Pilot as a Career
Do you dream of getting into aviation sector? Is flying across the world in the skies a dream job to you? It is said that Flying an airplane isn’t difficult but becoming a pilot takes courage. Pilot has always been considered as one of the thrilling and rewarding career. But very few students are able to convert their dream into reality considering the competition and toughness of exams.
In India, a student can become a pilot by two ways:
1. Commercial Pilot
2. Armed Forces pilot (Indian Airforce)
• Commercial Pilot
Trained and licensed pilots responsible for transporting people and goods from one place to another. They usually work with commercial airlines or private airplanes. To get CPL a student has to undergo two courses
The basic requirement to become a pilot is that the student should have studied physics and mathematics and scored minimum 50% marks in their 10+2 or other equivalent exam.
Students Pilot License (SPL)
Students can apply for SPL at the age of 16 years. It’s a 6 months course and a pre-requisite for CPL.
A student must have passed 10th exam from a recognized board.
He should be medically fit as per the DGCA criteria.
Students can apply for SPL in any of the DGCA approved flying schools in India and undergo a written and oral entrance exam.
On clearing the exam you are eligible for SPL and also to study the course.
No flying experience is required for SPL.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
Students can apply for CPL after 12th or SPL. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with 50% marks is compulsory to join any DGCA approved flying school.
For CPL, the flying schools conduct a written exam for English, Physics and Mathematics.
An aptitude test related to knowledge of aviation sector is conducted.
After clearing these exams an interview is conducted and later on a medical test is done to check the physical and mental state of a student.
To get a commercial pilot flying license, the candidate must have completed 200 hours of flying in SPL.
A student must clear all the theory papers conducted by DGCA into order to get CPL.
• Indian Air Force Pilot
Highly skilled and dedicated pilots serving the nation at anytime asked for. They are highly respected for securing our nation and its citizens. Indian Airforce is one of the elite arms of Indian Armed forces.
A student can join Indian Airforce:
a. Directly after 10+2 exam via NDA or
b. After graduation
Combined Defence Services Exam
NCC Special Entry
AFCAT (short service commision)
National Defence Academy- NDA (After 10+2)
The valiant boys could be part of the Indian Air Force family by applying for NDA (National Defence Academy).
Candidates, short-listed for Indian Air Force after the initial selection procedure, go through a rigorous three-year training regimen at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, followed by specialised training at one of the training establishment. Thereafter, they are commissioned as Permanent Commission Officers and posted as officers at any of the Air Force Stations.
You can join NDA by taking the exam (Hindi or English) conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam is conducted twice a year in all major cities throughout India.
After clearing the entrance exam based on minimum qualifying marks a candidate has to undergo two SSB interviews.
Approximately 4 lakh students apply for entrance exam every year.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
• Age – 161/2 to 191/2 years(at the time of commencement of course)
• Nationality – Indian
• Gender – Men only
• Educational Qualifications – 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Appearing final year students can also eligible to apply.
• ADVERTISEMENT SCHEDULE- January and June. (Advertisement is released by UPSC. Visit www.upsc.gov.in)
• Branches (BA, B.Sc and B.Tech)- 3 years
The entry through NDA is open for Flying branch, Ground duty (tech) and Ground duty (non tech). All cadets of Flying branch and Ground duty (tech) would be offered B Tech in NDA and cadets of Ground duty (Non-tech) would be offered B Sc degree.
After Graduation
As a graduate, you can fly into a challenging and rewarding career in the Air Force by applying for the suitable branch. Depending upon your educational qualification, you could apply for different branches.
1. CDSE (COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION) (FOR MEN ONLY)
• Men can enter through this mode of entry and will get a Permanent Commission.
• Age – 20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course)
• Nationality – Indian
• Marital Status – Single
• Gender – Men only.
• Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level)/BE/B Tech (Four Year Course).
• Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
• No Percentage Bar for CDSE entry.
• Advertisement Schedule: Advertisements are released by UPSC in the months of November and August.
• For more details visit www.upsc.gov.in
2. NCC SPECIAL ENTRY (FOR MEN AND WOMEN)
(Candidates can apply online through NCC Special Entry)
• As an Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, you can apply to the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. Men & women can join the Air Force through this mode of entry. Permanent Commission offered for men and Short Service Commission for men and women.
• Age –20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course). Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years(at the time of commencement of course).
• Nationality – Indian
• Marital Status – Single
• Gender – Men and women.
• Minimum 50% marks in each in Maths & Physics at 10 + 2 level.
• Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University with minimum 60% marks or equivalent. OR
• BE/B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised University with minimum 60% marks or equivalent OR
• Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
• Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any present backlogs at the time of AFSB Testing and produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
• NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ certificate and validity of the certificate would be two years before the date of advertisement.
