ATR 72-600 Type Rating for Indian Pilots: DGCA Rules, Training and Cost
This guide is for Indian CPL holders considering a turboprop as their first airline type, and for families helping them budget. An ATR 72-600 type rating is the aircraft-specific course and skill test you need before DGCA will endorse the ATR on your licence. Under DGCA rules it follows almost the same minimum syllabus as a jet rating. Prices that training centres published in 2026 start at about €12,900 (around ₹13.7 lakh) before base training. As with any rating, it doesn't guarantee you a job.
By Pilots Assist Team · Last checked: 26 October 2026
- DGCA rulesCAR 7B Part XIX training minimums.
- -500 vs -600Which variant to train on.
- CostDated 2026 estimates in EUR and INR.
- No job promisesAirline selection is decided by the airline.
PABasics
What is a type rating, and why the ATR?
A CPL doesn't on its own let you fly an aircraft heavier than 5,700 kg. Each such aircraft needs a type rating: training on its systems and procedures, a simulator syllabus and a skill test. When you pass, the type is endorsed on your licence.
The ATR 72 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner. In India, IndiGo operates the ATR 72-600 on regional routes. It reported 46 ATRs in its fleet as of 31 March 2026, and its fleet page currently lists 47. Indian training-provider guides often describe the ATR as a lower-cost first rating. Whether it's right for you depends on which airlines you're aiming for, so read the hiring section below.
PAVariants
ATR 72-500 or ATR 72-600?
The search term "ATR72-500 and ATR72-600 type rating courses" comes up often, so here is the difference. The -600 has a glass cockpit with LCD screens. Earlier variants such as the -500 have conventional instruments. Under EASA's evaluation of the ATR family, all ATR 42 and 72 variants share one licence endorsement, "ATR42/72", but moving between variants needs differences training. EASA hasn't evaluated a differences course from the glass-cockpit -600 back to the older "classic" variants, so going that way needs a full type-rating course. If you're starting from scratch, train on the variant flown by the airlines you're aiming for. In India, IndiGo's ATR fleet is the -600.
For how DGCA records the variant on your Indian licence, check with your training centre and DGCA. The EASA report doesn't decide Indian licensing.
PADGCA rules
What DGCA requires
Endorsement training is governed by CAR Section 7, Series B, Part XIX. Two versions exist:
- Issue II (22 March 2012, Revision 1 effective 1 October 2016). This is the last version whose final text we could confirm.
- Issue III was released in January 2026 and was reported as inviting comments until 20 February 2026. The copy in circulation still has its date fields blank.
Both list the ATR as a turboprop above 5,700 kg (Type/Group B) and set the same core requirements. Before you pay, confirm the current issue on dgca.gov.in and get the training centre to confirm its course meets it.
Before you start:
- Licence and instrument rating. Issue III states a CPL with Instrument Rating, plus any multi-engine requirements set by the manufacturer's operational suitability data.
- Technical exam. Pass the DGCA technical (type-specific) exam, or the training centre's exam authorised by its regulator, before the simulator or flying phase. The pass must stay valid until you finish.
- Medical. Your medical must be current for the skill test and any training on the aircraft. It doesn't need to be current for simulator sessions. See our DGCA medical guide.
The training centre. The centre and its simulators must be approved by their own country's aviation authority. If you train abroad, ground school and simulator training must be at the same organisation. Your examiner must be someone other than your instructor.
Minimum syllabus for turboprops like the ATR (Group B):
| Element | What the CAR sets |
|---|---|
| MCC | Issue II requires a 12-hour MCC course for Type B. Issue III lists 12 hours in a simulator (minimum FTD Level 5) and no separate theory block. |
| 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% |
| UPRT | Issue III: 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), one per day. Issue III requires at least 6 of them on a Level D simulator. |
| LOFT | 1 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 required. All of it must be done before you use the rating. |
After the skill test, your training records go to DGCA, through eGCA under Issue III, for the endorsement. If you hold a foreign licence, see CPL conversion.
PAHow it runs
How an ATR course runs
- 1Computer-based training and ground school, ending in the type exam. One Irish centre lists about 70 hours of distance learning followed by 50 hours of instructor-led ground school.
- 2Simulator trainingThe same Irish centre lists 36 hours in an ATR 72-600 full flight simulator, plus a 4-hour skill test.
- 3Base trainingA small number of landings in the real aircraft. Several European centres say base training is provided by a third party, or leave it out of the price.
- 4LIFUS (line flying under supervision)This is supervised flying on normal passenger flights after an airline hires you, under that airline's approved programme. It isn't part of a course you can buy.
How long it takes. The DGCA minimums alone take at least three to four weeks of training days. Published programmes run from about 25 days (a Czech centre) to about 42 days including days off (an Irish centre). Indian guides quote 5–6 weeks. Base training can add waiting time.
