22% more CPLs issued to women in 2023 as compared to 2022

There is a significant upswing in the enrollment of women pilots in India. In the year 2023, total number of commercial pilot licenses (CPL) issued are 1622 of which 294 CPLs were issued to women constituting, 18 percent of total CPLs issued.

There is an increase of 22 percent in number of CPLs issued to women in the year 2023 (294 CPLs) as compared to year 2022 (240 CPLs)

At present, the total number of women pilots employed with various Indian scheduled and non-scheduled operators is approximated at 14 percent of the total flight crew strength.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and its associated organisations have taken steps to increase the number of pilots in the country, both women and men. These include issuing award letters by Airports Authority of India for nine new Flying Training Organisations (FTO) at five airports namely Belagavi, Jalgaon, Kalaburagi, Khajuraho and Lilabari in the first phase and six more FTOs at five Airports in the second phase namely Bhavnagar, Hubballi, Kadapa, Kishangarh and Salem.

In addition, the Women in Aviation International (WAI) – India Chapter conducts many awareness programmes across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, industry and leading women aviation professionals, with special focus on young schoolgirls, especially from low income families.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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