NEW DELHI: India issued the highest ever number of commercial pilot licences (CPL) — 1,622 — last year, almost 40% more than 1,165 in 2022. Last year, 292 women got CPLs (18% of total issued) — 22% more than 2022, said a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). While the number of CPLs issued by DGCA in the last decade has almost doubled — from 783 in 2013-14 to 1,622 last year, the share of those going to women has nearly tripled — from 116 to 293 — in the same period (see box).
India already has the highest proportion of women pilots globally. “It is estimated 14% of the workforce employed with scheduled airlines consists of women pilots. This is the second consecutive year where the number of licenses issued has witnessed a decade-high,” a senior DGCA official said. Durba Banerjee had become the first Indian woman commercial pilot in 1956 when she joined erstwhile Indian Airlines. In January 2021, Air India had operated one of the world’s longest nonstops — San Francisco-Bengaluru — with all-women pilots who took the polar route on their way home.
Being the fastest growing aviation market globally and with Indian carriers led by Tata Group Air India and IndiGo having over 1,600 aircraft on order, India is estimated to require thousands of pilots in coming decades. As a result a large number of youngsters are increasingly choosing this vocation which is reflected in the CPL numbers.
In a statement titled “milestone achievement: DGCA sets record of decade-high CPLs issued,” the regulator particularly highlighted the 22% jump in licences issued to women last year.
The Modi government has been trying to promote flying training organisations (FTO) in India so that the large number of cadet pilots who go abroad for this expensive training can do the same at home. Several new FTOs have opened but a number of issues still plague flying training in India. These include comparatively long time taken for completing the required number of flying hours to earn a CPL as opposed to doing so in a few months abroad, albeit at a much higher cost. The others include safety concerns and overall lack of desired quality of training in some places.
Meanwhile, the DGCA official added: “To cater to the long time demand of small business and helicopter operators, the regulator has granted approval for a new helicopter flying training organisation to enable aspirants to undertake training and acquire commercial licenses for helicopters. With this it is expected that the helicopter industry largely engaged in regional connectivity services (RCS), pilgrimage and air-ambulance will shore up in terms of crew strength by receiving an additional pool other than ex-military pilots.”
How commercial pilot licences to women have grown over the years:
India already has the highest proportion of women pilots globally. “It is estimated 14% of the workforce employed with scheduled airlines consists of women pilots. This is the second consecutive year where the number of licenses issued has witnessed a decade-high,” a senior DGCA official said. Durba Banerjee had become the first Indian woman commercial pilot in 1956 when she joined erstwhile Indian Airlines. In January 2021, Air India had operated one of the world’s longest nonstops — San Francisco-Bengaluru — with all-women pilots who took the polar route on their way home.
Being the fastest growing aviation market globally and with Indian carriers led by Tata Group Air India and IndiGo having over 1,600 aircraft on order, India is estimated to require thousands of pilots in coming decades. As a result a large number of youngsters are increasingly choosing this vocation which is reflected in the CPL numbers.
In a statement titled “milestone achievement: DGCA sets record of decade-high CPLs issued,” the regulator particularly highlighted the 22% jump in licences issued to women last year.
The Modi government has been trying to promote flying training organisations (FTO) in India so that the large number of cadet pilots who go abroad for this expensive training can do the same at home. Several new FTOs have opened but a number of issues still plague flying training in India. These include comparatively long time taken for completing the required number of flying hours to earn a CPL as opposed to doing so in a few months abroad, albeit at a much higher cost. The others include safety concerns and overall lack of desired quality of training in some places.
Meanwhile, the DGCA official added: “To cater to the long time demand of small business and helicopter operators, the regulator has granted approval for a new helicopter flying training organisation to enable aspirants to undertake training and acquire commercial licenses for helicopters. With this it is expected that the helicopter industry largely engaged in regional connectivity services (RCS), pilgrimage and air-ambulance will shore up in terms of crew strength by receiving an additional pool other than ex-military pilots.”
How commercial pilot licences to women have grown over the years:
| Year | Total CPLs issued | To women & % |
| 2013-14 | Total: 783 | Women: 116 or 15% of total |
| 2014-15 | 828 | 108 or 13% |
| 2015-16 | 461 | 66 or 14% |
| 2016-17 | 557 | 65 or 11.7% |
| 2017-18 | 601 | 83 or 14% |
| 2022 | 1165 | 238. 19% |
| 2023 | 1622 | 293. 19% |
(Source: DGCA)Air India’s all women cockpit crew at San Francisco Airport in January 2021
