F. No: DGCA-16017/10/2025-DFT Dated: 24th March, 2026
Subject: Ranking System for DGCA approved Flying Training Organization (April 2026)
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) vide public notice issued Dt. 8th July 2025, announced the commencement of ranking framework for Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) operating under its approval.
Ist Phase of Ranking of DGCA approved FTOs was published on 30th September 2025 and since the Ranking will be published bi-annually, therefore next ranking is scheduled to be published on 1st April of 2026.
Categorization of FTO ranking will be based on following overall score achieved by individual FTO as under-
Score (%) Categorization
85% and above A+
70% to less than 85% A
Less than 70% to 50% B
Below 50 % C
FTOs falling under Category ‘C’ will receive a notice from DGCA for self-analysis towards improvement of their performance.
Parameters and Evaluation Criteria
The detailed weightage criteria and ranking parameters (revised) is as under-
Period of Consideration for Ranking- 1st March 2025 to 28th February 2026
Applicable to all DGCA approved FTOs except those FTOs who have not completed 18 months (1.5 years) as on 28th February 2026 from date of approval.
Also applicable to FTOs with temporary suspensions or cessation of flying training operations during this period due to any reason.
Note:
10 marks will be awarded automatically in parameter “Student to Aircraft Ratio” if avg. time taken to complete 175 hours falls within 12 months(i.e <= 12 Months) and 5 marks if avg. time taken to complete 175 hours falls between 12 months to
15 months(i.e >12 Months & <=15Months) irrespective of weightage obtained against Student to Aircraft Ratio parameter. In all other cases, the computed weightage will be awarded against parameter “Student to Aircraft Ratio”.
Only those Flight Instructors who have actively flown at least for 120 days with that FTO during 01.03.2025 to 28.02.2026 will be considered for parameter “Student to Instructor Ratio”
Minimum Flying Hours flown by FTO in an year– FTO shall have flown minimum 3240 hours in a year. Negative marking of 15 marks will be awarded from the overall score of the FTO not fulfilling this criteria.
With respect to parameter Number of Accidents (12 Months)-Provision of Deduction 18 marks for 1st accident and further deduction of 5 marks each for subsequent accidents.
BA+ve cases pertaining only to instructors and maintenance staff of FTO have been accounted for in this ranking.
FTO Performance (Total weightage – 20 %)
S.No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standard
Data Source
Conditions & Scoring
1
AverageTimeTaken to Complete 175 Hours
Average duration (in months) taken by cadets to complete 175 hours of flying from date of commencement of flying training.
5
>12 M & <=15M
EGCA
Conditions Only those cadets who have completed entire 175 hrs with one particular FTO are considered.Irrespective of the date of commencement of flying training, 175th hour should be completed in last 12 months (01.03.2025 to 28.02.2026) Scoring
Averagetime calculated
Score
<= 12 M
10
>12 M & <=15M
5
>15M
0
2
Average Aircraft Utilization (Last 6 Months)
Total flying hours logged per aircraft divided by number of aircraft for the last 06 months
0
<90hrs average per month per aircraft)
EGCA
Conditions No levy of any kind will be given to the FTO citing reasons such as; Aircraft grounded due to maintenance, incident/ accident, weather, NOTAMs, ATC restriction etc. Scoring
AverageAircraft Utilization
Score
>= 120 hrs
5
>=90 & <120 hrs
3
<90hrs
0
3
Ratio of Trainees Completing 175 Hrs to New Enrolments (Last 12 Months)
Number of cadets who completed 175 hrs ÷ Number of cadets enrolled in same period.