PAFunding routes
Who pays: self-sponsored or airline-linked
- Self-sponsored. You pay the centre, earn the rating, then apply to airlines. You carry the cost and the uncertainty about when you'll be hired.
- Airline-linked. An airline selects you first and pays for or arranges the type rating, usually with a bond or a programme fee. Base training and LIFUS are then arranged by the airline. See our airline-linked cadet programmes page.
PACosts
What does an ATR 72 type rating cost?
These are published list prices and estimates, not quotations. Rupee figures use the ECB reference rate of 23 October 2026 (€1 = ₹106.27).
Published by training centres (checked 24 October 2026):
| What the centre lists | EUR | Approx. INR |
|---|---|---|
| ATR 42/72 type rating, "from" price | €12,900 | ₹13.7 lakh |
| ATR 42/72 type rating, base training not included | €14,900 | ₹15.8 lakh |
| ATR 42/72-600 type rating, quoted for a "crew of 2 pilots", valid for starts until 31 Dec 2026 | €32,000 | ₹34.0 lakh |
The €32,000 figure is listed for a crew of two. Ask whether that's the price per pilot or per crew. Some centres, including one Irish ATR 72-600 provider, don't publish a price at all.
Estimates published for India in 2026:
- ₹10–18 lakh (airshipaviation.com, 12 September 2026).
- ₹12–18 lakh, plus ₹3–5 lakh for travel and living over a 5–6 week course (fstc.in blog, 10 June 2026).
- ₹12–18 lakh (fmsaviationacademy.com, 27 April 2026).
If you searched for 2025 ATR costs: we haven't used older figures, because fees and exchange rates have moved. These figures are dated 2026. Pilots Assist shows fees in the training country's currency with an estimated rupee conversion.
PAChecks
How to choose an ATR training centre
- Simulator approval. Ask for the centre's approval and the qualification certificate of the exact ATR simulator. Its level should be Level D for most sessions, and it should be the -600 if that's your target. Indian simulator standards are in CAR Section 7, Series D, Part VI (Issue II, 22 September 2023). In India, FSTC lists a DGCA-approved Level D ATR 72-600 simulator in Hyderabad.
- DGCA syllabus. Get written confirmation that the course meets CAR 7B Part XIX and explains how your technical exam will be handled.
- What's included. Check whether the price covers base training, MCC, UPRT, examiner fees and repeat sessions.
- Entry requirements. Some European ATR courses list 70 hours as pilot in command, ATPL theory, an MCC certificate and advanced UPRT. Ask how these apply to an Indian CPL.
- Payment terms. Compare upfront and milestone payments and the refund terms. Our type rating page lists the checks we run before anyone pays.
PACareers
Does an ATR rating lead to an airline job?
An ATR rating can make you eligible for turboprop vacancies, but no rating guarantees a job. In IndiGo's fleet, for example, ATRs were 46 of 441 aircraft at 31 March 2026, so there are fewer ATR seats to fill than A320-family seats. Some operators recruit cadets and train them themselves. Before you pay for a rating yourself, check which airlines are recruiting on the type. Pilots Assist offers interview coaching. We don't promise jobs or salaries.
PAQuestions
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ATR 72 type rating cost?
Training centres published prices in 2026 from about €12,900 to €14,900 (about ₹13.7–15.8 lakh) before base training. Indian guides from 2026 estimate ₹10–18 lakh, with travel and living extra. These are estimates, not quotes.
Is an ATR 72-600 type rating course valid for an Indian DGCA licence?
It can be, if the centre and its simulator are approved by their regulator and the course meets DGCA's CAR Section 7 Series B Part XIX syllabus. You also need to pass the required technical exam. Get the centre to confirm this in writing.
Should I take an ATR 72-500 or ATR 72-600 type rating course?
Train on the variant flown by the airlines you're targeting. Under EASA's evaluation, moving from the -500 to the -600 needs differences training, while moving from the -600 back to older variants needs a full type-rating course.
How long does an ATR type rating take?
The DGCA minimums take at least three to four weeks of training days. Published courses run from about 25 to 42 days, and base training can add waiting time.
What are the DGCA requirements for an ATR type rating?
You need a CPL with Instrument Rating and a pass in the type technical exam. You must 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, with a current medical for the test.
Will an ATR type rating get me an airline job?
Not by itself. Airlines run their own selection, and India has far fewer ATRs than A320-family aircraft. Check which airlines are recruiting on the type before you pay for the rating yourself.
PANext step
Next step
If you're deciding between the ATR and a jet rating, send us your licence status, hours, medical class and budget through our contact page. We'll go through the options with you, with fees in the training country's currency and an estimated rupee conversion. You can also compare our A320 type rating guide and the Boeing 737 type rating guide. For finance, see our education loan application help.