India – In a landmark regulatory intervention, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has published the first-ever rankings of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). The ranking regime was published on October 1, 2025 and will be updated bi‑annually (April 1 and October 1).

• The DGCA’s key evaluation parameters include:
  • Safety Standards – 20%
  • Assistance to Students – 10%
  • FTO Performance – 20%
  • Operational Aspects – 40%
  • Compliance Standards – 10%
• Categorization of FTO ranking is based on following overall score achieved by individual FTO as under:
  • 85% and above  – A+
  • 70% to less than 85% – A
  • Less than 70% to 50% – B
  • Below 50 % – C
• 13 FTOs were placed in the “B” category. In the following ranking:
  • Chimes Aviation Academy
  • SVKM NMIMS Academy of Aviation Shirpur
  • Bihar Flying Club
  • Orient Flights Aviation Academy
  • Skynex Aero
  • FSTC Flying School
  • Patiala Aviation Club
  • Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation
  • Jet Serve Aviation
  • Nagpur Flying Club
  • National Flying Training Institute
  • Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding & Flying Club, and
  • Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology.
• 22 FTOs fell into the lowest “C” (below 50 %) category; these will receive DGCA notices for self‑analysis and improvement, and may be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny. These include:
  • Dunes Aviation Academy
  • Garg Aviations Ltd.
  • The Bombay Flying Club
  • Chetak Aviation
  • Ekvi Air Training Organisation Pvt. Ltd
  • Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd.
  • Ambitions Flying Club Pvt. Ltd
  • Flytech Aviation Academy
  • Indian Flying Academy
  • Sha -Shib Flying Academy
  • Government Aviation Training Institute
  • Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA)
  • Redbird Flight Training Academy
  • Telangana State Aviation Academy
  • Alchemist Aviation Private Limited
  • Falcon Aviation Academy
  • Wings Aviation Pvt. Ltd
  • Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy Limited
  • The Gujarat Flying Club
  • The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club Ltd.
  • Pioneer Flying Academy Pvt Ltd
  • Blue Ray Aviation Pvt Ltd
• According to the regulator, the aim is to push FTOs to improve, enhance transparency, and enable prospective cadets to make informed choices based on quality rather than reputation or fees.
• Authorities reserve the right to audit or inspect data submitted by FTOs; misreporting, noncompliance or serious deficiencies could affect rankings or trigger regulatory action.
• The following FTOs have been excluded for this phase of Ranking:
  • Ranking not applicable as the following  FTOs did not complete 18 months (1.5 years) as of 31st August 2025 from date of approval.
    • Avyanna Aviation Academy
    • Vision Flying Training Institute
    • Aviation Connectivity Infrastructure Developers Pvt. Ltd.
    • Jharkard Flying Institute
  • Government Flying Training School’s FTO Approval was not valid as of 31st August 2025

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Source: DGCA
Photo Credit: Chimes Aviation Academy