3
0.875
EGCA
Conditions Towards ‘Trainees Completing 175 Hrs’ Only those cadets who have completed entire 175 hrs with one particular FTO are considered.Irrespective of the date of commencement of flying training, 175th hour should be
S.No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standard
Data Source
Conditions & Scoring
completed in last 12 months (01.03.2025 to 28.02.2026) ‘New Enrolments’ Includes new students who have been issued SPL during this period. Scoring
Ratio of Trainees Completing 175 Hrsto New Enrolments
Number of Students with the FTO ÷ Number of trainer aircraft with the FTO
10
8
EGCA
Conditions All the students undertaken flying training with the FTO during the specified period. Aircraft must be available and added in the latest approved TPM of the FTO, as on 28th February 2026.Scoring{ReferNote(1)}
S. No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standard
Data Source
Conditions & Scoring
2
Student to Instructor Ratio (Yearly)
Number of total students ÷ Number of approved instructors
10
10
EGCA
Conditions All the students undertaken flying training with the FTO during the specified period. Only those Flight Instructors who have actively flown at least for 120 days with that FTO during 01.03.2025 to 28.02.2026 will be considered. Scoring
3
Fleet to AME Ratio
Number of aircraft ÷ Number of full-time DGCA-approved AMEs
DAW
Conditions Minimum service period of AME is 10 months in last one year for the consideration in above matrix. Scoring
Total number of operational aircraft used for training
2
6
EGCA
Conditions Aircraft must be available and added in the latest approved TPM of the FTO as on 28th February 2026.Scoring
Fleet Size (Single & Multi-Engine)
Score
≥10 aircraft (incl. at- least 01 multi- engine)
5
≥10 aircraft (No multi-engine)
4
08 to 09
3
05 to 07
2
03 to 04
1
<3 aircraft
0
S. No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standar d
Data Source
Conditions & Scoring
5
Availability of
Presence of CGI & sufficient classroom
5
In- house
FTO Website & Information submitted by FTO
Conditions Presence of CGI & sufficient classroom infrastructure and provision for issue of SPL.Simulator must be DGCA-approved and operational. Scoring
Ground School &
infrastructure and
Ground
Simulators
provision for issue of SPL and approved simulators
School & Two
Availability of Ground School &Simulators
Score
Approved Ground school
Simulators
3
No Ground school
0
Simulators (Owned)
2
Simulators (MoU with others)
1
No simulators
0
Number of Accidents (12 Months) Score 0 18 1 or more 0
Safety Standards* (Weightage – 20%)
*(Non-reporting of any accident/incident will attract negative 5 marks from overall score of FTO for each case of accident/incident.)
Sl.No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standard
Source
Conditions and Scoring
1
Number of Accidents (12 Months)
Total number of aircraft accidents involving FTO operations.
18
0
DAS/ AAIB
Conditions Should fall under definition of ‘Accident’ as per CAR 5/C/I. Investigation by AAIB Irrespective of Solo or Dual flights. ScoringCriteria{Refer Note (4)}
Conditions
Number of Incident per 15000 hrs flown in 12 Months Score 1 2 2 or more 0
2
Number of Incidents (12 Months)
Total number of aircraft incidents Involving FTO operations per 15000 hrs of flying
2
0
DAS
Should fall under definition of ‘Incident’ or ‘Serious Incident’ as per CAR 5/C/I.investigation by DGCAIrrespective of Solo or Dual flights. Scoring Criteria
No. of Significant Safety Concerns (Level-I) Observations Score 0 5 1 2 More than 1 0
Compliance Standards (Weightage – 10 %)
Sl.No.
Parameter
Definition
Weightage
Standard
Source
Conditions and Scoring Criteria
1
No.ofSignificant Safety Concerns (Level-I) Observations raised during DGCASurveillance/ Inspection
Total number of Level-I safety observations raised by DGCA during surveillance or inspection of the FTO.
5
0
DAW, DAS, SED
Conditions Raised by any of the directorate of DGCA. Applicable irrespective of subsequent compliance after raised Level 1 observation. Scoring Criteria
2
NumberofBA positive cases
Total number of confirmed Alcohol
preceding12 months
Breath Analyser violations or refused BA test involving FTO instructors and maintenance staff.
0
2
DAS
Conditions Irrespective of pre-flight or post flight. Scoring Criteria
Number of BA positive cases Score 0 5 1 or more 0
Assistant to Students (Weightage – 10 %)
Sl.No.
Parameter
Definition
Weight age
Standard
Source
Conditions and Scoring Criteria
1
Resolutionof Student Grievances
Mechanism for addressing complaints, concerns, or disputes raised by trainees.
4
Dedicated grievance cell with documented resolutions & timelines
FTO website and PG Portal
Conditions Grievance redressal policy of FTO and mechanism shall be published on their website.Well defined response timelines and Escalation matrixEscalation of grievance to DGCA through Public Grievance Portal will attract negative score
Provision for internal committee as per POSH Act. Scoring Criteria
No. of Student Grievances in 6 months
Score
Upto 5 grievance Escalation to PG Portal (with Grievanceredressal policy)
4
5 to 10 grievance Escalation to PG Portal due to unsatisfactory responses to grievances by FTO (with Grievance redressal policy)
2
No Grievance redressal policy
0
2
Financial Assistance / Scholarships
Sponsorship/ Subsidy from States; Guarantee for Bank Loans; Bank loan arrangements for training costs
2
Availability of Sponsorship/ Subsidy /Guarantee for Bank Loans/Bank loan arrangements
FTO website
Publication on FTO website;Records of the same for DGCA verification Scoring Criteria
