The type-rating decision: which fleet, what it costs, when to pay
A type rating is the qualification to fly a specific airliner. Your CPL says you may fly commercially; the type rating says you may fly that aircraft. It is usually the largest single cost after your CPL, and the decision of whether to self-fund it, and on which type, is genuinely hard. Get the type wrong and you have spent lakhs on a qualification almost nobody in India is hiring for.
In India the realistic choice is between the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737. The A320 family has by far the widest scope, because IndiGo and Air India both fly and are buying it in volume. The 737 is a strong second, driven by Akasa, Air India Express and Air India. Turboprop (ATR 72) is a smaller but real entry route. Nobody self-funds a widebody rating as a fresh CPL. Expect roughly ₹18–25 lakh and about 6 to 8 weeks.
What a type rating actually is
It is a formal course of ground school, simulator sessions and procedures training on one aircraft type, ending in a skill test. In India it is delivered by DGCA-approved Training Organisations (ATOs), and airlines may run their own airline type rating programme under DGCA's rules. It is not flying the real aircraft; the aircraft comes later, in line training.
Which types actually have scope in India
This is the part that should drive your decision, and it is checkable from the airlines' own pages rather than from a coaching centre's opinion.
| Type rating | Who flies it in India | Scope for a low-time pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 family (A320ceo/neo, A321neo, A321XLR) | IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express | Widest by a distance. India's two largest carriers both operate and are buying it in volume |
| Boeing 737 (MAX 8, MAX 8-200) | Akasa Air, Air India Express, Air India, SpiceJet | Strong second, and growing with Akasa's expansion |
| ATR 72-600 (turboprop) | IndiGo, Alliance Air, FLY91 | Smaller but real. A genuine regional entry route |
| Widebody (B787, B777, A350) | Air India; IndiGo has A350-900s on order | Not a first type rating. Reached later, by internal upgrade |
| Embraer E175 | Star Air | Very niche. One operator |
Reading the order books
Orders are the best public signal of where crews will be needed over the next decade.
- Air India states it has 570 new aircraft on order against a current fleet of about 191, spanning A320/A321neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and widebodies (A350, B787, B777).
- IndiGo's order book is a mix of A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR, now joined by 30 firm A350-900s as it enters the widebody space.
- Akasa Air is expanding on a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
- Air India Express operates a fleet of over 100 Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s.
Read together: narrowbody flying is where the seats are, and the A320 family is the single largest pool. The widebody orders matter for your career in ten years, not for your first job.
Order books shift, deliveries slip and airlines re-plan. Everything above comes from the airlines' own pages at the time of writing. Before you commit lakhs to a type, open those pages again and check who is currently hiring rated, low-time pilots on that type. Scope in 2030 does not pay your loan in 2027.
What it costs
An A320 or 737 family type rating in India commonly runs about ₹18–25 lakh, and typically takes around 6 to 8 weeks of intensive ground, simulator and procedures training. Accommodation, travel, medical revalidation and exam or check-ride re-takes can add more.
Do not fold the type rating into your CPL budget. Put it in the cost calculator as a separate line, then add a living-cost buffer for the months between the rating and a roster. Type-rating prices move with demand and provider, so treat the range above as indicative and get current written quotes.
The timing question
There are three broad situations, and they carry very different risk.
| Situation | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Airline wants you type-rated first | You self-fund the rating before or as you apply. Money out, on spec |
| Airline provides or bonds the rating | The airline trains you, usually against a service bond. Less cash up front, more lock-in |
| Cadet programme | The rating is bundled into the programme |
Paying ₹20 lakh or more for a rating does not oblige any airline to hire you. Pilots have funded a rating and then waited out a slow hiring cycle with a large loan and no income. Decide on current, verifiable hiring signals for that specific type, not on hope, and never on an agent's assurance.
Watch the pay-to-fly trap
Some arrangements ask a low-time pilot to pay for initial line flying, marketed as "line training" or pay-to-fly, in order to log turbine time. Occasionally this is a legitimate bridge. Often it is an expensive way to buy hours with weak job security at the end. Scrutinise any deal where you pay to fly revenue operations: get in writing exactly what you receive, who employs you, what happens if the operator stops flying, and whether the hours will be recognised.
Making the call
- 1
Check who is hiring on the type, right now. Are airlines actively taking rated, low-time pilots on the A320 or the 737 this cycle? Their official careers pages are the source, not a WhatsApp forward.
- 2
Follow the fleet, not the badge. The rating that opens the most doors in India is the one flown by the most aircraft, which today is the A320 family.
- 3
Compare self-funding against a bonded route. Cash up front and freedom, or less cash and a service commitment. Price both honestly, including the bond's break clause.
- 4
Keep a cash buffer for the wait. Even a good plan can involve months between rating and roster. Do not spend your last rupee on the rating itself.
Frequently asked questions
Which type rating is best in India, A320 or 737?+
The A320 family has the widest scope, because IndiGo and Air India both operate it and hold large orders for it. The 737 is a genuine second, supported by Akasa's 226-aircraft order, Air India Express and Air India. Choose on who is actually hiring rated low-time pilots when you are ready.
How much does an A320 type rating cost in India?+
Commonly around ₹18–25 lakh for an A320 or 737 family rating, plus accommodation, travel and incidentals. Prices move with demand and provider, so get current written quotes and model it in the cost calculator.
Should I do a type rating before getting a job?+
Only if airlines are currently hiring rated low-time pilots on that type, and only if you can absorb a wait. A rating is not a job guarantee. If an airline will train and bond you after selection, that usually carries less financial risk.
Can I do a Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 type rating as a fresh CPL?+
In practice, no. Widebody types are flown by experienced crews and are reached by internal upgrade within an airline. Self-funding a widebody rating as a low-time pilot is not a route to a first job.
Is an ATR type rating worth it?+
It can be. The ATR 72-600 is flown by IndiGo, Alliance Air and FLY91, so it is a smaller but real entry route into scheduled operations, and turboprop time still builds a professional record.
Key takeaways
- The realistic choice is A320 family (widest scope) or Boeing 737 (strong second).
- ATR 72 is a smaller but genuine entry route; widebodies are not a first type rating.
- Expect roughly ₹18–25 lakh and 6 to 8 weeks, plus living costs and a buffer.
- A rating is not a job guarantee. Decide on current hiring signals for that type.
- Scrutinise any pay-to-fly arrangement before you sign.
Before you move on
Type rating aside, most selection processes open with an aptitude screen. That is next: COMPASS, CASS and pilot aptitude tests.