FTO rankings 2026: only one Indian flying school reaches Category A

Choosing a flying school is the most expensive decision in a pilot's training. Since October 2025, India has published rankings of its Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) to make that choice more transparent.

The April 2026 results

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA released the second-phase rankings on 24 April 2026:

• 35 FTOs were ranked
• Category A: 1, Avyanna Aviation Pvt Ltd, the first school ever to reach Category A (none did in the first phase)
• Category B: 17, including IGRUA, which moved up from Category C, the National Flying Training Institute, Flytech Aviation Academy, The Bombay Flying Club and The Gujarat Flying Club
• Category C: 17

The framework is described as data-driven and covers operational efficiency, safety compliance and training outcomes.

What has improved

• Training flying hours at FTOs rose from 32% to 50% since rankings began, according to the ministry.
• CPL issuance has risen more than 2.5 times in eight years, with record numbers in 2024 and 2025.
• Six new FTOs were permitted in the previous 18 months, with six more in the pipeline.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the goal is to make pilot training more transparent and to advance "Train in India, Fly in India".

How to use the rankings

A ranking is a starting point, not the whole answer. When you shortlist schools, also ask:

• How many serviceable aircraft and instructors per student right now?
• What is the realistic time to finish 200 hours?
• Which bases, and how much weather downtime do they get?
• What is the total cost, including fuel surcharges, accommodation and checkrides?
• Does the school expect you to have cleared DGCA papers before flying?

That last point matters. Many schools prefer students who have already cleared some or all DGCA theory papers, so flying time is not wasted waiting for exams.