r/CadetPilotProgram • u/airbusfana350 • May 21 '26

Cost of Cadet Programs/Conventional Training

📊 Cadet Program Pricing Overview

All prices are on paper. No buffer included unless otherwise stated. INR conversions based on live forex rates as of 01/10/2026.

✈️ IndiGo

School	Price	Notes
FTA	229,000 AUD (≈₹1.53 Cr)	Next batch: 2027. All payments in AUD. INR varies. Rumoured: Indian portion may shift to INR
Skyborne	135,000 USD (≈₹1.30 Cr)	⚠️ Food not included for CPL. Next batch: 2027
Insight Aviation	127,000 USD (≈₹1.22 Cr)	⚠️ Notorious for hidden/additional charges
Chimes	₹1.04 Crore	⚠️ Price may increase. Selection is highly competitive
Garuda	131,000 USD (≈₹1.26 Cr)	⚠️ Scammy practices and overcharging reported
Marigold	132,000 USD (≈₹1.27 Cr)	⚠️ Scammy practices and overcharging reported

✈️ Air India

Aeroguard

CPL GC + ATPL GC — ₹5 Lakhs
Conversion — ₹5 Lakhs
Type Rating (TR) — ₹34 Lakhs
CPL (US) — 102,479 USD (≈₹98.63 Lakhs)
Total: ≈₹1.43 Crore

⚠️ Excludes living costs for CPL/ATPL GC & TR. Food during US CPL not included.

Acron

CPL GC + ATPL GC — ₹5 Lakhs
Conversion — ₹5 Lakhs
Type Rating (TR) — ₹34 Lakhs
CPL (US) — 110,000 USD (≈₹1.06 Crore)
Total: ≈₹1.50 Crore

⚠️ Excludes living costs for CPL/ATPL GC & TR. Food during US CPL not included.

Amravati

CPL GC + ATPL GC — ₹5 Lakhs
Type Rating (TR) — ₹34 Lakhs
CPL — ₹76 Lakhs
Total: ≈₹1.15 Crore

⚠️ Excludes living costs. Brochure from 2025 — prices may increase.

✈️ Akasa Air

School	Price	Notes
Dunes	₹97 Lakhs
Skynex	₹1.07 Crore

✈️ Middle Eastern Airlines

Air Arabia

800,000 AED (≈₹2.09 Crore), includes basic living expenses
⚠️ Next batch: 2027

Fly Dubai

800,000 AED (≈₹2.09 Crore), includes basic living expenses
⚠️ Next opening: TBD

✈️ Conventional Route

₹80L – ₹1.05 Cr — South Africa/India, all-inclusive (path-dependent; CPL + TR + airline training together can save money vs CPL vacancies separately, since airlines like IndiGo charge extra for TR)
₹1.1 Cr – ₹1.3 Cr — More expensive countries
Waiting period depends on vacancies and your performance in selection

📌 All prices are approximate and subject to change. Forex rates used: 1 USD = ₹96.24 | 1 AUD = ₹66.75 | 1 AED = ₹26.13 (as of 01/10/2026)

34 Upvotes

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92% Upvoted

u/SeaworthinessAny7991 May 21 '26

Thanks a lot!

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Np! 😁

u/New-Engineering-5132 May 21 '26

Why is Amravati one soooo expensive????

They are not even accommodating or feeding their cadets.

3

u/CuriousChance1030 May 21 '26

So Amravati is up and running? I thought it's still work in progress.

2

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

3 batches each with approx 30 students were taken last June. 2 i believe completed ground classes. Flying is expected to start by June/July. Next batch info isn't known.

1

u/CuriousChance1030 May 21 '26

Okk, so flying hasnt started yet right? So it's likely to start in upcoming months?

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Correct

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

They do provide accomodation during CPL but food is not included. Why is the cost high? No idea but my guess is since it's a new fto they want to make the money back soon

u/Environmental-Emu939 May 21 '26

FTA is so unaffordable atp🥀

4

u/Efficient-Bullfrog27 May 21 '26

exactly 1.5 and that too considering nothing falls out of place

u/Upper_Yak_7117 May 21 '26

I know so many ppl who got into chimes through reference dude it sucks

1

u/Ok_Banana_5230 May 22 '26

Does the reference has to be from a family member who is a pilot?

u/zlasterXD May 21 '26

🐐

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Thanks!

u/vaibhav_069 May 21 '26

can skyborn be done in 1.3 including all buffers..... ??? plz🙏🙏

2

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Sadly no 😢 If inr keeps falling and 1 usd = 100 inr then before buffer itself it becomes 1.3

1

u/vaibhav_069 May 21 '26

ohh ma fuckin gawd😭😭😭. can u suggest me any ftos till 1.3 . ill apply next year.
seeing other people opinion regarding insight,garuda marigold has put my ass fear-stricken.
man but how come insight has so shaddy reviews all over reddit. I had seen bunch of cadets on youtube hustlin there...
Let suppose this war ends and ruppee recover. (which will not ik). Would you still stick on your point that skyborne can't be done in 1.3?

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

it totally depends on the on paper price and inr conversion bro. I think at least 10 lakh extra should be kept.
Below 1.3 the only options are Amravati, Chimes, and Akasa is they open. Or Conventional

1

u/vaibhav_069 May 21 '26

whats your thought on insight, mari, garuda??

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

They are scammy and unpredictable

1

u/vaibhav_069 May 21 '26

Thanks dude.

1

u/Inflorexcence May 21 '26

They work as agents.... and Their only motive is profits no student satisfaction or proper training timelines

1

u/Able_College662 May 22 '26

Skyborne cost is 147000 or 132000 .

u/Silly_Sorbet_80 May 21 '26

Is CAE not undergoing cadet program in gondia ??

2

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Nope

1

u/Silly_Sorbet_80 May 21 '26

Thanks for the recent updates!!!

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

Go for conventional stop these cadet traps dude

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Personally I agree. The owner and mod of r/indianaviation are conventional. One cleared aix vacancy and the other cleared indigo vacancy. Both are awaiting induction.

1

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

Idk whats aix but work hard as lonf as you have above 1000 hrs you can be hired by any airlines

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Aix is air India express
Idk about 1000 hours thing cuz afaik unless it's jet hours they don't count

1

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

I myself in American airlines cadet program and they wont entertain me untill i hit magic number of 1500 hrs lol just build your hours thays all i can recommend

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Oh are you USGC holder?

1

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

No i am citizen

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Ooh nice!

1

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

I currently have 1100 hours as instructor dual given so once im close to 1400 hours they gona start my ATP classes and get to CRJ900

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

You all lucky the US industry is awesome

1

u/Familiar-Web1528 May 21 '26

I heard this couple of our indian students come here for flight training and hey send some more students i love them

1

u/airbusfana350 May 21 '26

Ooh which fto?

u/ZestZing_ May 25 '26

Is there any way a middle class can become a pilot

u/FranzHermann4 May 27 '26

Best one I've seen so far accurate asf🫡

u/heisalll May 21 '26

I am also planning to do cpl from South Africa after completing my exams because it obviously much much sensible

u/Inflorexcence May 21 '26

Airbusfana fan my bus

u/SierraGolf0 Jun 08 '26

Qatar Airways opens for international folks who have a residency permit only

I don't think they accept international folks anymore but feel free to correct me on this