Pilot ratings, in short: your licence says what kind of pilot you are; ratings say what extra you are allowed to do. The ones Indian student pilots meet most are the instrument rating, the multi-engine class rating, the type rating and the flight instructor ratings. This guide explains what each one is for, when you need it, and the order most students take them in.
Licence or rating: what is the difference?
A licence, such as the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), is the main qualification. Ratings are endorsed on that licence. They add privileges, such as flying in cloud, flying a twin-engine aeroplane, flying a particular airliner or teaching other pilots. Each rating has its own training, tests and, for some, recent-experience rules.
| Rating | What it lets you do | When students usually take it |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument rating (IR) | Fly on instruments under instrument flight rules | During or straight after CPL training |
| Multi-engine class rating | Fly aeroplanes with more than one engine | Near the end of CPL training, often with the IR |
| Type rating | Fly one specific large type, such as the A320 | When an airline path makes it worthwhile |
| AFIR and FIR | Teach flying, with the FIR giving wider privileges | After the CPL, often as a way to build hours |
Instrument rating (IR)
An instrument rating lets you fly by reference to the cockpit instruments, under instrument flight rules, when you cannot see the horizon. Airline flying is done under these rules, so the IR is a standard part of an airline-bound CPL. The basic CPL already needs 10 hours of instrument time; the IR needs more instrument and cross-country flying and its own skill test. If you train abroad, note that DGCA asks for an instrument rating test in India when converting a foreign CPL that has no IR. Our DGCA CPL conversion guide explains the rest of that process.
Multi-engine class rating
A multi-engine rating lets you fly aeroplanes with more than one engine. The key extra skill is controlling the aircraft safely after an engine fails, especially just after take-off. Because airliners have two or more engines, most airline-bound students add multi-engine training near the end of the CPL, often combined with the instrument rating as a multi-engine instrument rating.
Type rating
A type rating qualifies you to fly one specific large aircraft type. It is done on full-flight simulators and the aircraft type, and it is a big expense, so time it carefully. For larger aeroplanes, DGCA also has a Performance theory paper, which applies to aeroplanes with a maximum take-off mass above 5,700 kg. Read our A320 type rating guide for what the training involves. Hiring is always the employer's decision, so a type rating on its own does not mean a job.
Flight instructor ratings: AFIR and FIR
DGCA has two instructor levels for aeroplanes, set out in Schedule II, Sections Q and R of the Aircraft Rules, 1937:
- Assistant Flight Instructor Rating (AFIR): needs a valid CPL, at least 100 hours as pilot-in-command, approved instructor training and a skill test. An AFIR holder teaches under a Flight Instructor's supervision, by day, with limits on what they may teach.
- Flight Instructor Rating (FIR): needs a minimum age of 20, a valid CPL and either 200 hours of instructing as an AFIR with 20 hours of night flying as pilot-in-command, or 500 hours as pilot-in-command. An FIR can authorise student solo flights and supervise assistant instructors.
For both ratings, DGCA holds an oral exam through a board in Mechanics of Flight, Principles of Flying Instruction and Instrument Flying, and the pass mark is 70%. Instructing is also a common way to build hours after the CPL; see our guide to hour building for pilots.
Which order makes sense?
For most Indian students aiming at the airlines, the usual order is: CPL with instrument rating and multi-engine training, then the ATPL theory and, later, a type rating when an airline path is clear. Our ATPL licence guide for India covers the step after the CPL. On our planning figures, CPL training costs about ₹75 lakh in India and from ₹60 lakh abroad, and many families use pilot training loans up to ₹1 crore, subject to lender approval. Ask each school, in writing, which ratings its fee includes.
FAQ: pilot ratings explained
Q: What is the difference between a pilot licence and a rating?
A: A licence, such as a CPL, says what kind of pilot you are. A rating is added to the licence and says what extra you may do: fly in cloud on instruments, fly a multi-engine aeroplane, fly a specific large type, or teach.
Q: What is an instrument rating?
A: An instrument rating (IR) lets you fly by reference to the instruments in conditions where you cannot see the horizon, under instrument flight rules. Airlines expect it, and for converting a foreign CPL, DGCA asks for an instrument rating test if your licence has no IR.
Q: What is a multi-engine rating?
A: It is the class rating that lets you fly aeroplanes with more than one engine. Training covers handling an engine failure, which is the main extra skill. Most airline-bound students add it alongside the instrument rating, often as a combined multi-engine instrument rating.
Q: What is a type rating?
A: A type rating qualifies you on one specific large aircraft type, such as the Airbus A320. It is usually done when an airline path makes it worthwhile. Hiring remains the employer's decision.
Q: How do I become a flight instructor in India?
A: DGCA has two levels: the Assistant Flight Instructor Rating (AFIR) and the Flight Instructor Rating (FIR). Both need a valid CPL, approved instructor training, a skill test and an oral exam held by a DGCA board, where the pass mark is 70%. The FIR needs more experience than the AFIR.
Q: Which rating should I get first?
A: For an airline career, most students finish the CPL with an instrument rating and multi-engine training, then consider a type rating later. If you want to build hours by teaching, an instructor rating is the usual route. Talk it through before you pay for anything.
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