A320 Type Rating for Indian Pilots: DGCA Requirements, Training and Cost
This guide is for Indian CPL holders, and for parents planning with them, who are deciding whether to take an Airbus A320 type rating, where to take it, and what it really costs. In short, an A320 type rating is the aircraft-specific training and test you must pass before DGCA will endorse the A320 on your licence. The DGCA rules set minimum ground school, simulator sessions and a skill test. Costs depend on the training centre and whether base training is included; we confirm a current written quote for your route. No type rating guarantees you an airline job.
By Pilots Assist Team · Last checked: 26 October 2026
- DGCA rulesCAR 7B Part XIX training minimums.
- SimulatorApproved full flight simulator sessions.
- CostDated estimates in EUR and INR.
- No job promisesAirline selection is decided by the airline.
PABasics
What is a type rating?
A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) lets you fly as a professional pilot, but it doesn't let you fly a large airliner. Every aircraft heavier than 5,700 kg needs its own type rating: a course on that aircraft's systems, procedures and handling, followed by a skill test. When you pass, the type is "endorsed" on your licence.
The A320 rating is the one most Indian pilots ask about because the A320 family makes up most of India's largest airline fleet. IndiGo reported 31 A320ceo, 177 A320neo and 172 A321neo aircraft as of 31 March 2026.
A320 type rating cost in India, in short: the cost depends mainly on the training centre and whether base training is included. We confirm a current written quote for your route.
PADGCA rules
What DGCA requires
Type-rating (endorsement) training for Indian licence holders is governed by CAR Section 7, Series B, Part XIX. There are two versions you may come across:
- Issue II (22 March 2012, Revision 1 effective 1 October 2016). This is the last version whose final, signed text we could confirm.
- Issue III was released in January 2026. A compliance service reported it as issued and inviting comments until 20 February 2026, while the copy in circulation still has its date fields blank and has been described as a draft.
The two versions agree on the core points below. Before you pay a deposit, check which issue currently applies on dgca.gov.in and ask your training centre to confirm its course meets it.
Who it applies to. Every Indian licence holder doing endorsement training at an approved training organisation (ATO or TRTO), in India or in any ICAO member state.
Before you start:
- Licence and instrument rating. Issue III states the prerequisite as a CPL with Instrument Rating (IR), plus any multi-engine experience the manufacturer requires.
- Airbus multi-engine hours. Issue II adds 25 hours on multi-engine aeroplanes for Airbus types from the A318 up, of which 10 can be done in an approved simulator.
- Technical exam. You must pass either the DGCA technical (type-specific) exam or the training centre's exam authorised by its own regulator. This must be done before the simulator or flying phase, and the pass has to stay valid until you finish.
- Medical. Your licence and medical don't need to be current for simulator training. Your medical must be current for the skill test and any training on the real aircraft. See our DGCA Class 1 and Class 2 medical guide.
The training centre. The centre and its simulators must be approved by the aviation authority of the country they're in. If you train overseas, ground school and simulator training must be done at the same organisation. The examiner who tests you must not be the instructor who trained you.
Minimum syllabus for jets like the A320:
| Element | What the CAR sets |
|---|---|
| Jet induction / MCC | 12 hours of classroom plus 20 hours in a simulator, unless you already have enough jet experience. This is a one-time course. |
| Ground school | 72 hours, with no credit for home study. The daily limit is 8 hours in Issue II and 6 in Issue III. No full-flight-simulator sessions during ground school. |
| Written exam | Pass mark 70% (or higher if the centre sets it) |
| Upset prevention (UPRT) | Issue III only: 5 hours of theory plus at least 3 hours in a simulator, before your first type rating |
| Full flight simulator | At least 8 sessions of at least 4 hours each (2 as pilot flying, 2 as pilot monitoring). Only one session per day. Issue III requires at least 6 of them on a Level D simulator. |
| LOFT | 1 line-oriented session as pilot flying on a Level C or D simulator |
| Skill test | Day and night checks with a separate examiner |
| Other training | Low-visibility take-off, zero-flight-time training, base training, CRM, safety equipment and dangerous goods, as the relevant CARs require. All of it must be done before you use the rating. |
When the training is complete, your records are submitted to DGCA, through the eGCA portal under Issue III, for the endorsement. Pilots who already hold a foreign licence follow a separate route; see CPL conversion.
PAHow it runs
How the training is structured
Most A320 courses run in this order:
- 1TheoryComputer-based training and classroom ground school on the aircraft's systems and procedures, ending in the written or technical exam.
- 2Procedures trainerMany centres use a fixed-base training device first. For example, one German centre lists 18 hours in a fixed-base device before 14 hours in the full flight simulator.
- 3Full flight simulatorA Level D simulator reproduces the cockpit, motion and visuals. This is where you practise normal and emergency procedures with a partner.
- 4Skill testin the simulator.
- 5Base trainingA few take-offs and landings in the real aircraft, flown with a training captain and no passengers. Some pilots with enough experience can do zero-flight-time training in a simulator instead, if it's approved. Several European centres don't run base training themselves and either leave it out of the price or arrange it through a partner.
- 6LIFUS (line flying under supervision)Once an airline hires you, you fly normal passenger flights with a training captain. DGCA calls this supervised line flying, and the number of sectors or hours is set in the airline's approved training programme. LIFUS is airline training. You can't buy it as part of a self-sponsored course.
