Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check

IndiGo pilot assessment

Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD

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After the December 2025 FDTL meltdown exposed a pilot shortfall, IndiGo is rebuilding crew numbers under new CEO Willie Walsh: A320 and ATR captains, rated FOs/SFOs and cadets through nine partner academies are all in demand, while foreign pilots can only join as FATA captains.

Hiring A320/ATR captains, rated FO/SFOs and cadet JFOs; expat captains via FATA only (Oct 2026)

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IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation, was founded by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal and flew its first service on 4 August 2006. Built on a single-type, low-cost A320 model with the promise of on-time, low-fare and hassle-free travel, it became India's largest airline within about six years. For a candidate, IndiGo is now a giant: about 432 aircraft, over 2,200 daily flights, more than 60% of the domestic market and around 5,800-6,000 pilots.

Key facts

Fleet	432 aircraft at 30 Jun 2026: 26 A320ceo, 174 A320neo, 175 A321neo, 3 A321XLR, 44 ATR 72-600, 3 A321 freighters, 7 damp-leased (6 Norse 787-9, 1 A321); 4th XLR delivered and 787s returned by 31 Oct 2026
Orders	Backlog of roughly 900+ Airbus aircraft: A320neo family incl. about 40 A321XLR, plus 60 firm A350-900 (deliveries guided from 2028)
Bases	Main pilot bases DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, MAA, CCU; further crew points reported at AMD, PNQ, COK, LKO, JAI; HQ Gurugram
Pilots	5,786 at 31 Mar 2026 (330 added in FY26); over 6,000 reported Aug 2026; ~970 women; ~29 FATA foreign pilots
Hiring 2026	Post-crisis catch-up: ~1,000 extra pilots needed for FDTL compliance (reported); captain, FO, SFO and ATR postings live Sept-Oct 2026
Entry routes	Cadet programme (0 h, self-funded) to JFO; licensed JFO; rated FO/SFO; DE Captain (Indian ATPL); expat Captain via FATA

Entry routes and requirements

IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme (with partner academies)

Ab initio, 0 h; self-sponsored, ends with an LOI and A320 Junior First Officer role

Age 18+ (Skyborne route: 18-40 on the selection day); 10+2 with Physics, Mathematics and English (Skyborne: 51%+ in each)
DGCA Class 2 medical to attend selection; DGCA Class 1 before flight training (Skyborne also needs FAA Class 1); BMI certificate reported
English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent on the Skyborne route; fluent spoken English at all academies
Passport and visa eligibility for overseas flying phases; Indian nationality/OCI implied by DGCA licence route

Junior First Officer A320 (licensed, non-rated or self-rated)

Indian DGCA CPL holders with an A320 endorsement

Indian national; age 18-40
DGCA CPL with A320 endorsement; current COP/RTR, FRTO and DGCA Class 1 medical
Multi-engine endorsement with at least 25 h ME (15 h on aircraft, up to 10 h in a simulator)
Accident- and incident-free record

Type-rated First Officer / Senior First Officer A320

Line-released A320-family pilots (advertised Sept-Oct 2026)

FO: DGCA CPL with A320 endorsement, FRTO, RTR, Class 1; 200 h as line-released A320 FO; max age 45
SFO: DGCA ATPL; 200 h line-released A320 FO; max age 55
SFO (military/commercial background): ATPL, ME endorsement, 500 h on aircraft over 5,700 kg; max age 52
DGCA licences required: in practice Indian nationals or licence holders

Trainee Pilot / FO / SFO ATR 72-600

Indian CPL holders for the regional turboprop fleet

Trainee: Indian national, CPL with ATR 72 endorsement, COP/RTR, FRTO, Class 1; max age 37 (40 with 1,000+ h)
FO/SFO: line-released ATR FO; SFO ATPL or 1,500 h; max age 45/55

Captain A320 / ATR (direct entry, Indian licence)

Experienced commanders

A320: ATPL with A320 PIC endorsement, 3,000 h incl. 100 h PIC after line release; max age 62
From another scheduled operator: ATPL, 3,000 h incl. 500 h jet PIC or 1,000 h turboprop PIC (>5,700 kg); max age 55
ATR: ATPL, type-rated ATR PIC, 2,000 h; or 2,500 h incl. 500 h PIC >5,700 kg; max age 62

