India needs 20,000 pilots, says Union Minister Rammohan Naidu
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, K Rammohan Naidu, on Thursday launched the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots, a ground-breaking initiative set to modernize and enhance the safety, security and efficiency of India’s civil aviation sector.
With this advancement, India becomes the second country globally to implement this advanced system, following approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The EPL is a digital version of a personnel license that will replace traditional physical licenses for pilots. It will be securely accessible via the eGCA Mobile Application, ensuring a seamless and transparent process in alignment with the Central government “Ease of Doing Business” and “Digital India” initiatives.
The introduction of EPL follows ICAO’s Amendment 178 to Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing, which encourages member States to adopt electronic licenses for improved security and efficiency. While major global aviation leaders, are still in the process of implementing similar systems, India has successfully taken the lead in digital aviation solutions.
The Union Minister remarked, “With the unprecedented growth of India’s aviation sector, we will need approximately 20,000 pilots in the near future. Pilots are the backbone of civil aviation, and with eGCA and EPL, we are leveraging innovative, tech-driven solutions to enhance their comfort and employability globally, while providing real-time access to their credentials to support security operations.”
Prior to this implementation, DGCA was issuing licenses to the pilots in the smart card format and had issued 62000 card licenses till date. The total licenses issued in the year 2024 requiring printed cards stand at approximately 20,000 which is average of 1,667 cards per month. With the launch of EPL, the need for printed cards will be reduced in a phased manner, significantly streamlining the licensing process. Additionally, this shift will have a positive impact on environmental sustainability by reducing paper and plastic usage.
The Minister also highlighted other transformative initiatives for reshaping Indian aviation through digital innovation and making operations more efficient. Key advancements include the eGCA platform for streamlined licensing, the Digital Sky Platform for drones, and the Electronic Flight Folder (EFF) for airline operations.
The introduction of the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots represents a significant milestone in establishing a globally recognized regulatory framework. It strengthens India’s position as a global leader in aviation innovation and ensuring a more robust and tamper-proof licensing system.
