Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology

What Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology does

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RAGAAT) is a Government of Kerala-owned aviation training institution headquartered inside the Trivandrum International Airport compound in Thiruvananthapuram, with partial training operations at Kannur Airport. Established in 1959 as the Kerala Flying Club, it was renamed Kerala Aviation Training Centre in 1980, brought under direct Government of Kerala control in 1982, and rebranded as RAGAAT in 2006 when it was converted from a company to a registered society. It is the only Flying Training Organization (FTO) under the Government of Kerala and holds approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

The academy's core offering is a Commercial Pilot License (CPL/IR/ME) program comprising 500 hours of DGCA-compliant ground school and a minimum of 200 hours of flight training (185 hours on Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft and 15 hours on the Piper Seneca PA-34 multi-engine aircraft), plus instrument simulator time, solo cross-country hours, and instrument flying in aircraft. Supporting products include a standalone Instrument Rating, a Multi-Engine Rating on the PA-34, Foreign License Conversion training to Indian DGCA standards, and an On-Job Training module for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering graduates. Training infrastructure consists of four single-engine aircraft, one multi-engine Piper Seneca PA-34, a flight simulator, and a fully equipped aircraft maintenance hangar.

RAGAAT operates a direct-to-consumer, fee-based model: prospective students apply directly through the academy's website against published public notifications (e.g., 2026 CPL cycle), with standardized admissions requiring 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, a minimum age of 17, and DGCA Class 1 Medical fitness. The academy runs separate, dedicated batches for Ground Classes and CPL flight training in strict accordance with DGCA regulations, with capacity capped at 25-40 students per intake. Pricing for the CPL 2026 course is published as a downloadable PDF (specific amounts not publicly displayed), and the program runs 2-3 years. Marketing and admissions are conducted primarily through the academy's official website and public notifications, with no evidence of paid advertising or third-party distribution channels. Governance is provided by a Board of Governors chaired by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala, with an Executive Vice Chairman acting as the DGCA Accountable Manager for daily operations.

Name

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology

Legal name

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology

Website

https://rajivgandhiacademyforaviationtechnology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology is a Government of Kerala-owned, DGCA-approved Flying Training Organization in Thiruvananthapuram offering Commercial Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, and Foreign License Conversion training to aspiring commercial pilots.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Pilot Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Commercial pilot training
• Flight training academy
• DGCA approved FTO
• Multi-engine rating
• Instrument rating

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Training Fees: Fee-based training programs for aspiring commercial pilots. The academy charges course fees for CPL training which includes ground school, flight training, and examination preparation. Fee structure documents are published on the website for specific courses.
2. Multi-Engine Rating Training: Separate training program for multi-engine rating on Piper Seneca PA-34 aircraft.
3. Instrument Rating Training: Dedicated instrument rating training program for pilots seeking enhanced flight capabilities under instrument flight rules.
4. Foreign License Conversion: Training program for converting foreign pilot licenses to Indian DGCA-issued licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology is a DGCA-approved Flying Training Organization that delivers Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training with Instrument Rating (IR) and Multi-Engine (ME) endorsement, Foreign License Conversion to DGCA-compliant Indian licenses, and On-Job Training for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering graduates. Training combines 500 hours of ground school with a minimum of 200 hours of flight training conducted on single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft and multi-engine Piper Seneca PA-34 aircraft, supplemented by simulator sessions.

Product overview

Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology is a Government of Kerala institution offering a unified aviation pilot training program. The academy's primary offering is the Commercial Pilot License (CPL/IR/ME) program, which combines ground school instruction with flight training using single-engine Cessna 172 and multi-engine Piper Seneca PA-34 aircraft, plus flight simulation. Additional offerings include Foreign License Conversion, Instrument Rating, and Multi Engine Rating courses. Training is conducted at Trivandrum International Airport with supplementary operations at Kannur Airport. The academy also provides On Job Training for aircraft maintenance and aeronautical engineering graduates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Pilot License (CPL/IR/ME)
• Instrument Rating
• Multi-Engine Rating
• Foreign License Conversion
• On-Job Training

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Flying Training Institute (NFTI): Joint venture between Air India and Boeing located in Gondia, Maharashtra. Directly comparable as a DGCA-approved FTO offering integrated CPL training with a defined fleet and curriculum, targeting the same aspiring-commercial-pilot segment as RAGAAT.
• Bombay Flying Club: One of India's oldest flying clubs (est. 1928), offering pilot training and aircraft maintenance courses from Mumbai. Comparable to RAGAAT as a heritage Indian flying training institution delivering DGCA-approved pilot programs with a similar legacy operating model.
• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA): India's premier central-government Flying Training Organization, offering integrated CPL, IR, and ME training at Rae Bareli. Directly comparable to RAGAAT as another DGCA-approved government-run FTO delivering commercial pilot training on a similar curriculum structure.
• Madhya Pradesh Flying Club: State-government-affiliated flying club offering pilot training in central India. Comparable to RAGAAT as a regionally-rooted, government-supported Indian FTO targeting the same aspirant-commercial-pilot segment with a similar DGCA-aligned curriculum.

Emerging players

• Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC): Indian DGCA-approved flight training organization offering simulator-based and aircraft-based pilot training. Comparable to RAGAAT in targeting aspiring commercial pilots in India but with a stronger emphasis on simulator-supported training and newer infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training leader operating full-flight simulators and pilot training programs worldwide, including an expanding footprint in India. Comparable to RAGAAT in the broader pilot-training services category but at vastly larger scale and with a focus on type-rating and simulator-based training.

Regional players

• Pawan Hans Helicopters Training: Government of India enterprise offering helicopter pilot training programs in India. Tangentially comparable to RAGAAT as another state/public-sector aviation training provider in India, though focused on rotary-wing rather than fixed-wing commercial pilot training.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rajiv-gandhi-aviation-academy---india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology