Ranking System for DGCA approved Flying Training Organization (April 2026)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICE OF DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION Opposite: Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi-110003 PUBLIC NOTICE F. No: DGCA-16017/10/2025-DFT Dated: 24th March, 2026 Subject: Ranking System for DGCA approved Flying Training Organization (April 2026) 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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.4. Parameters and Evaluation Criteria The detailed weightage criteria and ranking parameters (revised) is as under-5. DGCA FTO Ranking Mechanism – Core Parameters & Conditions, Scoring criteria Applicability: a) Period of Consideration for Ranking- 1st March 2025 to 28th February 2026 b) 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. c) Also applicable to FTOs with temporary suspensions or cessation of flying training operations during this period due to any reason. Note: 1) 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”. 2) 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” 3) 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. 4) 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. 5) BA+ve cases pertaining only to instructors and maintenance staff of FTO have been accounted for in this ranking.A. FTO Performance (Total weightage – 20 %) S. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring No. Source Conditions  Only those cadets who have completed entire Average duration (in 175 hrs with one particular FTO are considered. months) taken by  Irrespective of the date of commencement of Average Time Taken cadets to complete flying training, 175th hour should be completed in last to Complete 175 175 hours of flying 10 EGCA 12 months (01.03.2025 to 28.02.2026) 1 Hours from date of 12 Months commencement of Scoring flying training. Average time Score calculated <= 12 M 10 >12 M & <=15M 5 >15M 0Conditions  No levy of any kind will be given to the FTO citing reasons such as; Aircraft grounded due Total flying hours to maintenance, incident/ accident, weather, Average Aircraft logged per aircraft 120 hours NOTAMs, ATC restriction etc. Utilization (Last 6 divided by number of 5 EGCA 2 ( average per Scoring Months) aircraft for the last 06 month per months Average Aircraft Score aircraft) Utilization >= 120 hrs 5 >=90 & <120 hrs 3 <90hrs 0 Conditions Number of cadets  Towards ‘Trainees Completing 175 Hrs’ Ratio of Trainees who completed 175 3 Completing 175 Hrs hrs ÷ Number of 5 EGCA  Only those cadets who have completed entire 1 to New Enrolments cadets enrolled in 175 hrs with one particular FTO are (Last 12 Months) same period. considered.  Irrespective of the date of commencement of flying training, 175th hour should beS. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring No. Source 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 Score Completing 175 Hrs to New Enrolments >= 1 5 0.75 to 1 3 <0.75 0B. Operational Aspects (Total weightage – 40 %) S. No. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring Source Conditions  All the students undertaken flying training with the FTO during the specified period.  Aircraft must be available and added in the Number of Students latest approved TPM of the FTO, as on Student to Aircraft with the FTO ÷ 28th February 2026. 10 EGCA 1 Ratio (Yearly) Number of trainer 10 Scoring {Refer Note(1)} aircraft with the FTO Student to Aircraft Score Ratio <= 10 10 >10 &<= 15 5 >15 0S. No. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring Source 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 Student to Number of total 2 will be considered. Instructor Ratio students ÷ Number of 10 EGCA 10 (Yearly) approved instructors Scoring Student to Instructor Score Ratio <= 10 10 >10 to <=15 5 >15 0 Conditions  Minimum service period of AME is 10 Number of aircraft ÷ months in last one year for the 3 3 Fleet to AME Ratio Number of full-time 10 DAW consideration in above matrix. DGCA-approved AMEs Scoring Fleet Score B-2 rated Score to AME AMES. No. