondia (Maharashtra) and Kalaburagi (Karnataka) to enhance its flying hours and aircraft utilisation, which get severely affected during winter months due to visibility issues.
IGRUA has started operating on all weekends and holidays in order to enhance its flying hours. Other private FTOs are also encouraged to do so.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Of Civil Aviation V. K.Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
