NEW DELHI: Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu will Thursday launch Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) “electronic personnel license (EPL) for pilots, making India the second country in the world to implement EPL for flight crew, according to the regulator. Digitising pilot licences will do away with the need of getting the same endorsed/renewed time and again by physically applying with the regulator.
“Every time a pilot license is endorsed, say with a type rating, or the same is renewed, this will reflect in real time on the eGCA platform (e platform of DGCA). Pilots can simply carry their licences on their phones and show it anywhere in the world as the same is accepted across countries. Implementing EPL for flight crew is in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (178th amendment to ICAO Annex 1),” said sources.

E-licences are linked to ICAO’s job aid, whose purpose “is to provide necessary information to civil aviation safety inspectors while verifying an EPL of a pilot issued by the issuing authority during a ramp inspection.” It enables EPL offline verification during such checks. ICAO is the United Nations’ specialised agency for aviation.
The launch will be done by Naidu here on Thursday in the presence of MoS Murlidhar Mohol, aviation secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam and DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.

“With the launch of EPL, we take a significant step forward in modernising and enhancing the safety, security, and efficiency of civil aviation in India… Implementation of EPL by DGCA aligns with Govt’s Ease of Doing Business and Digital India Initiative The adoption of EPL cements India’s position as a leader in aviation innovation. India has not only addressed the needs of its own aviation sector but has also set an example for other nations to follow. This bold step aligns with ICAO’s roadmap for modern aviation governance and reflects the nation’s readiness to embrace the future,” the DGCA says.