What Is a Cadet Pilot?

The idea in one line

A cadet pilot is an ab-initio trainee selected into an airline-linked training pathway that typically integrates DGCA CPL training and an aircraft type rating (often Airbus A320 for India’s narrow-body fleets), with the airline overseeing standards and recruitment outcomes. IndiGo describes its cadet programmes as designed to enable aspiring pilots to obtain CPL plus A320 type rating in a focused track, delivered through partner schools. 

Cadet schemes are industry constructs; the regulatory foundation is unchanged: licences are issued under DGCA rules (Section 7 — Flight Crew Standards, Training and Licensing) and the Aircraft Rules, 1937. You still sit DGCA theory papers and meet all licensing and medical requirements, usually through the Pariksha examination workflow and DGCA medical system. 

 

How a cadet programme is structured

While each airline and training partner differs, the broad arc looks like this:

1. Screening and selection — aptitude, cognitive and English assessments; medical fitness as per DGCA classes; panel/group interactions. Airlines publish their own selection notes; the overarching licensing standards remain DGCA’s. Air India’s public cadet page, for instance, outlines staged assessments before training.
    
2. Ground school and DGCA theory — you study the CPL knowledge set (Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical papers) and write DGCA theory via Pariksha, just like any non-cadet candidate. The knowledge areas and licensing standards come from DGCA Section 7 and the Aircraft Rules.
    
3. Ab-initio flight training — hour-building, instrument procedures and checks at the airline’s chosen Flying Training Organisation(s) in India or overseas, aligned to DGCA syllabus and later conversion if training is done abroad. Air India’s page explicitly describes CPL training at its academy and partner schools with return to India for licence conversion when needed.
    
4. Type rating — once you hold a CPL/IR and meet airline prerequisites, you undergo type rating on the airline’s fleet type (for example, A320). IndiGo’s public careers pages and partner pages (e.g., CAE, Skyborne) state that their cadet tracks culminate in A320 type rating, aligned to IndiGo standards.
    
5. Transition to line operations — upon successfully meeting airline benchmarks and regulatory checks, cadets progress to line training as junior first officers, subject to the airline’s employment conditions and operational needs. Partners sometimes note an LOI (Letter of Intent to employ) conditional on performance; for example, Skyborne specifies LOI language for IndiGo cadets. Always treat an LOI as conditional.
    

 

Where the “airline-linked” part really helps

• Standardised quality bar — the airline curates partner schools, syllabi pacing and simulator standards. That reduces variability between FTOs that self-sponsored candidates sometimes encounter. IndiGo’s materials emphasise a “focused and efficient” path to CPL + A320 TR under its Flight Operations pipeline.
   
• Type rating continuity — your training sequence is built around a single fleet type from day zero, which smooths your transition to line operations. Partner pages for IndiGo repeatedly reference an A320 outcome.
   
• Recruitment alignment — selection happens before training, so your assessments reflect the hiring bar you will face at the end. Air India’s cadet page illustrates how staged evaluation feeds into training and airline entry.
   

 

What a cadet programme is not

• It is not a shortcut around DGCA standards. All the usual rules apply — CPL knowledge and skill requirements, medicals, ELP, radio licence and licence issue in eGCA. The airline shapes your route, but DGCA licenses you.
   
• It is not an unconditional job guarantee. Offers can be conditional on performance, checks, and operational demand. Partner pages that mention LOIs make that conditionality clear.
   

 

Cadet vs self-sponsored CPL: quick comparison

Same regulator, different route.

Both cadet and self-sponsored trainees must meet DGCA licensing requirements. The difference is governance and sequencing — cadet training is curated by the airline with an embedded type rating and recruitment process; self-sponsored candidates choose their FTOs and later apply to airlines post-CPL.

Pros people value in cadet pathways

• Single, continuous pipeline — ground school to type rating under one umbrella.
   
• Clarity on fleet type and airline standards from the outset.
   
• Selection aligned to eventual hiring bar, which can save time if you are the right fit.
   

Cautions to consider

• Higher upfront commitment; entry is competitive and can be cost-intensive.
   
• Training locations may include overseas phases; plan for visa, currency exposure and later DGCA conversion if applicable. Air India’s page explicitly notes US-based CPL phases for some cohorts with return to India for conversion.
   
• Employment remains subject to your performance and airline demand; read LOI clauses carefully.
   

 

Where to verify information before you apply

1. DGCA — Section 7 (Flight Crew Standards, Training and Licensing) — the licensing source of truth for PPL/CPL/ATPL, ratings, English Language Proficiency and examiner guidance. Keep this page pinned for the latest CAR updates.
    