How long it takes. The CAR minimums already add up to at least three to four weeks of training days: 72 hours of ground school at 6–8 hours a day, then at least 8 simulator sessions on separate days, plus LOFT and the test. One European centre publishes a 35-day programme. Indian training-provider guides quote 2–4 months, which allows for scheduling and waiting time. Base training depends on when an aircraft is available.
PAFunding routes
Who pays: self-sponsored or airline-linked
- Self-sponsored. You pay a training centre directly, then apply to airlines already rated. This gives you flexibility, but you carry the full cost and the risk of waiting to be hired.
- Airline-linked or cadet routes. An airline picks you first, and the type rating is included in a programme fee or arranged by the airline. This often comes with a service bond. The airline usually arranges base training and LIFUS. See our IndiGo cadet programme guide and airline-linked cadet programmes.
Which route fits depends on your hours, budget and how much risk you can take on. It's worth talking through before you commit money.
PACosts
What does an A320 type rating cost?
The figures below are estimates and published list prices, not quotations. Prices change, many centres don't publish self-sponsored fees, and travel, accommodation, visas, VAT and DGCA paperwork are usually extra.
The cost depends on the training centre and what the course includes. We confirm a current written quote for your route.
These are EASA courses. Confirm in writing that a course meets the DGCA syllabus above (session count, Level D simulator, exam route) before you treat its price as comparable.
The wide range comes mostly from whether base training is included, where you train and how much you pay to live there. When we discuss options with you, Pilots Assist shows fees in the training country's currency with an estimated rupee conversion, so you can see the exchange-rate risk.
PAChecks
How to choose a training centre
- Approval. Ask for the centre's ATO approval and the qualification certificate for the exact simulator you'll use: its level (Level D for most sessions) and its DGCA reference where it's in India. India's simulator standards are in CAR Section 7, Series D, Part VI (Issue II, 22 September 2023). A DGCA user approval is what links a simulator to a training programme.
- DGCA fit. Get written confirmation that the syllabus meets CAR 7B Part XIX and explains how your technical exam will be handled.
- What's included. Check whether the price covers base training, examiner fees, UPRT, MCC and repeat sessions if you need extra training.
- Variant. Check whether the simulator is a ceo or a neo, and whether that matches the fleets you're aiming for.
- Payment terms. Find out how much is paid upfront, what the refund terms are, and whether you can pay by milestone. Our type rating page sets out the checks we run before anyone pays.
- Entry requirements. Some European centres list extras such as hours as pilot in command, ATPL theory, MCC or UPRT certificates. Ask how these apply to an Indian CPL.
PACareers
Does an A320 rating get you an airline job?
It helps, but it guarantees nothing. Airlines run their own selection: assessments, simulator checks, interviews, medicals and background checks. Some prefer to recruit unrated cadets and train them on their own contracts. Hiring demand also changes from year to year. A self-funded rating is worth most when you've researched the airlines that are actually recruiting on the type. Pilots Assist offers interview coaching. We don't promise jobs or salaries.
PAQuestions
Frequently asked questions
How much does an A320 type rating cost in India?
The cost depends on the training centre and what the course includes. We confirm a current written quote for your route. Travel, living costs and VAT are usually extra.
How much does an Airbus A320 type rating cost through an Indian academy?
Private centres in India set their own prices, and most do not publish self-sponsored fees, so ask for a written breakdown of simulator sessions, base training and exam fees.
What is the A320 type rating duration, including base training?
Plan on about five weeks to four months in total. The DGCA minimum training alone takes at least three to four weeks of training days, published courses run from about five weeks to two to four months, and base training is scheduled when an aircraft is free.
Can I do an A320 type rating in Spain?
Yes, Spain has EASA-approved training organisations with A320 simulators, and prices are set in euros by each centre. Ask for a current written quote, and confirm in writing that the course meets the DGCA syllabus, including the Level D simulator sessions and the skill test, before you pay.
Is an A320 type rating done abroad accepted by DGCA?
It can be. DGCA's type-rating CAR covers training at approved organisations in any ICAO member state, provided the centre and its simulators are approved by their own regulator and the course meets the DGCA syllabus. Ground school and simulator training must be done at the same centre. Check that the course meets the current CAR before you enrol.
How long does an A320 type rating course take?
The DGCA minimums alone take at least three to four weeks of training days. Published programmes run from about five weeks to two to four months, and base training depends on when an aircraft is available.
What are the DGCA requirements for an A320 type rating?
You need a CPL with Instrument Rating and any multi-engine experience the manufacturer requires. You also need to pass the technical exam, complete 72 hours of ground school, at least 8 four-hour full-flight-simulator sessions, a LOFT session and a day and night skill test. Your medical must be current for the skill test.
What is the difference between base training and LIFUS?
Base training is a few take-offs and landings in the real aircraft with no passengers, and it's part of earning the rating. LIFUS is supervised flying on normal passenger flights after an airline hires you, under that airline's training programme.
Will an A320 type rating guarantee me a job?
No. Airlines run their own selection, and some hire unrated cadets and train them themselves. A rating can strengthen your application, but no training provider can honestly promise you a job.
PANext step
Next step
If you're weighing an A320 rating, send us your licence status, hours, medical class and budget through our contact page. We'll go through self-sponsored and airline-linked options with you, with fees in the training country's currency and an estimated rupee conversion. If you'll need finance, see our education loan application help and the pilot training loans guide.