DGCA issued 1,622 commercial pilot license in 2023, highest in a decade: Govt

The aviation regulator DGCA has achieved an unprecedented milestone by issuing a decade-high 1,622 commercial pilot licenses (CPLs) in the year 2023, the government data showed on Monday. Among these, 18.12 per cent are women pilots with a remarkable upswing of 22.5 per cent as compared to the year 2022. 

“India is considered to be one of the leading nations with Women Pilot Licenses and the significant percentage increase upholds the Government of India’s vision of Women empowerment in the Civil Aviation Sector,” the government release stated. 

According to the release, the record issue of total CPL for 2023 has surpassed the previous milestone of 1165 licenses issued in the year 2022, witnessing a 39.22 per cent increase. This is the second consecutive year where the number of licenses issued has witnessed a decade-high. 

It is estimated that 14 per cent of the workforce employed with Scheduled Airlines consists of Women Pilots. This also comes at a time when the country's civil aviation sector is recovering at a fast pace post the coronavirus pandemic, and several major operators like M/s Air India and Indigo have announced the placing of huge orders of new aircraft for Commercial Aircraft operations. 

As per the release, the surge in license issuances reflects the relentless efforts and rigorous standards upheld by the regulator to ensure safety, compliance, and increased operational demands of the aviation sector.