2. DGCA — The Aircraft Rules, 1937 — especially Schedule II for knowledge and experience requirements associated with licences and ratings. When in doubt, the Rules prevail over marketing brochures.
    
3. Airline’s official cadet portal — for example,
    
   • IndiGo Careers — Flight Operations / Cadet overview.
      
   • IndiGo Cadet partners (e.g., CAE and others) for programme specifics.
      
   • Air India Cadet Pilot Programme for structure, staged assessments and training locations.
      

If any private website claims something, check the airline’s own page and cross-reference with DGCA Rules/CARs. That is the exact process recruiters and licensing officers use.

 

Typical selection components you can expect

(varies by airline; always go by the current official page)

• Academic baseline — 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics; proof that meets DGCA equivalency where relevant. The licensing baseline is set by DGCA.
   
• Medical fitness — you will eventually need Class 1 Medical for commercial privileges; many programmes ask for medical screening early. DGCA publishes medical procedures and examiner details separately.
   
• Aptitude and cognitive batteries — multi-stage tests of spatial awareness, working memory, attention and multitasking.
   
• English proficiency — airlines assess this; DGCA ELP is required for licensing and operations, with standards framed in Section 7 CARs.
   
• Behavioural interviews / group tasks — teamwork, communication and CRM fundamentals.
   
• Document checks — identity, education, and where relevant, passport/visa readiness for overseas phases.
   

 

How type rating sits in the pathway

Type rating is training and checking on a specific aircraft type you will fly on the line, conducted at an approved training organisation with simulators meeting regulatory standards. For India’s largest narrow-body operators, that usually means Airbus A320. IndiGo’s careers page and partner sites state that their cadet tracks culminate in A320 type rating, integrated with the airline’s standards. 

Remember, type rating rests on the licensing base you already earned — CPL/IR, passes in DGCA knowledge subjects, valid medicals and ELP. The airline curates the provider and syllabus, but the regulatory approvals and licence entries remain DGCA’s domain under Section 7. 

 

A sensible decision framework before you apply

1. Confirm you meet DGCA’s licensing baseline — 10+2 with Physics & Maths, and a realistic path to Class 1 Medical. Use DGCA’s Section 7 and medical pages as your oracle.
    
2. Read the airline’s cadet page end-to-end — selection stages, training locations, indicative timelines, and any mention of LOI or bond. For IndiGo, start with Flight Operations → Cadet; then read the partner’s programme page.
    
3. Budget for the entire pipeline — ground school, DGCA exams, medicals, visa and living costs if training abroad, type rating, and contingencies.
    
4. Plan for regulatory conversion if any phase is overseas — Air India’s public notes show US-based CPL phases with return to India for DGCA conversion. Understand documents, skill tests and currency needed for a smooth conversion.
    
5. Track policy and training quality — DGCA routinely updates CARs and audits ATO/TRTO standards. Keeping a close eye on DGCA’s Section 7 page and public notices will save you surprises.
    

 

Bottom line

“Cadet pilot” describes who’s guiding your journey, not which licence you get. The airline’s involvement can bring structure, quality control and a clear line of sight to a fleet and cockpit culture. The regulator — DGCA — still sets the bar you must clear. If you verify everything against Section 7, check the Aircraft Rules, and rely on the airline’s own pages for programme specifics, you will make a decision that is informed, current and defensible.

Fly with your eyes open — to the rules, to the realities of training, and to the opportunities that a well-run cadet path can unlock.

 

Frequently asked — straight answers

Is “cadet pilot” a DGCA licence title?

No. It is an industry term for trainees on an airline-linked pathway. Your licence is still a DGCA CPL/ATPL with ratings entered per the Rules/CAR. 

 

Do cadets still write DGCA exams?

Yes. You take the same DGCA theory (via Pariksha) and meet the same flight experience, skill test and medical requirements as any other candidate. Airline oversight does not replace DGCA. 

 

Is a job guaranteed at the end?

Treat employment as conditional. Some partners mention LOIs subject to performance and operational needs — verify the wording on the airline/partner’s current page. 

 

Are there cadet options beyond IndiGo?

Yes. For example, Air India runs a public cadet programme with staged assessments, CPL training at its academy and partner schools, and subsequent licence conversion/type rating steps. Details change; always use the airline’s own site for the current intake.

 

Disclaimer:

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, applicants are advised to refer to the official DGCA Pariksha portal and consult authorized professionals or aviation training institutions for guidance tailored to their specific cases. Wing Path and the authors are not responsible for any outcomes resulting from misinterpretation or misapplication of the information provided.