DGCA aviation
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DGCA · Licence Compatibility

One licence.
Every Indian carrier.

Train under DGCA at our Mumbai · Hyderabad · Gondia · Belgaum hubs and walk into IndiGo, Air India, Akasa, Vistara or SpiceJet — then convert seamlessly into FAA, EASA, CASA, GCAA or SACAA when you're ready to fly the world.

Issued under
DGCA CAR Section 7
Govt. of India · Ministry of Civil Aviation
Recognised across
ICAO Annex 1
Plus bilateral conversion partners
Issued to
Career-Track Cadets
CPL · ME · IR · Frozen ATPL
Foundations

Pump up your skills — supercharge exam-passing with foundational classes on every DGCA subject.

Air Law · Navigation · Meteorology · Tech-Gen · Performance · Human Factors · Comms · Instruments. Live, instructor-led foundations from Aerovate Global — bridge gaps, lock concepts, walk into your DGCA written with confidence.

Enrol in foundations
Chapter I · The Selector

Select your destination CAA to see how your DGCA licence converts.

Pick the regulator where you intend to fly commercially. We'll show you exactly what's required to convert a DGCA CPL/IR into the licence issued by that authority — exams, flight test, medical, hour credit, timeline.

Destination regulator
Supporting 25+ destinations across DGCA, FAA, EASA, UK CAA, GCAA, CASA, SACAA & more.
Destination regulator
South Africa
SACAA
DGCA
From
DGCA
CAR / Schedule II · India
To
SACAA
South Africa
South Africa
Your DGCA licence converts cleanly into the SACAA system in South Africa.

DGCA CAR / Schedule II is recognised under ICAO Annex 1 and accepted by every major regulator with a defined conversion path. Below is the typical pathway from a DGCA CPL/ME/IR into the SACAA system.

Timeline
6–10 weeks
Hour credit
Logged hours credited.
For pricing, please contact Aerovate Global.
Theory exams
SACAA conversion: Air Law (SA), Radio Licence, plus Skills Test in SA airspace.
Flight test
Skills test in SA airspace.
Medical
SACAA Class 1.
Plan my DGCA → SACAA conversion
Chapter II · The Network

DGCA hubs where we deliver pilot training across India.

Year-round VFR weather, 240+ flying days, modern Diamond and Cessna fleets, and direct airline pipelines — across five DGCA-approved training airfields.

Hyderabad cityscape
HYD

Hyderabad

DGCA Hub
Mumbai cityscape
BOM

Mumbai

DGCA Hub
Gondia cityscape
GDB

Gondia

DGCA Hub
Belgaum cityscape
IXG

Belgaum

DGCA Hub
Bengaluru cityscape
BLR

Bengaluru

DGCA Hub
Aviation interlude
Interlude · Above the Subcontinent

"India's skies will need 34,000 new pilots by 2042 — your seat is already on the roster."

Indian carriers have 1,700+ aircraft on order — the largest commercial aviation fleet expansion in the world.
№ Field Notes · From the DGCA flight line

From the apron, the cockpit, the cloud deck.

Real frames from real cadets across our partner flight lines — the kind of training DGCA candidates do every week.

01 / 37
Twin-tail at last light
Apron · Dusk
Twin-tail at last light
№ 01 · Civil Aviation Authority

Directorate General of Civil Aviation

DGCA — India
www.dgca.gov.in
ICAO Annex 1

DGCA, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, regulates all civil aviation in India — pilot licensing, ATO oversight, airworthiness and air safety. Licences are issued under the Aircraft Rules 1937 and CAR Section 7.

Training standards

200 hrs CPL · 6 theory papers · RTR(A) · skill test with DGCA examiner.

