What happened
Skyborne Airline Academy has announced that 48 cadets have signed Letters of Intent (LOIs) to join the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program, its largest reported single intake, according to AFM on 12 October 2026. AFM previously reported that Skyborne welcomed 41 IndiGo cadets in October 2025.
Skyborne and IndiGo have worked together since 2019. In March 2024 they signed a five-year extension providing for up to 100 selected cadets a year.
How the route works
Under the published training structure:
- Three months of DGCA ground school in Delhi.
- About 12 months of flight training at Skyborne's Vero Beach, Florida academy.
- A two-month DGCA licence conversion phase back in India.
- Three months of combined Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) and Airbus A320 type rating training with an IndiGo-approved provider.
Where it leads
The programme offers a pathway towards joining IndiGo as an A320 Junior First Officer, subject to completing training and meeting the airline's requirements.
What this means if you're training
This is a good example of how many airline schemes now work: you learn to fly in one country and convert your licence for the country where you'll be employed. The conversion step adds time, so when you add up how long a route takes, include it.
It also shows that an LOI is conditional. It is a pathway, not a guaranteed job, so read the terms carefully before committing to any tied programme.
Sources
AFM, "Skyborne Announces Largest IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program Intake with 48 LOI Signings", 12 October 2026: https://afm.aero/skyborne-announces-largest-indigo-cadet-pilot-program-intake-with-48-loi-signings