India 2nd country in world after China to launch EPL for pilots
Person in News
3 min read
India has become the second country in the world after China to launch an Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots in the civil aviation sector.
The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, K Rammohan Naidu, formally launched the EPL for pilots on 20 February 2025 at the Udaan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Udaan Bhawan is an integrated office complex situated at the Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. The Bhawan houses the various civil aviation regulatory bodies- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) - of the country.
The introduction of the EPL for Pilot is part of the central government’s Digital India initiative and effort to promote the Ease of Doing Business in the country.
Features of the EPL
The EPL for pilots was introduced based on the recommendation and format of the global civil aviation body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
- The main aim of the EPL is to enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of the civil aviation licensing system.
- The EPL is a digital version of the personal license issued to civil aviation pilots in the country.
- It will replace the existing smart card-based licence issued to the pilots by the government.
- The pilots will be issued licences on self-contained mobile electronic visual display devices.
- The EPL licenses will be securely accessible through the ministry's eGCA Mobile Application.
- The existing physical smart card-based licence will be gradually phased out with the EPL licenses.
About the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was founded after the conclusion of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago, the United States of America, in 1944.
The ICAO formally came into existence on 4 April 1947.
The ICAO was later made a specialised agency of the United Nations.
The ICAO is the global body that works to develop a sound and economically viable global civil aviation system, improve the efficiency of the global civil aviation system, and enhance its safety.
Members:193 countries
Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
