Lok Sabha Question No. 3403 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Pilot Training Fees charged by Airlines
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora, Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3403

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  20th March 2025 )

## PILOT TRAINING FEES CHARGED BY AIRLINES

3403.    SHRI KULDEEP INDORA SHRI GAURAV GOGOI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaint  from  the Airlines Pilots' Association of India regarding concerns over exorbitant  training  fees,  leading  to  the  economic  exploitation  of aspiring pilots and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  it  is  true  that  this  has  contributed  to  the  continuing shortage of trained pilots in the aviation sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the projected demand for commercial pilots in the country over the next ten years and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to regulate training  costs  and  ensure  fair  and  transparent  fee  structures  for pilot  training  programmes  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  financial  assistance, subsidies  and  loan  schemes  to  support  pilot  trainees,  particularly those  from  economically  weaker  sections  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) The Government has received a representation from the Airlines Pilots'  Association  of  India  (ALPA)  regarding  regulation  of  training cost charged by Airlines from aspiring trainee pilots, wherein high cost of Type Rating charged by the Airlines has been highlighted.; (b)  and  (c)  There  is  no  shortage  of  trained  pilots  in  airlines.  The airline-wise  details  of  pilots  along  with  the  projected  demand  for commercial pilots in India over the next ten years may be seen at Annexure.; (d) Presently, there is no proposal to regulate training costs for Pilot training programmes.; Pilot  training  programmes  are  highly  technical/super  specialised. The cost of training is determined by the following factors among others:(i) High cost of fuel (AvGas 100LL) used in aircraft. (ii) Most  of  the  aircraft used  in the country  for training are manufactured abroad and hence, expensive. (iii) High cost of aircraft spare parts. (iv) Imported flight simulators for training.; (v) Type of aircraft and number of aircrafts for training. (e)  No  such  proposal  is  currently  under  consideration  in  this Ministry.

******

Annexure

ANNEXURE IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3403 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 20.03.2025

| AIRLINE           |   TOTAL PILOTS EMPLOYED (AS ON DATE) | DEMAND FOR NEXT 10 YEARS   |
|-------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| Alliance Air      |                                  137 | No immediate demand        |
| Air India         |                                 3280 | 5870                       |
| SpiceJet Ltd.     |                                  369 | Inducting 1630 pilots      |
| Akasa Air         |                                  787 | No immediate demand        |
| Air India Express |                                 2169 | 2196 by FY 2028            |
| Indigo            |                                 5463 | 11778                      |

Source:- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the basis information from Airlines

****