Lok Sabha Question No. 678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Flying Training Institutes
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 678 (To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## FLYING TRAINING INSTITUTES

678. SMT KAMLESH JANGDE SHRI LUMBA RAM SHRI DILIP SAIKIA SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the functioning of flight training institutes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of flight training institutes across the country, State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam and North-Eastern States; and (c) the criteria fixed for opening a new flight training institute and the details of the necessary basic facilities required in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) Yes, MoCA has taken various initiatives for promoting and improving Flying Training in the country. In 2020, Airports Authority of India (AAI) came up with a liberalized FTO policy wherein airport royalty payments (revenue share payment by FTOs to AAI) was abolished and land rentals were significantly rationalized.
- In 2021, after a competitive bidding process, AAI awarded nine FTO slots at five airports at Belagavi (Karnataka), Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Lilabari (Assam).Currently, eight of these FTO slots are operational: one each at Lilabari, Belagavi and two at Kalaburagi, Khajuraho, Jalgaon. In June 2022, after a competitive bidding process, six more FTO slots were awarded by AAI at five airports namely: Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Hubballi (Karnataka), Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), Kishangarh (Rajasthan) and Salem (Tamil Nadu).  Of these, three FTO slots at Salem, Bhavnagar and Kishangarh are operational.

Royalty or revenue share in any form is not charged from FTOs at AAI Airports. Also as per tender, link taxi way is to be constructed by AAI on its own cost and no licence fee for taxi way is to be charged. AAI has issued Land Management circular in June 2023 through which allotment of land/space for setting up FTOs at AAI Airports to willing agencies on card rate basis for a period of 25 years. No royalty/concession fee shall be payable/applicable. DGCA has undertaken several initiatives to improve flight training institutes in the country such as (i) Revision to CAR Section 7, Series I, Part V (Issue II,Rev 08 Dt. 3rd Jan. 2025): Some of the aspects incorporated in revised CAR 7/I/V are as under: (a)The examiner function has been delinked from the CFI/Dy. CFI role. (b)The responsibility for conducting checks for issue of Flight Instructor Rating has been delegated back to the industry (FTOs). (c) Dy. CFI with examiner privileges are now authorized to conduct AFIR Instructor training and checks. (d)The oral examination requirement for CFI/Dy. CFI when changing FTOs has been removed. (e)The cool-off period for appearing in second attempt of Oral exam for CFI, Dy. CFI&DE has been reduced to 30 days. (ii) Audits and inspections of FTOs undertaken for ensuring compliance with regulatory framework and training standards. Special Safety Audit of FTOs conducted in Year 2024. (b) Currently, there are 38 Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) operating at 57 bases as approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The list of DGCA approved FTOs is at Annexure A.

(c) The detailed requirements for opening a new flight training institute are stipulated in CAR Section 7, Series D, Part 1.

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