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring Source Ratio (B-1 rated AME) <=3 8 For fleet 02 upto 6 aircraft - Minimum 01 (either regular or contractual) >3 &<= 6 4 For fleet 02 greater than 6 aircraft - Minimum 01 (regular AME) >6 0 No B-2 rated 0 AMES. No. Standard Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring Source Conditions  Aircraft must be available and added in the latest approved TPM of the FTO as on 28th February 2026. Scoring Total number of Fleet Size (Single & Score Fleet Size (Single & 4 operational aircraft 5 Min. 10 EGCA Multi-Engine) Multi-Engine) used for training aircraft ≥10 aircraft (incl. at- 5 least 01 multi- engine) ≥10 aircraft (No 4 multi-engine) 08 to 09 3 05 to 07 2 03 to 04 1 <3 aircraft 0S. No. Standar Data Parameter Definition Weightage Conditions & Scoring d Source Conditions  Presence of CGI & sufficient classroom infrastructure and provision for issue of SPL.  Simulator must be DGCA-approved and operational. Presence of CGI & In- 5 5 (3- Availability of sufficient classroom house Scoring Ground FTO Ground School & infrastructure and Ground School +2- Website & Simulators provision for issue of School Simulator) Information Availability of Score SPL and approved submitted by At least Ground School & simulators FTO one Simulators Approved Ground 3 Simulator school No Ground school 0 Simulators (Owned) 2 Simulators (MoU 1 with others) No simulators 0C. 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. Parameter Definition Weightage Standard Source Conditions and Scoring No. Conditions  Should fall under definition of ‘Accident’ as per CAR 5/C/I.  Investigation by AAIB Number of Total number of 18 0 (Zero) DAS/ 1 Accidents (12 aircraft accidents AAIB  Irrespective of Solo or Dual flights. Months) involving FTO operations. Scoring Criteria {Refer Note (4)} Number of Score Accidents (12 Months) 0 18 1 or more 0Conditions Total number of  Should fall under definition of ‘Incident’ or Number of aircraft incidents 2 1 per 15000 DAS ‘Serious Incident’ as per CAR 5/C/I. 2 Incidents (12 Involving FTO hrs of flying  investigation by DGCA Months) operations per  Irrespective of Solo or Dual flights. 15000 hrs of flying Scoring Criteria Number of Incident Score per 15000 hrs flown in 12 Months 1 2 2 or more 0D. Compliance Standards (Weightage – 10 %) Sl. Parameter Definition Weightage Standard Source Conditions and Scoring Criteria No. Conditions  Raised by any of the directorate of DGCA. Total number of  Applicable irrespective of subsequent No. of Significant Level-I safety DAW, compliance after raised Level 1 Safety Concerns observations raised 5 0 (Zero) DAS, observation. 1 (Level-I) by DGCA during SED Observations surveillance or Scoring Criteria raised during inspection of the DGCA FTO. No. of Significant Score Surveillance/ Safety Concerns Inspection (Level-I) Observations 0 5 1 2 More than 1 0 2 Number of BA Total number of positive cases confirmed Alcoholpreceding 12 Breath Analyser 5 0 (Zero) DAS Conditions months violations or refused  Irrespective of pre-flight or post flight. BA test involving FTO instructors and Scoring Criteria maintenance staff. Number of BA Score positive cases 0 5 1 or more 0 E. Assistant to Students (Weightage – 10 %) Sl. Parameter Definition Weight Standard Source Conditions and Scoring Criteria No. age Mechanism for 4 Dedicated FTO Conditions Resolution of addressing grievance cell website Student complaints, with and PG  Grievance redressal policy of FTO and 1 Grievances concerns, or documented Portal mechanism shall be published on their disputes raised by resolutions & website. trainees. timelines  Well defined response timelines and Escalation matrix  Escalation 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 Score months Upto 5 grievance Escalation to 4 PG Portal (with Grievance redressal policy) 5 to 10 grievance Escalation to 2 PG Portal due to unsatisfactory responses to grievances by FTO (with Grievance redressal policy) No Grievance redressal policy 0 Availability of FTO  Publication on FTO website; Financial Sponsorship/ Sponsorship/ website  Records of the same for DGCA verification 2 Assistance / Subsidy from States; Subsidy Scoring Criteria Scholarships Guarantee for Bank 2 /Guarantee for Loans; Bank loan Bank Financial Assistance / Score arrangements for Loans/Bank Scholarships training costs loan Available 2 arrangements Not available 0