36 FTOs operating at 57 bases in the country

Currently, there are 36 Flight Training Organizations (FTOs) in the country operating out of 57 bases, imparting flight training to cadets. In the year 2022, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a record 1165 Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) to meet the needs of the industry.

The measures taken by the government to increase pilot training schools are as follows:-

(i) In 2020, the Ministry of Civil Aviation approved the liberalized FTO guidelines in which the concept of airport royalty (payment of revenue share by FTOs to AAI) was abolished and land leases were significantly rationalized.

(ii) In 2021, after a competitive bidding process, AAI has awarded nine FTO slots at five airports in Belagavi (Karnataka), Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Lilabari (Assam). Currently, six of these FTO slots are operational: one each in Jalgaon, Lilabari, Khajuraho, Belagavi and two in Kalaburagi.

(iii) In June 2022, after a competitive bidding process, AAI awarded six more FTO slots at five airports: Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Hubballi (Karnataka), Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), Kishangarh (Rajasthan) and Salem (Tamil Nadu ). There is currently one FTO slot in operation in Salem (Tamil Nadu).

(iv) the DGCA amended its regulations to give Flight Instructors the right to authorize flight operations at FTOs. This will help increase flying hours and aircraft utilization in each FTO and lead to faster completion of CPL requirements.

This information was provided by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) VK Singh (Retd) in a written response to a query to the Rajya Sabha today.

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YB/DNS/PS