Where DGCA training meets the line.
Plate № 01
Where DGCA training meets the line.
№ 02 · Pathway

PPL → ATPL under DGCA

PPL — Private Pilot Licence
Flight hours
40 hrs total (min. 20 dual + 10 PIC)
Theory
Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Technical General
Medical
Class 2
CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
Flight hours
200 hrs total (100 PIC, 50 cross-country PIC, 10 instrument)
Theory
6 papers + RTR(A)
Medical
Class 1
Note · Indian 10+2 with Physics & Maths or NIOS equivalent.
IR — Instrument Rating
Flight hours
40 hrs instrument time (min. 20 actual/sim)
Theory
Bundled in CPL Air Nav + Met
Medical
Carried over
ME — Multi-Engine Rating
Flight hours
15 hrs ME including 5 hrs IF on type
Theory
—
Medical
Carried over
ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Flight hours
1500 hrs total
Theory
ATPL papers (Nav, Met, Tech Gen, Tech Specific)
Medical
Carried over
Note · Issued after airline experience + skill test.
№ 03 · Fleet

Aircraft accepted by DGCA for training

Single-engine trainers
  • Cessna 152
  • Cessna 172
  • Diamond DA40
  • Piper PA-28
  • Tecnam P2008
Multi-engine trainers
  • Diamond DA42
  • Piper Seneca PA-34
  • Tecnam P2006T
Approved simulators
  • FNPT II MCC
  • FFS A320 / B737 (for type rating)
"DGCA is the gateway to Indian aviation — and Indian aviation is the fastest-growing market on earth."
— Captain R. Iyer · A320 Line Trainer
№ 04 · Type rating

DGCA type rating requirements

Minimum entry
200 hrs CPL + frozen ATPL
Pathway
Valid CPL/IR + Class 1 medical + ICAO English Level 4. Type rating done at DGCA-approved TRTO.
Aircraft types accepted
A320B737NG/MAXATR 72Embraer 175/190Q400
DA42 cockpitCharts and headset
№ 05 · Admission

Eligibility & admission requirements

Age
17+ for SPL · 18+ for CPL issue
Education
10+2 with Physics & Maths (or NIOS bridging)
English
ICAO English Level 4 (RTR(A) covers this)
Medical
DGCA Class 2 to start, Class 1 before CPL skill test
Documents required
  • 10th & 12th marksheets
  • Birth certificate
  • Passport
  • Aadhaar / PAN
  • Class 2 Medical
  • Security clearance
№ 06 · Visa

Visa process & requirements

Visa type
N/A — Indian nationals · Student Visa for foreign cadets
Duration
Course duration + 6 months
Work rights
Restricted to flight training only
Processing time
4–8 weeks (foreign nationals)
All visa documentation is processed end-to-end via Aerovate Global — appointment booking, embassy submissions, biometrics and approvals.
Key documents
  • FTO offer letter
  • DGCA student pilot file approval
  • Bank statement
Class 1 medicals, FRTOL & exams — handled.
Plate № 02
Class 1 medicals, FRTOL & exams — handled.
№ 08 · Compatibility

Where a DGCA licence converts most easily

These are the regulators that recognise DGCA training closest to their own standards — usually requiring only an air-law paper, a skill test and a medical re-issue. Click any destination to apply for training there.

South Africa
SACAA
200 hrs CPL · 8 theory papers · 320 flying days/yr.
United States
FAA
190–250 hrs CPL · written + oral + checkride per certificate.
Poland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Europe (EASA)
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Philippines
CAAP
150 hrs CPL (Part 141) · written + checkride · 300 flying days/yr.
Australia
CASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 7 theory exams · flight test with CASA FE.
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL papers + UAE Air Law · 330 flying days/yr.
Greece
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
France
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Netherlands
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Spain
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Italy
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Switzerland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Norway
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
№ 07 · Licence conversion

Convert DGCA licence to DGCA · FAA · EASA · CASA · GCAA

Below is the typical conversion path from a DGCA licence into each major regulator. All routes assume an ICAO Annex 1-compliant CPL/IR, valid logbook, and a Class 1 medical from the destination state. Numbers are indicative — confirm with the receiving authority before booking exams.

