If you are following aviationscoop, we are talking about Offers, Network Routes, Airports, Sponsorships and Sustainable Aviation Practices and here comes the time for pilots and training institutes. It's a hard fact that the pandemic has hit the aviation sector badly, and there may be experts behind the Airlines and Regulatory bodies trying to revamp the Industry for a Good Reason.
We know the demand-supply logic, and they are basics. There may be disturbances and a dual state of mind for those who aspired to become pilots over the last few years. We have taken it upon ourselves to uncover the scenario with some actual numbers from DGCA/MoCA. If you are an aspiring pilot or just a keen observer of the Industry, the info may be of some help. Let's get into the Question and Answer format way to learn the facts.
Is there a shortage of Pilots in India?
There is no shortage of pilots in India. There is, however, a marginal shortage of commanders on certain types of aircraft, and the same is being managed by utilising foreign pilots by issuing Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) as per the MoCA. There were 82 FATA-holders in India as on 30th June 2022.
As the demand for Air Travel increases, the requirement for pilots will also increase. So, one cannot blame the Airline for unforeseen situations or market dynamics.
Employability Status of Trained Pilots:
With the growing requirement in the domestic aviation sector, most trained pilots get employed. We are seeing Airlines launching New Routes and Pilot Hiring openings from almost all the airlines these days.
Pilot Training Institutes in the country:
There were 34 Flying Training Organizations (FTO) as on 31st March 2022. Since then, four more have commenced operations - two at Kalaburagi (Karnataka) and one each at Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and Lilabari (Assam). The addition of 4 new FTOs has taken the total number to 38 as on 31st July 2022.
Aircraft Type Training Organizations:
Currently, there are six approved type rating training organizations in India, which are providing aircraft type rating training after obtaining Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
What is Type Rating?
Type rating is a certification issued by the regulatory body (DGCA in India) that certifies that a pilot is fit to fly certain types of aircrafts. In order to fly on a professional basis, a type rating is necessary.
Who operates the Flying Training Organizations (FTO)?
FTOs are established and operated largely by private entities under the regulatory supervision of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Steps Taken to Increase the Number of FTOs in India:
In 2020, AAI brought out a liberalised FTO policy wherein airport royalty payments were abolished and land rentals were significantly rationalised. A measure which encourages the set-up of FTOs in the country.
Facilitating Exam Takers:
From November 2020, DGCA has introduced the Online-On Demand Examination for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) and Flying Crew (FC) candidates. This facility allows candidates to choose the date and time from the available exam slots.
The total number of flying hours at Indian Flying Training Organizations (FTO) increased from 1.20 lakh hours in the pre-COVID year (2019) to 1.62 lakh hours in 2021. Apart from these, there are also other measures taken by DGCA to increase the number of FTOs.
The number of Commercially Trained Pilots in the Country:
As of July 2022, there are approximately 9000 commercial pilots employed in the airline industry. As per Industry projections, there may be a need for 1000 pilots per annum over the next five years, says MoCA.
The number of Trained commercial Pilots passed out since 2016:
The year-wise number of trained commercial pilots passed out since 2016 is as below:
| Year | No. of CPLs issued |
| 2016 | 537 |
| 2017 | 552 |
| 2018 | 640 |
| 2019 | 744 |
| 2020 | 578 |
| 2021 | 862 |
| 2022 (till 30th June) | 699 |
| Total | 4612 |
Conclusion:
Now that we have discussed the actual numbers from DGCA/MoCA, this gives us a clear idea about the number of pilots, FTOs and measures taken. We can consider these numbers as references whenever we discuss the topic of pilots or training institutes going forward.
There are more segments and aspects to cover, to call it #Aviation, and we are trying to do it one after another. Keep reading aviationscoop, as we bring you more such pieces of information.
