Chimes Aviation Academy Inducts Record 74 Cadets Into IndiGo Pilot Programme

Chimes Aviation Academy inducted 74 cadets into Batch ICP 14 of the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program on 17 September 2026, a new record for the airline-linked pathway. The previous high was 67 cadets, set in March this year.

The 20-Month Curriculum

The programme combines ab initio flight training in India with preparation for the Airbus A320, the type at the core of IndiGo’s fleet. The full-time course runs 20 months and covers ground school, Commercial Pilot Licence training and A320 type-rating preparation.

Ground school is held in Gurugram. Flight training takes place at airbases in Dhana and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh. Each cadet logs 185 hours on single-engine aircraft, 15 hours on the Diamond DA42 multi-engine aircraft and 30 hours in simulator devices.

Academy Resources

Chimes operates 33 training aircraft: nine Cessna 172s, 17 Piper Archer DXs, four Tecnam P2010s and three Diamond DA42s. It also has three simulator devices. The academy says it has trained more than 1,000 pilots since 2008, logged over 35,000 flying hours, and recorded 185 CPL completions in 2025.

IndiGo’s Demand

IndiGo reported a fleet of 441 aircraft as of 31 March 2026, including 208 A320-family and 173 A321-family aircraft. A fleet of that size, with continuing deliveries, requires a large recurring intake of new first officers, and airline-linked cadet schemes are one of the ways the carrier secures it alongside direct hiring.

India’s wider shortage is well documented. Akasa Air cites estimates of 12,000 to 15,000 commercial pilots today against about 35,000 needed by 2035, and Boeing’s 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook puts South Asia’s 20-year need at 48,000 new pilots.

The 230 hours in the syllabus (185 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 30 simulator) match the broad structure of a CPL course, with the DA42 stage introducing twin-engine handling before the A320 preparation begins. Chimes recorded 185 CPL completions in 2025, so a single 74-cadet batch represents a sizeable share of what the academy graduated in an entire year. Batches have grown from 67 in March to 74 in September, suggesting steady expansion of throughput.

The location split is also instructive: ground school in Gurugram, near Delhi, and flying at two Madhya Pradesh airbases, so cadets move between sites during the 20 months.

What a Bigger Batch Means

A 74-cadet batch puts pressure on instructor numbers, aircraft availability and examiner capacity. Chimes did not publish instructor numbers or details of how the larger intake would be sequenced across its two airbases.

For applicants, the course structure is a reminder that airline-linked programmes in India still require a significant time commitment before a type rating is reached, and that selection, fees and any conditional job terms are set by the airline and academy rather than by the regulator. Candidates should confirm those terms directly before enrolling.