How to Choose the Best Flying School in India (2026): 10 Questions to Ask
Captain Meera Joshi · Published 2026-07-15 · Updated 2026-10-13
Brochures all look the same. The questions that actually separate a good FTO from an expensive delay are about fleet availability, instructor ratios, completion times and how the school handles your records.
The decision that shapes your first two years
Choosing a flying school is one of the largest financial decisions most aspiring pilots — and their families — will make. The difference between a well-run FTO and a poorly-run one is not usually the quality of the flying. It is how long the course takes, and therefore how much it really costs.
6–12 months — Difference in completion time between well-run and poorly-run schools. Illustrative. Delays are the single biggest driver of total cost for a CPL student.
Start with DGCA's FTO ranking
Since October 2025, DGCA has published a twice-yearly ranking of every approved flying training organisation. Schools are graded A+, A, B or C on operations, training performance, safety, compliance and student support. It is the closest thing India has to an official answer to "which is the best flying school in India?"
In the April 2026 edition of 35 schools:
- Category A (1): Avyanna Aviation, the first school to reach Category A.
- Category B (17): Academy of Carver Aviation, FSTC Flying School, National Flying Training Institute, IGRUA, Flytech Aviation Academy, Skynex Aero, Garg Aviation, Chetak Aviation, Chimes Aviation Academy, Dunes Aviation Academy, Ekvi Air Training Organisation, Jet Serve Aviation, Alchemist Aviation, Ambition Flying Club, Orient Flight Aviation Academy, The Bombay Flying Club and The Gujarat Flying Club.
- Category C (17): the remaining schools, which receive a DGCA notice to take corrective action.
Grades change between editions. Seven schools dropped from B to C between October 2025 and April 2026. Check the latest list on the DGCA website before you decide, and read how the ranking is scored.
Ten questions worth asking
1. Is the school currently DGCA-approved?
Check the approval status directly on DGCA's published lists rather than relying on the brochure.
2. How many aircraft are serviceable today?
Not how many are on the books — how many are actually flying this week. Ask to see the flight line.
3. What is the student-to-aircraft ratio?
A school with many students per serviceable aircraft will struggle to fly you regularly, however good its instructors are.
4. What is the student-to-instructor ratio?
Ask how many active instructors there are, and how long they have been at the school. High instructor turnover is a warning sign.
5. What is the typical completion time for recent batches?
Ask for the real range, not the brochure figure. A good school will know this number and will not be defensive about it.
6. What exactly does the fee include?
Hours, fuel, landing fees, sim time, ground school, exam fees, accommodation, and — critically — what happens if you need extra hours. Our CPL cost breakdown lists every line item to ask about.
7. How does the school handle weather and the monsoon?
A school with a clear plan for bad-weather periods will lose far fewer of your training weeks.
8. Is there a simulator, and is it used?
A functioning, regularly scheduled sim is a strong indicator of a well-organised school.
9. How will you see your own progress and hours?
You should be able to see your logged hours, completed exercises and upcoming schedule without asking someone to check a file.
10. Can you talk to current students?
Speak to students who are mid-course, not just recent graduates chosen by the school. Ask how often they fly each week.
Visit before you commit
If you can, spend a day at the school. Watch the flight line in the morning. Count how many aircraft actually fly. Notice whether students look busy or bored. A single visit often tells you more than every brochure combined.
The right school is the one that will get you to your licence safely, on time and within budget — and the only way to judge that is to ask direct questions and look for honest answers.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best flying school in India?
In DGCA's April 2026 FTO ranking, Avyanna Aviation was the only school in Category A, and 17 schools, including IGRUA, Chimes, Skynex Aero and The Bombay Flying Club, were in Category B. The best school for you also depends on fees, location, fleet availability and completion time.
How do I check if a flying school is DGCA approved?
DGCA publishes the list of approved flying training organisations and their ranking on its website. Check the school's name and approval validity there rather than relying on the brochure.
How many DGCA-approved flying schools are there in India?
DGCA's April 2026 ranking covered 35 approved flying training organisations, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation said six new schools had been approved in the previous 18 months, with six more in the pipeline.
Sources:The Week: DGCA FTO ranking, April 2026 · Aerogenesis: FTO ranking analysis