The average cost of pilot training in India typically ranges from INR 40 lakh to INR 50 lakh. This estimate covers the full training pathway to a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) including ground school flight hours medical tests exams and miscellaneous expenses.
Here’s a breakdown of the major cost components:
Medical tests: Before training begins students must pass a Class-2 medical for a Student Pilot Licence and later a Class-1 medical for the CPL. Medical certification costs range from INR 3,000 to INR 10,000 in India.
Ground school / theory classes: Classroom instruction and theory (navigation, meteorology air regulations aircraft technical knowledge radio telephony etc.) typically cost around INR 1.5 lakh to INR 2.5 lakh, depending on the institute.
Flying training: This is the largest expense. Flight hour rates in India are roughly INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 per hour. A full CPL programme usually requires around 200 hours of flying, pushing the total flying training cost to about INR 25 lakh to INR 40 lakh.
Miscellaneous expenses: These include DGCA exam and skill test fees licence issuance charges study materials charts and books pilot uniform headsets accommodation (if at the academy) and monthly living costs. These can add another INR 0.5 lakh to INR 2 lakh, depending on location and whether accommodation is included in the course package.
So in sum, assuming a standard 200 hour commercial pilot training completed in India students should budget for around INR 40–50 lakh. Costs may vary up or down depending on the flying school aircraft type (single engine vs multi engine training), how many additional hours you actually fly accommodation costs and whether certain costs are bundled into the school’s package or charged separately.