Aircraft Type Rating

The Final Step Before You Sit in an Airline Cockpit ✈️

You’ve earned your Commercial Pilot License. You’ve survived ground school, exams, flying hours and sleepless nights. You’re officially a pilot.
But here’s the truth no one tells you early enough:

A CPL gets you licensed. An Aircraft Type Rating gets you hired.

If the Commercial Pilot License is your entry ticket into professional aviation, Type Rating is the boarding pass to an airline cockpit. This is where your pilot journey becomes real, specific and airline-ready.

So fasten your seatbelt, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about Type Rating in India, in simple, honest, pilot-friendly language.

What Is Type Rating (And Why Is Everyone Talking About It)?

To operate aircraft weighing more than 5,700 kg or turbojet-powered aircraft after obtaining a CPL, a pilot must hold a type rating for that specific aircraft.

In simple words:

• CPL = “You are allowed to fly commercially”
  
• Type Rating = “You are trained to fly this exact aircraft”
  

Airliners are complex machines. An Airbus A320 is very different from a Boeing 737 and neither flies like a trainer aircraft. Airlines don’t take chances, they want pilots trained specifically on their aircraft type, procedures and SOPs.

Common aircraft types in India include:

• Airbus A320
  
• Boeing 737
  
• ATR 72
  
• Bombardier Q400
  

Without a it, no airline will put you in the cockpit, no matter how many flying hours you have.

Why Type Rating Is a Big Deal for Airline Jobs

It is not just training, it’s your bridge from flight school to airline life.

Here’s what it does for you:

• Makes you aircraft-qualified
  
• Prepares you for real airline operations
  
• Trains you on multi-crew cockpit discipline
  
• Builds confidence before flying passengers
  
• Improves your shortlisting chances with airlines
  

Think of it this way:
Airlines don’t hire “general pilots.” They hire A320 First Officers, B737 copilots or ATR pilots. It gives you that identity.

The Type Rating Journey: What Training Actually Looks Like

It may sound intimidating, but it’s a structured, professional, step-by-step process. Here’s how it works.

1. Ground School (Where You Truly Learn the Aircraft)

This is not like CPL ground classes. Type Rating ground school is deep, technical and aircraft-specific.

You’ll study:

• Aircraft systems (engines, hydraulics, electrics, fuel, pressurization)
  
• Flight management system (FMS)
  
• Aircraft limitations and performance
  
• Normal, abnormal and emergency procedures
  
• Airline SOPs and checklist philosophy
  
• Crew Resource Management (CRM)
  

By the end of ground school, you should know the aircraft inside out, not just how to fly it, but how it thinks.

2. Simulator Training (Where Pilots Are Truly Made)

This is the heart of Type Rating.

You’ll train on full-motion Level-D simulators that feel almost identical to the real aircraft. Everything moves, shakes, fails and reacts just like the real thing.

You’ll practice:

• Normal airline operations
  
• Engine failures
  
• System malfunctions
  
• Take-offs and landings
  
• Rejected take-offs
  
• Bad weather approaches
  
• Emergency handling
  
• Decision-making under pressure
  

Mistakes are encouraged here, because this is where you learn safely.

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3. Skill Test & Checks

At the end of simulator training, you’ll undergo:

• Simulator skill tests
  
• Checks conducted as per Directorate General of Civil Aviation standards
  
• Airline-style evaluation of your competence and discipline
  

Clear this and you are officially Type Rated.

Eligibility for Type Rating in India

Before you jump in, here’s what you need:

• Valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
  
• Multi-Engine rating
  
• Instrument Rating (IR)
  
• Valid Class 1 Medical
  
• English Language Proficiency
  
• DGCA exam clearances (as applicable)
  

Most importantly, you need the right mindset. It is intense, fast-paced and professional,  just like airline life.

How Long Does Type Rating Take?

On average:

6 to 8 weeks depending on aircraft and training organization

This includes:

• Ground school
  
• Simulator sessions
  
• Skill tests
  
• Final approvals
  

It’s short compared to CPL training, but far more focused.

Type Rating Cost: Let’s Talk Reality 💰

Yes, It is expensive. There’s no sugarcoating it.

In India, Type Rating costs typically range between:

₹10 lakhs to ₹25 lakhs, depending on:

• Aircraft type
  
• Training location (India or abroad)
  
• Simulator availability
  
• Airline-aligned programs
  

What you’re paying for:

• High-end simulator time
  
• Aircraft-specific instructors
  
• DGCA-approved training
  
• Professional airline-level preparation
  

It’s an investment, not an expense, if planned correctly.

Self-Sponsored vs Airline-Sponsored Type Rating

Self-Sponsored Type Rating

• You pay for training yourself
  
• Faster entry into the job market
  
• Higher control over timelines
  
• Popular in India due to hiring trends
  

Airline-Sponsored Type Rating

• Airline trains you after selection
  
• Less upfront cost
  
• Highly competitive
  
• Limited seats
  

Choosing the right path depends on timing, preparation and guidance.

Career After Type Rating: What Happens Next?

Once you’re Type Rated:

• You become airline-ready
  
• You’re eligible for:
  
  • Airline First Officer positions
    
  • Line training with airlines
    
  • Aircraft-specific hiring drives
    

Your logbook now speaks the airline’s language.

Salary After Type Rating 💼

Freshly Type Rated First Officers in India typically earn:

• ₹20–30 lakhs per annum, depending on airline and fleet
  

With experience:

• Salary grows rapidly
  
• Command upgrade opens higher pay brackets
  
• International opportunities become possible
  

And yes, the perks are real:

• Staff travel benefits
  
• Uniform pride
  
• Career stability
  
• Respect that comes with the profession
  

The Bottom Line

Type Rating is not optional if you want an airline career.
It’s the final transformation, from trained pilot to professional airline aviator.

It demands focus, discipline and commitment, but it rewards you with a seat where very few get to sit.

You’ve already come this far.
Now it’s time to choose your aircraft and step into the airline world.

For more detailed information about Type Rating you may read our blog “Why Type Rating Is Important for Pilots“

✈️ Ready to Plan Your Type Rating the Right Way?

Don’t rush. Don’t guess. Don’t follow shortcuts.
Talk to experts who understand airlines, timelines and real hiring trends.

📞 Contact us at +91 93106 70588
Let’s map out your Type Rating journey — smartly, safely and professionally.

Because in aviation, preparation isn’t optional, it’s survival.

You’ve worked hard to earn your CPL.
Don’t leave your airline career to guesswork.
👉 Fill out the form now to plan your aircraft type rating the right way — with expert guidance, realistic timelines and airline-focused strategy.