Air Force Academy , Dundigul Dundigal Air Force Academy is located at Hyderabad , in the state of Andhra Pradesh , India . The Air Force Academy was established in 1969 and started in 1971 . It is located at Dundigal , about 25 km away from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad , spread over 7 , 000 acres of land . The academy was set up to train cadets from all streams at one location . It imparts training to the Flying , Technical and Ground Duty Branches as well as officers of the Army and Navy . This is a home for the officer trainees who learn their specialisation and are nurtured to become capable leaders . After one year ' s training , officer cadets are commissioned into branches of the IAF . It is here that they are trained to learn flying through successive stages . Those who pass out as fighter pilots serve in front - line combat squadrons equipped with SU - 30 , MiG - 29 , MiG - 27 , MiG - 23 , MiG - 21 , Mirage - 2000 , Tejas and Jaguar aircraft . For those interested in flying transport aircraft , the IAF offers heavy multi engined IL - 76 aircraft , C - 17 and the twin engined multi role AN - 32 transport aircraft , besides HS - 748 and the Dornier light utility transport aircraft . By joining the helicopter fleet , the trainees learn to fly at treetop height and landing in remote areas . The curriculum also includes flying helicopter gunships like Indian developed Dhruv , MI - 26 heavy - lift choppers , casualty evacuation , para dropping of troops and air lifting of supplies . The academy imparts specialist training to young men and women who shoulder responsibility as leaders in other areas of air force operations . These are administrative , air controlling , meteorological , logistics , accounts and education branches . Swimming , horse riding , field and indoor games are included in the evening routine . the Indian Navy and Army as well as the Coast Guard . Officers from friendly foreign countries are also occasionally trained at the Air Force Academy . The following are the types of training conducted at the academy : < br > Flying training If a cadet has joined the Flying Branch , training is divided into Stage I , II and III . Each stage takes the trainee pilots from fundamental to more complex levels of aviation . It is during Stage III that the cadets are sent for specialisation on fighter , helicopter or transport aircraft . Air Traffic Control Officers ' training The training at the Air Force Academy for Air Traffic Control is designed on the basis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) procedures , altered to suit the military aviation requirements . Ground Duty Officers ' training Ground Duty Officers ' training is for all non - technical branches of the Indian Air Force . If the cadet has joined the Administrative , Logistics , Accounts , Education or Meteorology division , they will be trained at the Air Force Academy before joining the Air Force as Ground Duty Officer . Joint Services training Cadets of the Flying , Technical and the Ground Duty Branches are imparted Joint Services Training here for six weeks . Thereafter , cadets selected for entry into the Aeronautical Engineering Branches are sent to the Air Force Technical College at Jalahalli , Bangalore . Training includes common service subjects like administration and service knowledge .