How to become a Pilot in India | Complete guide

Do you want to become a pilot in India? In this article, we will show you the procedures and requirements to become a pilot. In India, you can either become a commercial pilot and work for airline companies or you could become pilot in IAF( Indian Air Force).

An aircraft pilot is a person who controls the flight of an airplane by operating its directional flight controls. It requires high-level technical skill and health condition to become a pilot, and to achieve that one needs to undergo a form of training after which if considered fit, is given a license to fly an aircraft.  

To begin this remarkable career, you have to be ready for excessive learning hours and you have to be financially stable except if you choose the Indian military path.

There are more than 30 aviation schools in India. While choosing flying institute you need to make sure it is officially approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation shortly known as DGCA.

Important Duties of a Pilot

Airline pilot is a prestigious but high-risk profession that demands physical strength and mental intelligence. They pass through sleepless nights, jetlag and other pressure related to passenger safety. These are some important duties of a pilot:

1. The pilot of an aircraft is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft and the safety of crew and passengers.
   
   
2. Pilot collects all the information regarding route, weather, passengers before every flight.
   
   
3. Ensure fuel supply is adequate, weather conditions are acceptable, and also submit the flight plans to air traffic control.
   
   
4. Monitor engines, fuel consumption, and other aircraft systems during flight and respond to any changes in weather or other events, such as engine failure.
   
   
5. Navigate the aircraft by using cockpit instruments and visual references.
   

Prerequisites for a commercial pilot

Educational Qualification

The minimum educational qualification to get a Pilot license is 10+2 or equivalent with 50% marks in Physics and Maths. Candidate should also have passed in English language at 10+2 level.
Non-science students can apply to the National Institute of Open schools(https://www.nios.ac.in/) to meet the educational requirement.

Age

To qualify for a commercial pilot license, applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Medical Fitness

Class II Medical certificate is required when you apply for the admission.
Your vision in one eye must be perfect(6/6). In the other eye, you could have an imperfection of 6/9, which must be correctable to 6/6.

Class I Medical Fitness, approved by D.G.C.A. recognized Doctor is mandatory when you apply for the pilot license.

As per DGCA Medical Standard, the students are required to undergo their medical examination at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore or Central Medical Establishment, New Delhi.

Fees

Becoming an airline pilot requires a lot of hard work and quite a lot of money. Total fees depend on the institute you choose. But, it surely cost you anywhere between 25 lakh to 40 lakh.

How to apply

The very first step is to find a flight school that suits your needs. After choosing the institution you can apply through their official website directly, by filling out a simple application form. you’ll probably be asked for a copy of a government-issued identification card like a passport, driver’s license or ID card. There is often an application fee for flight schools.

Some flying institutes also conduct entrance test to select the right candidates. The overall selection process includes a written test, a pilot aptitude test, and an interview.

Commercial Pilot course details

Pilot Training comprises of two parts. Ground Training and Flying Training!

Ground Training covers the theory subjects of Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Technical Subjects and RTR(A). (The detailed syllabus is mentioned in the Curriculum link above) These subjects are to be studied and the exams of the same conducted by DGCA are to be passed by the CPL candidates.

The Flying Training: The Candidate has to complete 200 Hours (Two hundred hours) of flight time for obtaining the Commercial Pilot’s License.

Average Salary of a Pilot

Before you can become a captain or first officer, you will have to work as co-pilot for several years. Only experienced pilots can receive a higher job position. Because companies make sure that their passengers are in the safe hands of a well-trained captain with many years of professional flights experience.

The average pay for an Airline Pilot, Copilot, Or Flight Engineer is Rs 1,800,000 per year. (Payscale.com)

Average commercial pilot salary is Rs 2,369,332 per year (payscale.com)

Apart from salary commercial pilots also get a range of benefits and allowances like housing, medical and out-station allowances, as well as free/concessional air passages for their immediate family members.

List of DGCA approved Flying Institute