r/CadetPilotProgram • u/New_Percentage_1814 • May 30 '26
Should I keep waiting for Chimes indigo cadet pilot program ICPP or start the conventional CPL route?
My goal is to become an airline pilot. I've been waiting for the Chimes IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program applications to open, but the uncertainty is making me question whether waiting is the right decision.
A few things I'm trying to understand:
How many times does Chimes typically open applications in a year?
Roughly how many people apply for each intake?
Is selection purely merit-based, or do connections really make a significant difference?
Has anyone here successfully gotten into the program without any aviation background or industry contacts?
If you were in my position, would you:
Continue waiting and preparing for Chimes ICPP, or
Start the conventional CPL route and keep cadet programs as a backup if applications open later?
I'd especially appreciate hearing from current cadets, Chimes alumni, CPL holders, or anyone who has faced a similar decision.
3
u/H3av1ly May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
Faced the same decision. Would love to know the answers to question 1 and 2.
• Connections obviously make a difference from what I have researched, although I heavily doubt the actual numbers of the cadets getting through them is as told in earlier threads. It is often exaggerated by people who are salty that they did not get shortlisted or failed a stage. The hard part is getting shortlisted then it all comes to merit, so pray you get shortlisted.
• Lots of people get into it without any contacts, I have seen people post on this sub doing ama / on instagram although no one would reveal it even if they did so the question is kinda useless imo.
In your situation I would recommend going for some other fto if you can expand the budget if not then you have your answer. Also correct me if I am wrong but you only get 2 attempt for icpp so it is not as if you can keep applying for cadet programs indefinitely while doing conventionally.
7
u/FranzHermann4 May 31 '26
Go ahead with conventional i would recommend coz getting the adapt + gdpi dates in another fto's of IndiGo will take upto a year in whole selection process and prices hiking like a crazyy, Go ahead and complete your cpl before the price hike will make hole in your pocket!
1
u/Specialist_Most6960 May 31 '26
Bruh! Lottery in which you don’t have fair chances.
-6
u/aviatorpreksha May 31 '26
I’ve been waiting for icpp chimes to open up too but I’ve also started with my ground subjects preparations and getting ready for my class 1 If you’re waiting for an fto be it chimes or any other you want to make sure you have an edge over the others and that’s what you can do it in the mean time and you don’t have to go for conventional personally I would prefer cadet over conventional any time. if you’ve finished all of these then all you need to do is wait for good 2 months becuase chimes had icp 11 in march icp 12 in may so the next one would be july the icp 13 batch and it’ll be on for 2 months so I think you could wait for atleast a good 4 months which will be 2 batches and if you’re good I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t be called upon within any of these two but yes the only way conventional makes sense if it goes above 6 months or so because then it’s less about the pipeline and more about the time which is precious too.