Short answer: An ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence) is the licence a pilot needs to command an airliner. In India you must be at least 21, already hold an Indian CPL, pass DGCA's ATPL papers (with orals in two subjects) and meet the flying experience in Schedule II, Section M of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Most pilots finish the papers early and complete the hours while flying as a first officer.
What is an airline transport pilot license (ATPL) and how is it different from a CPL?
A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) lets you fly for pay. With a CPL you can act as co-pilot on an airliner, and as pilot-in-command only of aeroplanes up to 5,700 kg. The ATPL is the highest pilot licence. It is what a captain on a large commercial aeroplane holds. DGCA's examination CAR notes that an ATPL is not issued on single-engine aircraft.
Who is eligible for an ATPL in India?
| Requirement | What DGCA asks for |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 21 (Schedule II, Section M) |
| Licence | An Indian CPL. Defence pilots may instead show 500 hours of flying, including 200 hours as pilot-in-command |
| Computer number | Allotted by DGCA's Central Examination Organisation (CEO) before you sit any paper |
| Medical | Class 1 medical assessment (CAR Section 7, Series C, Part I) |
| Flying experience | As set out in Schedule II, Section M, as amended by the Aircraft (First Amendment) Rules, 2020. Check the current DGCA text before you plan around a figure |
New to DGCA paperwork? Start with our computer number checklist and the Class 1 and Class 2 medical guide.
Which DGCA exams do you need for an ATPL?
DGCA's CAR Section 7, Series B, Part I lists these ATPL papers:
- Air Navigation
- Aviation Meteorology
- Air Regulation
- Radio Aids and Instruments
- Aircraft and engine technical papers: general, specific and, for aircraft above 5,700 kg, performance
The pass mark is 70% in each paper. If you score 70% or more in Air Navigation and in Radio Aids and Instruments, you become eligible for an oral exam in those subjects. A DGCA board conducts the orals, and you also need 70% to pass. A candidate who fails the first oral gets two more attempts within two years. After three failed orals, you must sit that written paper again. DGCA still runs ATPL oral sessions: its Pariksha exam portal lists ATPL oral sessions for 2026 (checked 28 October 2026).
For papers you share with the CPL, see our DGCA CPL exam guide and subject-wise syllabus.
What does "frozen ATPL" mean?
"Frozen ATPL" is not a DGCA licence. It is the informal name for a pilot who holds a CPL and has passed the ATPL theory papers but has not yet logged the experience needed to be issued the ATPL. The term comes from European training, where ATPL theory is often taken during initial training. When the hours are complete, the ATPL is issued, which pilots call "unfreezing".
ATPL frozen vs ATPL: a frozen ATPL is a CPL plus passed ATPL theory papers, so you still fly as a co-pilot. A full ATPL is the issued licence that allows you to command a large commercial aeroplane. "Unfrozen" is what it means when the licence is finally issued after you meet the experience requirements.
In India the idea works the same way. Many pilots pass the ATPL papers early. DGCA's CAR says ATPL papers must be completed within five years before the licence application, so time your papers to the hours you expect to build.
How many flying hours do you need?
The flying experience for an ATPL (Aeroplanes) is in Schedule II, Section M of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The Ministry of Civil Aviation amended it through the Aircraft (First Amendment) Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 22(E), 7 January 2020), which finalised a September 2019 draft (G.S.R. 680(E)). That amendment removed the requirement for 150 hours of flight time in the preceding twelve months and lowered several of Section M's experience minimums, for example one requirement from one thousand hours to five hundred, and another from five hundred hours to two hundred and fifty. Hours lists online that still include "150 hours in the last 12 months" or "1,000 hours cross-country" predate this amendment. We do not quote a full hours table here because we could not check the consolidated current text. Check the current DGCA text on the DGCA website before you plan around an hours target, and confirm how your operator counts first officer time.
ATPL training in India: how it fits after the CPL
There is no separate full-time ATPL flying course in India. ATPL training in India happens in two parts: you prepare for and pass the DGCA ATPL papers and orals, and you build the required experience while flying as a first officer.
Pilot license ATPL training on the line
Most of the experience comes from airline flying. After a type rating, for example on the A320, pilots complete line training and then recurrent training with their operator while they log hours.
Airline transport pilot license training for the command upgrade
When a first officer has the hours and the ATPL, the operator decides when to put them through command upgrade training. That timing depends on the airline, not on the licence alone. If you are still at the start, read how to become a pilot first.
What are the steps from CPL to ATPL?
- Keep your Class 1 medical and CPL current.
- Join an operator as a first officer, usually after a type rating. See our B737 and B787 type rating guides.
- Apply on the DGCA examination portal and pass the ATPL papers and orals.
- Log the experience required by Section M, including any command and night requirements, with certified logbooks.
- Apply to DGCA for the ATPL with your exam results, logbooks and medical.
Can a foreign ATPL be converted in India?
Yes. A pilot with an ATPL from an ICAO contracting state can convert it. DGCA lists two papers: Air Regulation and a composite paper (Air Navigation, Radio Aids and Instruments, Aviation Meteorology). Orals apply as required. Other conversion requirements, such as any flight checks, are set by DGCA; confirm them with DGCA before you plan. If you hold a foreign CPL instead, see our CPL conversion page.
Is there an upper age limit for an ATPL holder?
Yes, for airline flying. Our pilot age limit guide covers the 60+ multi-crew rules and the restrictions at 65.
FAQ: ATPL in India
Q: What is the minimum age for an ATPL in India?
A: 21 years. The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes) sits in Section M of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, which sets the minimum age at 21.
Q: Do I need a CPL before an ATPL in India?
A: Yes. DGCA's CAR on licence examinations lists an Indian Commercial Pilot Licence as a prerequisite for ATPL examinations. Defence pilots may instead show 500 hours of flying, of which 200 hours are as pilot-in-command.
Q: Which DGCA papers are needed for an ATPL?
A: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulation, Radio Aids and Instruments, and the aircraft technical papers (general, specific and, for aircraft above 5,700 kg, performance). Air Navigation and Radio Aids and Instruments are followed by an oral examination.
Q: What is a frozen ATPL?
A: It is an informal term, not a DGCA licence category. Pilots use it to mean someone who holds a CPL and has passed the ATPL theory papers but has not yet met the flying experience needed to be issued the ATPL.
Q: How many flying hours are needed for an ATPL in India?
A: The experience table is in Schedule II, Section M. The Aircraft (First Amendment) Rules, 2020 removed the 150-hours-in-12-months requirement and lowered several minimums, so older hours lists online are out of date. Check the current DGCA text before planning around an hours figure.
Q: How long are ATPL exam results valid?
A: Under DGCA's examination CAR, papers for a CPL or ATPL must be completed within five years before the licence application. Check the current CAR on the DGCA website before you apply.
Q: Is ATPL training in India a separate course?
A: No. There is no separate full-time ATPL flying course in India. You pass the DGCA ATPL papers and orals, and you build the required flying experience while working as a first officer, usually after a type rating and line training.
Q: What is the difference between a frozen ATPL and an ATPL?
A: A frozen ATPL means you hold a CPL and have passed the ATPL theory papers, but you have not yet met the flying experience for the licence. An ATPL is the issued licence. Pilots call the moment it is issued “unfreezing”.
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