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    ATPL Ground Classes: Course Brochure

    Written by Flying Star Aviator Academics Team · Last updated

    This is the brochure, on the page rather than behind a download. Everything a PDF would have said is here, in a form you can search, link to and quote.

    What is an ATPL, and who is this course for?

    The Airline Transport Pilot Licence is the senior DGCA flight crew licence, required to act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft certificated for two pilots in scheduled air transport. Most candidates hold a CPL and are already flying commercially when they sit the ATPL theory papers. Flying Star Aviator prepares candidates for those papers as a ground school in Dwarka, New Delhi. The flying experience an ATPL requires is accrued at an operator or an approved training organisation, never in a classroom.

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    How the ATPL differs from the CPL

    The two licences are often discussed as though the ATPL were a longer CPL. They serve different purposes and are sat at different points in a career.

    CPLATPL
    What it permitsFlying for hire and reward as a commercial pilotActing as pilot-in-command of an aircraft requiring two pilots, in scheduled air transport
    When people sit itEarly, as the working licenceLater, usually while already flying commercially
    TheoryThe CPL subject setA separate ATPL theory set, sat under DGCA
    Flying experienceSet out in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules 1937Set out in Schedule II, and substantially greater
    MedicalClass 1Class 1
    What a ground school providesTheory preparationTheory preparation

    Flying experience requirements for both licences sit in Schedule II to the Aircraft Rules 1937. This page does not restate those figures: the publicly circulating copies of the Rules truncate before the schedules, and the one archived copy available to us is too poorly digitised to quote from with confidence. Read the requirement from the current official text rather than from any website, this one included.

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    Who should be on this course

    Candidates already holding a CPL and building the experience an ATPL requires, and candidates preparing the theory papers ahead of that point so the papers are behind them when the hours arrive. Sequencing matters here more than it does at CPL stage, because a pass has a validity window and an expired paper has to be sat again.

    If you are not yet a CPL holder, the more useful starting points are the CPL course and the DGCA computer number.

    What this course provides

    • Structured classroom and online preparation for the DGCA ATPL theory papers
    • Subject sequencing against the DGCA examination calendar, so papers are attempted in a workable order
    • Question practice and revision cycles built around the published syllabus
    • Guidance on paper validity windows and how to stagger attempts

    What it does not provide

    Stated plainly, because the distinction between a ground school and a flying training organisation is the thing most often blurred in aviation marketing.

    • Operate aircraft or provide flying hours; that happens at a DGCA-approved FTO
    • Issue, endorse or process any licence; DGCA does that
    • Register you as a Flight Crew candidate; you do that yourself on the DGCA portal
    • Conduct medicals; those are done by DGCA-empanelled examiners
    • Provide type ratings, which are a separate qualification after the licence

    Fees

    Course fees are confirmed in writing before enrolment, against the subjects and the batch you actually take. DGCA examination charges are separate and are paid to DGCA directly. The cost-component breakdown explains which parts of pilot training anyone publishes a price for and which parts are always quoted.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is an ATPL?
    The Airline Transport Pilot Licence is the senior DGCA flight crew licence, required to act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft certificated for two pilots in scheduled air transport.
    Is the ATPL just a longer CPL?
    No. They are separate licences with separate theory papers, sat at different points in a career. Most candidates hold a CPL and are already flying commercially when they sit the ATPL papers.
    How many flying hours does an ATPL need?
    The requirement is set out in Schedule II to the Aircraft Rules 1937. This site does not restate the figure, because publicly circulating copies of the Rules truncate before the schedules. Read it from the current official text.
    Is there a downloadable brochure PDF?
    No. The brochure is this page, so it can be searched, linked to and quoted rather than sitting inside a file.
    Does Flying Star Aviator provide ATPL flying experience?
    No. It prepares candidates for the DGCA ATPL theory papers. Flying experience is accrued at an operator or an approved training organisation.
    Is a type rating part of the ATPL?
    No. A type rating is a separate qualification taken after the licence, and it is frequently confused with it.

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