The selection process, step by step

Online applicationonline (IndiGo careers or academy portal)
Application with licence, logbook and medical; documents are checked against eGCA (DGCA's online licensing system) records (reported).
Written knowledge testin person / computer-based
JFO/cadet: aviation knowledge test based on the DGCA CPL syllabus (air regulations, navigation, meteorology, technical). DE rated pilots report an A320 technical and performance test.
Aptitude / psychometric assessmentcomputer-based at an assessment centre (e.g. CAE Gurugram)
CAE Aircrew Selection System (CASS) / ADAPT-type battery for cadets and JFOs: reasoning, spatial, multitasking, hand-eye coordination and a personality questionnaire.
Group activity (cadet / JFO)in person
Group discussion or task run by IndiGo assessors; failure at CAE means a 6-month wait (permanent bar after a second fail).
Personal / panel interviewin person at IndiGo HQ, Gurugram (or virtual)
HR and flight operations panel covering motivation, IndiGo knowledge, behaviour and, for DE, technical questions.
Simulator assessment (rated FO / SFO / Captain, reported)A320 or ATR FFS
Standard-operations check: take-off, engine failure, single-engine ILS, go-around and raw-data flying; captains also assessed on command and decision making.
Medical, background and onboardingin person
DGCA Class 1 medical currency, background verification and, for expatriates, FATA processing with security clearance before line flying.

Aptitude and psychometric tests

DGCA syllabus knowledge test
aptitude/psychomotor
numerical and spatial reasoning
personality questionnaire
English (Skyborne)
A320 technical (DE, reported)

CAE Aircrew Selection System (CASS) / ADAPT for cadet and JFO selections (official at CAE) · Academy-run aptitude tests at Skyborne, Chimes and Insight

Group exercise

Yes for cadets and JFOs (official at CAE and Skyborne); not reported for type-rated DE.

The interview

Personal interview with IndiGo panel (HR and flight operations); DE adds technical questions

motivation for IndiGo
on-time and SOP discipline
teamwork and CRM
fatigue and safety culture

Typical questions to prepare

Tell us about yourself.
Why IndiGo?
What happened in December 2025?
How do you manage fatigue?
What do you know about our fleet and orders?
Who leads IndiGo?

The simulator assessment

Device	A320 Level D FFS (ATR 72-600 FFS for ATR roles)
Where	CAE training centres in India (Gurugram/Delhi NCR, Bengaluru), as reported
Typical profile	Reported: take-off with engine failure, single-engine approach, go-around, raw-data ILS and a non-precision approach

Language and after selection

Fluent English; ICAO English Level 4+ required for expatriate captains; IELTS 5.5 for the Skyborne cadet route.

Cadets: CPL and A320 type rating then JFO with an LOI. DE: IndiGo induction and line training; bases across India (DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, MAA, CCU and others).

Common reasons candidates fail

Licence, medical or logbook details that do not match eGCA records
Weak knowledge of DGCA regulations (FDTL, alcohol policy, licensing)
Poor A320 SOP and callout discipline in the sim
Vague or defensive answers about the December 2025 disruption and fatigue
Low CASS/ADAPT scores in multitasking or spatial tests (cadets)

Get the complete IndiGo Assessment Guide

195 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Airbus A320neo · A321neo · A321XLR · ATR 72-600 systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.

Look inside the guide

Status: Preview · current to October 2026 · not on sale yet · join the waiting list

About this guide

Format: PDF (bookmarked, iPad-optimised)
Language: English
Edition: Ed 2026 · Revision 1.0
Current to: October 2026
Pages: 195
Status: Preview · not on sale yet
Licence: Personal, single user · see licence terms
Updates: Update policy to be announced before sales open
Simulator stage: Covered as reported by candidates and public sources

Independent publication. Facts in this overview are labelled “reported” when they come from candidate reports rather than official sources — see the editorial standards. Notify me about this guide · See it in the catalogue

Practice questions: company knowledge

Interview practice drawn from public sources; the answers are not an FAQ about the guide.

When did IndiGo operate its first flight?

4 August 2006, Delhi-Guwahati-Imphal.

Who founded IndiGo?

Rahul Bhatia (InterGlobe Enterprises) and Rakesh Gangwal.

What are IndiGo's codes?

IATA 6E, ICAO IGO, callsign IFLY.

What is the name of IndiGo's listed parent company?

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd.

Where is IndiGo headquartered?

Gurugram, Haryana.

Who is IndiGo's CEO?

Willie Walsh, since 3 August 2026.

Preparation guides

Pilot Aptitude Tests: What They Measure and How to Practise Pilot Assessment Guide: How Airline Selection Works and How to Prepare Pilot Group Exercise: How to Show Real Crew Behaviour Pilot Interview Questions: How to Prepare Competency and Technical Answers Pilot Personality Questionnaire: Honesty, Consistency and Crew Fit Pilot Simulator Assessment: What to Expect and How to Prepare Pilot Technical Interview: Key Topics and How to Explain Them

Other airline assessments

Main sources

https://www.goindigo.in/careers/departments/flightoperations.html
https://skyborne.com/in/indigo-programme/
https://airmappr.com/articles/career/indigo-cadet-pilot-programme
https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/job/indigo-non-rated-first-officers/
https://afm.aero/thepilotin-targets-indias-competitive-airline-pilot-recruitment-market-with-new-indigo-jfo-prep-course-in-2026

SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with IndiGo. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.