In a significant step towards strengthening the country’s aviation training infrastructure, the Centre has issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) for the establishment of 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across seven airports operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The addition of these 11 FTOs is expected to increase India’s annual pilot training capacity by 750 cadets, providing a significant boost to the domestic training ecosystem. This move is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the country’s aviation training infrastructure.
According to Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, India has already witnessed the establishment of six new FTOs over the last two years. During this period, the number of training aircraft available with Indian FTOs has increased from 324 to 385, resulting in a 25% rise in annual flying hours across the pilot training ecosystem. This expansion has not only increased numbers but also improved training capacity and operational utilisation.
The number of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) issued has also seen a significant rise. In 2025, 1,652 CPLs were issued, which is the highest annual number issued in the last decade, up from 1,347 in 2024.
The Minister also announced plans to strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem for trainer aircraft and seaplanes, further supporting the growth of the aviation sector.
