On this page
- India, domestic
- ₹10 to 15 lakh
- Overseas programme
- ₹15 to 25 lakh
- Simulator hours included
- 32 to 40 hrs, Level D
- GST
- 18%, often billed separately
The headline range
A Boeing 737 type rating in India typically costs somewhere between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh, with the widest published range extending up to roughly ₹25 lakh for overseas programmes. That is a wide band, and the width is real, not a hedge: the specific number depends heavily on where you train, the aircraft variant, and exactly what the quote includes.
What the fee typically includes
| Component | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Ground school & CBT | Systems, performance and procedures classroom and computer-based training |
| Simulator training | 32 to 40 hours in a Level D full flight simulator |
| Skill test | The check ride with a DGCA-approved examiner |
| Base training | Often quoted separately: roughly 6 takeoffs and landings in the real aircraft |
| DGCA documentation | Licence endorsement and administrative charges, sometimes separate |
Always ask explicitly whether base training and DGCA endorsement charges are included in the headline figure or billed on top. This single question explains more of the price gap between two providers than anything else.
Hidden and separately billed costs
- Accommodation near the training centre for the several weeks of ground school and simulator sessions, if you are not local to it.
- An aviation headset, if you do not already own one.
- GST at 18% on the training fee, which some quotes state inclusive and others do not.
- MCC or CRM training, if it is not bundled into the type rating package you are quoted.
Domestic vs overseas training
Training at a DGCA-approved centre in India typically runs ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh. Training overseas, commonly in Europe or Southeast Asia, on a curriculum built to be DGCA-recognisable, typically runs ₹15 lakh to ₹25 lakh once travel and stay are folded in. The overseas premium sometimes buys faster slot availability or a specific simulator variant, not a better outcome on its own; weigh it against how urgently you need the rating.
What actually moves the price
- Aircraft variant. NG and MAX ratings are not always priced identically, and the two are not automatically interchangeable credit for credit.
- Simulator type. A Level D full-flight simulator costs more to run than a fixed-base device, and the difference shows up in the fee.
- Bundling. Whether MCC, CRM, base training and DGCA fees are bundled in or billed as extras changes the comparable price more than the headline number does.
- Location and demand. Slot availability at a given centre and season affects price the same way it affects any training capacity market.
Does the airline ever pay?
Sometimes, through a sponsored cadet programme, or more commonly through a bond, where the airline advances or arranges the cost and the pilot repays it through a minimum period of service. It is not the default outcome for every new hire, and terms vary by airline and change over time. The full guide on airline-funded type ratings works through sponsored, bonded and self-funded arrangements across A320, B737 and ATR in detail.
How to compare two quotes properly
- Ask for the number of simulator hours included, not just a headline "type rating" price.
- Confirm whether base training is included or separate, and if separate, get that figure too.
- Confirm whether GST is included in the quoted number.
- Ask whether MCC and CRM are bundled, and if not, add their separate cost before comparing.
- Add accommodation for the full programme length if you are not training locally.
Two quotes that look ₹3 to 4 lakh apart on paper are sometimes identical once every one of these is accounted for the same way on both sides.
FAQ
How much does a 737 type rating cost in India in 2026?
What does the fee actually include?
What hidden costs catch people out?
Is training in India cheaper than overseas?
Does the airline ever cover this cost?
We build the B737 systems course and question bank these guides link to. Corrections welcome and credited.
Sources & references
- Published fee structures from multiple DGCA-approved and overseas training organisations
- Industry cost guides for Boeing 737 type rating training in India
Training fees are set independently by each provider and change over time. Confirm the current quote and full inclusions directly with any provider before committing. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.