Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

Indian Regulator Proposes Online, On-Demand ATPL Exams in Draft Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam 2025

India – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has indicated plans to introduce significant reforms to the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) examination process, including the potential adoption of online, on-demand testing and the removal of oral examination components.

  • The proposed changes are part of the draft Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2025, which was published on India’s e-Gazette for public comments, with the consultation closing on 19 August 2025.

  • Key proposed reforms include:

    • ATPL exams on-demand (OLODE system): Allowing candidates to schedule and take exams flexibly, similar to the system already in place for CPL exams.

    • Removal of oral examinations: The oral interview component, previously mandated under Section M, Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, would be dispensed with, aligning India with global best practices.

    • Revised written exam format: The exam could remain a 90-mark assessment or be increased to 100 marks, eliminating the need for additional oral scoring.

  • The move follows calls from stakeholders, including Member of Parliament Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who highlighted that oral exams are outdated and contribute to exam backlogs, while also causing disruption for airline pilots who must frequently take leave to attend scheduled tests.

  • In his response to Mr. Rudy, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai noted that oral exams have been dispensed with in the draft rules and that ATPL exams will “most likely be conducted in the monthly OLODE sessions upon finalization of draft rules.”

  • These changes are expected to:

    • Reduce result backlogs and administrative burdens.

    • Streamline pilot scheduling, easing operational disruptions caused by current rigid exam timetables.

    • Enhance alignment with international licensing systems, where oral components are no longer standard.

  • However, the DGCA stressed that these reforms remain in draft stage and will only be implemented once the final rules are notified.

Source: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

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Indian Regulator Ends ATPL Viva Exam in Major Licensing Reform in 2025

India – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has officially discontinued the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) Viva Examination, marking a significant regulatory reform in Indian pilot licensing. The move aligns India’s certification process with global aviation standards and has been welcomed by industry stakeholders, including ALPA India.

  • Streamlines the ATPL issuance process, eliminating a subjective oral assessment long viewed as outdated.

  • Enhances international credibility and recognition of Indian-issued ATPLs by aligning with ICAO practices adopted by other major civil aviation authorities.

  • Emphasis will now shift toward practical competency and flight experience, reflecting current global trends in pilot evaluation.

Source: ALPA India

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Astrom Training Solutions Announces 2025 Partnership with India’s Blue Angels Air

India – pilot training facilitator Blue Angels Air has selected ASTROM Training Solutions as its digital training systems partner, integrating a full Training Management System (TMS) and Computer-Based Training (CBT) suite to enhance its pilot training infrastructure.

  • ASTROM’s TMS platform will manage Blue Angels Air’s online, classroom, and simulator-based training programs, enabling centralized oversight and scheduling.

  • The agreement includes access to ASTROM’s CBT library, covering Type Rating and General Subjects content tailored to support regulatory compliance.

  • The partnership aims to improve training efficiency, standardization, and quality assurance across Blue Angels Air’s pilot training operations.

Source: ASTROM Training Solutions

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CAE and InterGlobe to Expand with a New Pilot Training Centre in Mumbai, India

India – CAE Simulation Training Private Limited (CSTPL), a joint venture between InterGlobe Enterprises and CAE, announced today the opening of a new state-of-the-art pilot training centre in Mumbai, India. The new 44,000 square-foot centre will have a capacity for up to six full-flight simulators (FFS) and will begin operations in the first quarter of calendar 2026 with two Airbus A320 FFS.

“The new Mumbai centre expands CSTPL’s ability to meet the rapidly growing demand for professional pilots in India – as many as 20,000 over the next 10 years,” said Michel Azar-Hmouda, CAE’s Division President, Commercial Aviation. “The addition to the new six-bay centre in Mumbai reflects our commitment to bringing world-class training closer to India’s aviation hubs and enhancing training excellence and operational efficiency for our airline partners.”

Aditya Pande, CEO, InterGlobe Enterprises, said, “We are delighted to expand CSTPL into Mumbai, in addition to our commercial aviation training centres in Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bengaluru. InterGlobe Enterprises and CAE are committed to building an ecosystem in aviation which will cater to the growing current and future demand for training pilots in India.”

CAE’s 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast predicts a demand for 98,000 new pilots in the Asia Pacific region by 2034. In one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, CSTPL’s Mumbai centre will play a critical role in supporting airlines and the broader aviation ecosystem with high-quality, DGCA approved training.

In addition to the new centre in Mumbai, CSTPL currently operates three commercial aviation training centres in Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bengaluru with a capacity to operate up to 23 FFS. The new CSTPL centre in Mumbai will also offer comprehensive pilot training programs on Airbus, ATR and Boeing aircraft, including type rating, recurrent training, and proficiency checks.

Source: CAE

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