An Airline Transport Pilot Licence is the licence an airline captain holds, and it is not something you begin with. DGCA states that an ATPL applicant should already hold an Indian Commercial Pilot Licence, and that an ATPL is not issued on a single-engine aircraft. Those two conditions shape the whole path, and neither is stated on most pages about it.
What DGCA requires to appear
| Requirement | What DGCA states |
|---|---|
| Computer number | Required, issued by the Central Examination Organization |
| Licence held | The applicant should have an Indian Commercial Pilot Licence |
| Defence alternative | 500 hours flying experience, of which 200 should be as Pilot-in-Command |
| Subjects | Air Navigation; Aviation Meteorology; Air Regulation; Radio Aids and Instruments; Aircraft & Engine / Instruments in general, specific and performance; and Oral |
| Pass mark | 70% in the theory examination and 70% in the oral |
| Validity of a cleared paper | Five years |
| Aircraft restriction | Not issued on a single-engine aircraft |
Source: DGCA CAR Section 7, Series ‘B’, Part I (Issue III, 24 March 2017, Revision 2, 13 February 2019).
The three things people get wrong
Treating it as an alternative to the CPL
It is a progression from it, not a parallel route. If you do not hold an Indian CPL and you are not defence-qualified, the ATPL examination is not the next step — the CPL is. Planning an airline career should start from the CPL requirements, not from here.
Building hours on the wrong aircraft
Because an ATPL is not issued on a single-engine aircraft, multi-engine time is not an optional refinement to your logbook. A candidate who accumulates hours without attention to this can arrive at the application with experience that does not support the licence sought. Confirm what your hours need to look like before you buy them, with your FTO and against Schedule II.
Assuming the oral is a formality
It carries its own 70% requirement, stated separately from the written papers. It is a distinct hurdle, not a conversation at the end.
The flight-hours question, honestly
Almost every page about the Indian ATPL states 1,500 total hours including 500 as Pilot-in-Command. That figure appears on our own ATPL page as well.
The eligibility CAR above governs appearing for the examination. Flight-time requirements for licence issue live in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, which we have not been able to read directly — DGCA’s portal serves its homepage to non-browser clients, and we do not cite a number to a document we have not opened.
So: the 1,500-hour figure is widely stated and may well be correct. We simply cannot show you where it comes from. Get the current requirement in writing from DGCA or your operator before you plan a career around it, and treat any page quoting it without a citation — including ours, until we fix it — as unverified.
What comes after the papers
Clearing the theory is one component. Licence issue also involves flight experience, medical fitness and the practical requirements set out in Schedule II. The examination is the part this page can source; the rest is between you, your operator and the regulator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for an ATPL without a CPL?
DGCA states an ATPL applicant should hold an Indian Commercial Pilot Licence. Defence personnel may instead qualify on 500 hours of flying experience, of which 200 should be as Pilot-in-Command.
Is an ATPL issued on a single-engine aircraft?
No. DGCA states an ATPL licence is not issued on a single-engine aircraft.
Which subjects does the ATPL examination cover?
Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulation, Radio Aids and Instruments, and Aircraft and Engine / Instruments in general, specific and performance, plus an oral examination.
What is the pass mark for the ATPL exam?
70% in the theoretical knowledge examination and 70% in the oral examination.
How long does a cleared ATPL paper stay valid?
Five years, the same as a CPL paper.
How many flight hours does an ATPL need?
Flight-time requirements for licence issue are set in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Pages across this vertical cite 1,500 hours including 500 as Pilot-in-Command; we have not verified that against Schedule II directly, so treat it as unconfirmed and ask DGCA or your operator for the current figure in writing.
Related
Requirements are revised. Verify against the current CAR and Schedule II before acting on any of this.