Aspiring commercial pilots in India will now be able to make an informed choice for a flying training organisation (FTO) to get trained here. In a major reform, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday (May 16) directed all flying schools in the country to “maintain a dedicated website for their organisation” which must have updated information regarding several parameters that include, among other things, the minimum and maximum time taken to complete 200 hours of flying; number of aircraft, instructors, designated examiners, availability of ground school & simulator.

Apart from clearing DGCA exams and medical tests, completing 200 flying hours is a key requirement to earn a commercial pilot licence (CPL) in India. However the long time it usually takes to do so here due to multiple factors like availability of planes and instructors — apart from other concerns like safety and quality of training at many schools — sends a large number of aspiring desi pilots abroad every year for CPL training.

As reported by news on March 23, 2025, DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai decided to bring in transparency about FTOs so that the information being in public domain based on which students will choose them will make them competitive, safer and student-friendly. Setting that plan in motion, the DGCA on Friday wrote to all flying schools in the country: “FTOs are advised to maintain a dedicated website for their organisation. If a website is already in place, it must be updated regularly. The specified information must be prominently displayed and kept current the reference of the cadets on the website. Further, the FTOs will be advised on the additional parameters to be published if any, on their website in due course.”