10 Best Aviation Colleges for Pilot Training in India in 2025

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India houses one of the world’s most exciting aviation industries that is growing at a rapid rate. Apart from the rise of airlines like Air India (AI) and IndiGo (6E) into global superpowers, the country’s infrastructure to support air travel is also booming at an attractive rate with the construction of state-of-the-art airports across cities with the latest facilities and technologies.

The world’s fifth-largest economy is slowly but inevitably rising to a similar level in the aviation industry. With approximately 12,000 pilots already as well as roughly 1,000 airplanes on order, there is enough reason for aspirants to pursue a flying course in India at a significantly cheaper price as compared to overseas in some of the country’s leading schools.

Aviation Colleges in India

A vast majority of the pilots who are currently employed in India have been trained abroad, primarily in the United States, mainly due to a lack of availability of appropriate infrastructure some years ago. Now, however, things have taken a turn northward for good.

There are some very well-reputed flying schools in and around the country for aspirants to pursue their academics which also offer attractive scholarships as well as opportunities to obtain a commercial pilot’s license (CPL) locally.

Best Aviation Colleges in India

Below is a list of the top 10 aviation colleges in India for pursuing pilot training.

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) – The IGRUA is a reputed pilot training academy located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is owned and operated by the Government of India. It is one of India’s oldest flying schools and has trained some of the country’s most reputed names in the aviation sector. The training programs provided with the IGRUA include commercial pilot license (CPL), airline transport pilot license (ATPL), and type rating courses for a variety of aircraft. This institute has a robust curriculum and some highly experienced faculty which aids in students securing roles with some of the very popular airlines in India and overseas too.
National Flying Training Institute (NFTI) – The NFTI is located in Gondia, close to Nagpur, in the western state of Maharashtra. This academy gained widespread popularity due to its affiliation with Jet Airways as well as funding which led to having modern facilities, simulators, and the option to train on a number of aircraft. NFTI offers commercial pilot license (CPL) programs alongside ground school training. Previously, students would be offered internships and placements with Jet Airways, however, since the airline’s dissolution, IndiGo has staked a claim and is maximizing the institute’s facilities. Its programs have a theoretical nature, which is why they are popular among a huge number of Indians.
Madhya Pradesh Flying Club – The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club was established in 1951 and like the IGRUA, is one of India’s oldest flight training schools. In 2026, it will reach a landmark of 75 years of producing some of India’s most prominent pilots. The academy’s location in Indore provides students with the opportunity to fly a number of airplanes in challenging flying conditions from where they can obtain their private pilot license (PPL) or commercial pilot license (CPL) in preparation for a career with an airline. This flying club has a record of graduates with exceptional results and placements with India’s most leading carriers, most recently including Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara.
Bombay Flying Club – The Bombay Flying Club operates out of the Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai. While the airstrip is now used to only private flying and training, it was Mumbai’s primary airport for several years. The Bombay Flying Club will complete its centenary in 1928 and is one of the world’s most popular names for flight training. It aids pilots in acquiring their private pilot license (PPL) and commercial pilot license (CPL) in line with the requirements of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), therefore ensuring a smooth transition into pursuing careers with airlines in India. The club’s location in India’s financial capital makes it an especially popular option.
Chimes Aviation Academy – The Chimes Aviation Academy is based in Delhi and is renowned for its holistic approach to flight training. Not only is their curriculum modern and up-to-date but the pilots are expected to focus more on enjoying a hands-on and practical learning experience as opposed to being theoretically sharp. The academy offers a cadet pilot program in partnership with IndiGo and as a result, has an impressive rate of placements within the airline. Moreover, 6E’s close relationship with the relatively young academy has equipped it to train students on modern simulators and new aircraft, hence making it a well-rounded and popular option too.
Carver Aviation – Carver Aviation is a notable flight training institution located in Pune, Maharashtra. They provide private pilot license (PPL), commercial pilot license (CPL) as well as aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) programs. While a popular name, Carver Aviation does not have any known cadet tie-ups with any major carriers in India and also does not provide an airline transport pilot license (ATPL) or type rating, thus making it a relatively unknown name. Nevertheless, it has a high success rate with producing some excellent pilots who are placed in renowned airlines around the world. Carver also has a branch in Bangalore, though it mainly operates out of Pune’s outskirts.
Government Flying Training School – The Government Flying Training School is also an initiative by the Government of India towards the training and mentoring of aspiring pilots. This institute operates out of the Jakkur Aerodrome located in the northern suburbs of Bangalore. The Government Flying Training School is an extremely popular option owing to its affordable fees, although due to the same reason, it is unable to train its students using the latest airplanes and technology, which results in the country’s major airlines overlooking them during their hiring processes more often than not. Those who have graduated from this institute have a track record of being employed by the regional airlines.
Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy – The Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy is located near the southern tip of India, Thiruvananthapuram. Due to its location, it is an extremely popular option for aspirant pilots from the southern states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Like several schools elsewhere in the country, the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy also has a modern curriculum and infrastructure with a big focus on ensuring that pilots are trained in a safe and enriching environment. Apart from flight training, ground personnel courses are also available here.
Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd. – The Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd. is a flying school based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Unlike the flying schools in major cities like Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, the biggest advantage of learning here is that there is a relatively non-congested airspace, which helps pilots and their trainers make the most of their logged flying hours. In the longer run, this helps pilots in obtaining their licenses by going through more contingency scenarios than elsewhere in India. There is also a big focus on practical learning, as in the modern world in India and abroad.
Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited (APFTAL) – The Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited (APFTAL) offers a wide variety of courses apart from the conventional pilot licenses, hence becoming one of India’s as well as Asia’s fastest-growing institutes. It provides type rating, conversion of foreign licenses, and flight instructor courses as well. There are also three flying bases, two in Hyderabad and one in rural Karnataka, all of which combine to provide an excellent training experience to students.

Eligibility for Pilots in India

A student aspiring to train as a pilot in India must fulfill the following eligibility criteria. The below are general requirements and changes from one flying school to another.

Age: The minimum age to commence flying training is 17 years old. The minimum age to get a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) is 18 years.
Educational Qualification: The applicant must have finished 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics and Mathematics as subjects with at least 50% to join a flying training facility. Some institutions may have extra educational qualifying requirements or preferences. Also If a person is not a science student, then he/she can take the needed topics through the National Institute of Open Schooling or as a private candidate through the corresponding state board.
Medical Fitness: Candidates must fulfill the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) medical fitness criteria. They must pass a medical test performed by authorized aviation medical examiners to determine their physical and mental fitness.
English Language Proficiency: The DGCA ELP Test (English Language Proficiency Test) is a test that all pilots in India should take in order to get or renew their pilot’s license. This exam tests a pilot’s English communication skills (both verbal and written).