→ FAA8–14 weeks
Theory exams
FAA PAR + CAX + IRA written exams
Flight test
Practical with DPE on each rating (PPL → CPL → IR)
Medical
FAA Class 1 (~USD 200, AME).
Hours credit
Hours fully credited; usually need 250 TT for CPL.
Note · Easiest if completed at an FAA Part 141 in Florida/Arizona.
→ EASA9–14 months
Theory exams
EASA ATPL theory — 13 papers (Air Law, AGK Airframe & Systems, AGK Powerplant, AGK Instruments, Mass & Balance, Performance, Flight Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Gen Nav, Radio Nav, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, Communications).
Flight test
ATPL skill test on multi-engine, IR(A) renewal.
Medical
Class 1 medical re-issued in destination state (~USD 250–400, 1 day).
Hours credit
1500 hrs ATPL frozen requirement; CPL hours credited.
Note · Theory must be done at an EASA ATO; cannot be self-study.
→ GCAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
GCAA CPL/IR licence verification + Air Law UAE paper, plus skills assessment at an AS-approved ATO.
Flight test
GCAA Air Law + skills assessment at Dubai/Sharjah ATO.
Medical
GCAA Class 1 at AME in UAE.
Hours credit
Verified against ICAO Annex 1 minima.
Note · Required for Emirates / Etihad / Air Arabia direct entry.
→ CASA4–6 months
Theory exams
CASA CPL exams (7): Aerodynamics, Aircraft Gen Knowledge, Performance & Loading, Meteorology, Navigation, Flight Rules & Air Law, Human Factors. + IREX for instrument rating.
Flight test
CPL flight test + IREX in Australian airspace.
Medical
CASA Class 1.
Hours credit
150 hrs minimum CPL; Indian hours credited in full.
→ SACAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
SACAA conversion: Air Law (SA), Radio Licence, plus Skills Test in SA airspace.
Flight test
Skills test in SA airspace.
Medical
SACAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Logged hours credited.
100% compliance promise

Aerovate's conversion advisors handle exam booking, document apostille, AME scheduling and skill-test prep end-to-end — guaranteed to meet the receiving regulator's Annex 1 standards.

Plan my conversion
№ 08 · FAQs

Frequently asked questions about India

Is DGCA CPL valid abroad?+
DGCA CPL is ICAO-compliant and recognised globally, but most foreign airlines require a local conversion (e.g., FAA, EASA, GCAA) before line flying.
How long does DGCA CPL take in India?+
Typically 18–24 months from SPL to CPL issue, including 200 hours of flying and 6 theory exams.
What is the minimum cost of pilot training in India?+
Realistically USD 55,000 – 75,000 all-in (training + accommodation + medicals + exam fees) at a DGCA-approved FTO.
Can I get an education loan for pilot training?+
Yes — Axis, ICICI, HDFC Credila, Avanse and Auxilo all underwrite DGCA programmes up to ₹60–75 lakh against parental income.
Is 12th PCM mandatory?+
Yes for DGCA CPL issue. NIOS Physics + Maths is accepted as a bridging route if your 12th was Commerce/Arts.
World map at night
Chapter III · The Global Network

All supported regulators across our global network.

From Delhi to Dubai, Lisbon to Sydney — one team handles every conversion, every approval, every embassy stamp.
India
DGCA
South Africa
SACAA
United States
FAA
Poland
EASA
Europe (EASA)
EASA
Philippines
CAAP
Australia
CASA
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
Saudi Arabia
GACA
Qatar
QCAA
Kuwait
CAA-Kuwait
Oman
CAA-Oman
Bahrain
CAA-Bahrain
Singapore
CAAS
Malaysia
CAAM
Thailand
CAAT
Japan
JCAB
South Korea
MOLIT
Indonesia
DGCA-ID
Greece
EASA
France
EASA
Netherlands
EASA
Spain
EASA
Italy
EASA
Switzerland
EASA
Norway
EASA
Foundations · FAQ

Before you enrol.

The questions cadets ask before signing up for the Aerovate Global foundations programme — prerequisites, schedule, and how it lifts your DGCA pass-rate.