Indian student pilots usually face one early choice: a government-run flying club or institute, or a private flying training organisation. Fees, waiting lists and quality differ widely. Here is what DGCA’s own data says about ownership and ranking.
Who owns India’s flight schools
By the ownership DGCA records in its list of approved FTOs, our flight school directory has 18 private limited companies, 8 state government schools, 5 trusts, 4 societies, 1 central government academy, 1 joint venture between CAE and the Airports Authority of India, and a few without ownership stated.
The government schools
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, central government, bases in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. DGCA Category B.
- Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, three Haryana aerodromes. Category C.
- Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. Category C.
- Telangana State Aviation Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad. Category C.
- The Nagpur Flying Club, Nagpur. Category C.
- Bihar Flying Institute, Patna. Category C.
- Patiala Aviation Club, Patiala and Amritsar. Category C.
- Govt. Aviation Training Institute, Dhenkanal and Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Category C.
- Government Flying Training School, Jakkur, Bengaluru. DGCA noted its approval was not valid as on 28 February 2026.
What the ranking shows
In DGCA’s second ranking phase, announced in a PIB release on 24 April 2026, one school reached Category A and 17 were placed in each of B and C. Apart from IGRUA, every ranked government school is in Category C, while the other 16 Category B schools are private companies, trusts, societies and flying clubs. Rankings use DGCA’s own criteria, published in its ranking method, and can change in the next phase.
How to weigh it
- Fees: state clubs are often subsidised. Ask for the full written cost and compare per hour.
- Waiting: popular government schools can have long intakes. Ask when you would actually start flying.
- Fleet: aircraft availability drives completion time. See why fleet size matters.
- Ranking: use it to shortlist, then visit.
Filter schools by Category A, B or C, or browse by state.
Common questions
Are government flight schools in India cheaper?
Often, because state flying clubs can be subsidised, but fees vary. Ask every school for a full written cost.
Which government flight school has the best DGCA ranking?
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, owned by the central government, is in Category B. The state government schools ranked in April 2026 are in Category C.
How many flight schools in India are government-owned?
Nine of the 41 in DGCA’s lists: one central government academy and eight state government schools.
Sources
- PIB, 24 April 2026: second phase of FTO ranking
- DGCA ranking of Flying Training Organizations (April 2026)
- DGCA ranking system for approved FTOs (30 September 2025)
General information, checked against the sources above on the date published. It is not legal, regulatory or medical advice. Rules change, so confirm with DGCA or the relevant authority before acting.