• Advertisement Schedule: Advertisement for NCC Special Entry is released by the IAF in the months of June and December.
3. SSC (SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION) ENTRY (FOR MEN AND WOMEN)
• You can apply through AFCAT for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch.
• Short Service Commission in Flying branch is for 14 years with no further extension.
• Age – 20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course).Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years(at the time of commencement of course).
• Nationality – Indian
• Marital Status – Single
• Gender – Men and Women.
• Minimum of 50% marks each in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level.
• Graduates (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University who have attained minimum 60% marks or equivalent OR BE/B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised university with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
• Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
• Final Year students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any backlog at the time of AFSB Testing and produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
• Advertisement Schedule: Advertisements for AFCAT are released by the IAF in the months of June and December.
General regulations
There are two types of commissions:
PERMANENT COMMISSION (PC)
A Permanent Commission means a career in the Air Force till you retire. Permanent Commission Officers continue to serve till the age of superannuation. For a Permanent Commission, you could join as follows
MEN
For Flying Branch
- After 10+2 – Join NDA
- After Graduation – Join through CDSE/ NCC Special entry
For Ground Duty (Technical & Non-technical) Branches
- After 10+2 – Join NDA
- After Graduation – Join through AFCAT/ Met entry
SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION (SSC)
A Short Service Commission means a limited period career in the Air Force. You can join the IAF as a Short Service Commission Officer by opting for a SSC Course through AFCAT / MET Entry / NCC Special Entry.
For Men and Women
For Flying Branch
- Fourteen years from the date of commissioning (Non-extendable).
For Ground Duty (Technical & Non-technical):-
- Ten years from the date of commissioning.
- An extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, suitability, merit and willingness.
General eligibility
- Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried at the time of commencement of course.Widows, Widowers and divorcees (with or without encumbrances) below 25 years of age are also ineligible. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live out with family.
- Candidate should not have been convicted on criminal charges.
- Candidates who have been removed from Defence Training Establishments on grounds of discipline are not eligible to apply.
Best Flying schools in India
- Government Flying Training School, Jakkur Aerodrome, Bangalore
- Andhra Pradesh Flying Club, Hyderabad Airport, Hyderabad.
- School of Aviation and Technology, Delhi Flying Club Ltd, New Delhi
- Rajasthan State Flying School, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur.
- Karnal Aviation Club, Kunjpura Road, Karnal, Haryana
- Bihar Flying Institute, Civil Aerodrome, Patna, Bihar
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Uttar Pradesh
- Government Aviation Training Institute, Civil Aerodrome, Bhubaneshwar
- Government flying club, Aerodrome, Lucknow
- State Civil Aviation, UP Government Flying Center Kanpur & Varanasi
- Flying Training Institute, Behala, Calcutta
- Madhya Pradesh Flying Club
- Assam Flying Club, Guwahati Airport, Guwahati.
- Nagpur Flying Club, Nagpur
- Orient Flying school, Chennai
- Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy, Secunderabad
- National Flying Training Institute, Gondia
- Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai
- Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics, Ahmedabad
- CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, Gondia,
- Indigo Cadet Training Program, (Hamilton, New Zealand & Hyderabad, India)
- Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Aeronautics Engineering and information, Pune
- Wingsss College of Aviation and Technology, Pune
- Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics, Ahmedabad
- Hindustan Aviation Academy, Banglore
- Coimbatore Flying Club
- Indian Aviation Academy, Mumbai
- Jamshedpur Co-operative Flying Club Ltd, Jamshedpur
- All India Institute of Aeronautics, (AIIA), Dehradun
- West Bengal Flying Training Institute, Kolkata
Skills required
Candidates need to have or develop the following skills:
- a good understanding of mathematics and physics
- an ability to understand technical information, as pilots need to know how their aircraft works
- excellent spatial awareness and coordination
- good communication and teamwork skills
- the ability to think quickly and make decisions in difficult situations
- the capacity to remain calm under pressure
- discipline, self-confidence and commitment
- Strong Focus and Multitasking
- Leadership skills, with the ability to give clear commands to cabin crew and passengers
Do you have what it takes?
So before you even consider embarking on any kind of pilot training, make sure you’re choosing the career for the right reasons. Is aviation your passion? Are you just doing it because you think a pilot’s job is glamorous? Are you pursuing the career because the pay is good? Do you want to wear a smart uniform?
Remember, the question “Why do you want to be a pilot?” is one you’ll surely be asked at a ‘pilot job interview’ so make sure you’re certain about your answer.
Other Useful websites:
https://www.pilot18.com/steps/