The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 04, 2026, notified regarding the Criteria for approval of Chief Flight Instructor, Designated Examiner, Deputy Chief Flight Instructor, and Non-Flying CFI for Flying Training Organizations.
The following has been stated:
• The CAR prescribes the eligibility, approval process, roles, and oversight for Chief Flight Instructor (CFI), Deputy CFI, Designated Examiner (DE), and Non-Flying CFI in Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) to standardize pilot training and ensure compliance with the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
• It mandates that these post holders possess valid licences (CPL/ATPL with instructor and instrument ratings), significant flying and instructional experience, and a clean safety and medical record. The CFI is overall responsible for training operations and regulatory compliance, while the Dy. CFI assists and can temporarily take charge; a Non-Flying CFI may supervise limited functions in exceptional situations, but FTOs cannot operate beyond 12 months without a regular CFI.
• Approval is granted by DGCA through the eGCA portal after an oral examination assessing regulatory knowledge, instructional ability, and operational competence, with additional standardization checks required for DEs. Approvals are time-bound (generally 5 years for CFI/Dy. CFI and 2 years for DEs), subject to periodic refresher training and checks. The CAR also defines operational flexibility such as temporary cross-utilization between FTOs with approval, and clearly lays down functions including training, authorization of flights, conduct of skill tests, and certification activities.
• DGCA retains enforcement powers to suspend or cancel approvals in cases of non-compliance, unsafe conduct, or violation of regulations, thereby ensuring high standards of aviation training and safety.
• Comments are invited by May 10, 2026, to Ravindra Kumar, Director (Ops), Directorate of Flying Training, Opp. Safdarjung Airport, Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi - 110 003 email: [email protected].
[Notification no. - DGCA-16026(10)/3/2017-DFT (For Rev 09)]
