Have you ever gazed at the sky and seen a passing aircraft say ‘I wish I’m the pilot flying that aircraft through the graceful turns?’ If, yes, then prepare yourself because I am going to reveal the incredible story of how to make your dream pilot come true adrenaline rush. Pack your bags and get ready for a divine expedition that will soar your soul to felt merriment, flying way above the stars into worlds where you may float in mid-air, and where the horizon is clear and blue, as far and wide as any eagle can wisely fly. Welcome to India’s complete guide on How To Become A Pilot, where the sky is not your limit, but an open platform to rule the world with steel wings & golden dreams! Okay, Let me begin with the classification of pilots and license! Are you ready to GO FLY?
Top-headings are: And so, types of pilots and licenses are the first differential options! Well, are you ready for take off?
Types of pilots:
Pilots are secret into many kinds, each with its own specialism and training. Here are some examples of typical categories of pilots:
- Commercial airline pilots: They effort for airlines and fly big profitable aircraft such as airliners. In the planned flights they transport people and goods.
- Military pilot: They are taught to fly military aircrafts and also they are trained in the defense forces. They can be in a combat mission, reconnaissance, movement or any other military task.
- Private pilots: such as using them for business or household, recreation, sport, or hobbies purposes, and such like. They mostly have personal pilot’s license known as PPL where they would fly for leisure or to a small area.
- Helicopter Pilots: They only transport a helicopter They only offer helicopter accommodation. They may work in any kind of industries including air ambulance, search and rescue, police or as tourist pilots.
- Airline Transport Pilots (ATPs): ATPs are pilots who have received the highest certification available for pilots as well as training. They are allowed to fly larger airplanes and the pilots may be captains or first officers in airlines companies.
Types of pilot licenses:
This invention relates to several kinds of pilot licenses
- The Student Pilot Licence (SPL): It is the initial phase of the pilot training where people are given a chance to fly an aircraft under the leadership of a certified flight instructor (CFI). It has already been highlighted that when It comes to aircraft operations, SPL holders are limited to certain aircraft and can only fly under certain conditions.
- Private Pilot Licence (PPL): Well-known license is PPL which allows people to fly for personal or recreational purpose. The holders of PPL can only fly most of the single-engine aircraft and passengers; however, they cannot do it for monetary rewards or commercial purposes.
- Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL): CPA is a form of pilot license that allow individuals or people to fly an aircraft for recompence or hire. CPL holders may find employment in several aviation careers including, charter logging, surveillance, aerial surveying and flight instructor.
- Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL): The most topmost type of pilot certification is the Airline Transport Pilot Licence. ATPL holders are allowed to handle big commercial airplanes as a pilot in command (PIC) also practice in airline operations. Significantly many flying hours and training are done in the acquisition of the ATPL.
Now that you know the types of pilots and their licenses, it is time to discover skills and requirements that are required to be fulfilled to become a pilot in India.
Skills needed to become a pilot:
Communication skills: Communication is paramount in any activity and especially in flying as the pilot is requires to communicate with the air traffic control, crew, and passengers.
- Situational Awareness: In addition, pilots need to understand spatial environment and manipulating aircraft and instruments as well as meteorological conditions during the flight.
- Problem-Solving Skills: To manage the emergency conditions during the flight, it is becoming possible for the pilots to solve the difficulties. They have to reason, analyse, and make decisions within short period of time.
- Decision making: Travel by air thus requires pilot to be so efficient and fast in decision making. They will need to analyze all options in their decision process and decide what has to be done for the airplane to be fine and what would be best for passengers.
- Eye hand- coordination: To control aircraft controls properly pilots require effective hand and eye co-ordination and excellent hand movements.
- Attention to Detail: Aviation requires a high observance of procedural compliance coupled with strictly following a checklist alongside being vigilant on specific aspects of the aircraft systems and instruments.
Perhaps, here it may be relevant to take a closer look at the conditions required to become a commercial pilot in India.
Eligibility to become a Pilot:
Procedures for accreditation to flying vary with the nation and the specific regulations set down and upheld by the transport departments. In India, the following qualifications are required to become a pilot:In India, the following qualifications are required to become a pilot:
- Age: On flying training the least acceptable age is 17 years of age. The least age to get a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) is 18 years while that of flight engineer licence is 18 years as well.
- Educational Qualification: The applicant has to complete their 10+2 or equal with Physics and Mathematics as subjects and with 50% marks in order to get admitted to flying training facility. Additional education qualifying requirements and/or preferences may be set in certain institutions. To learn: Also if a being is not a science student, then he/she can take the needed topics as a distance education student through the National Institute of Open Schooling or as a secluded candidate through the corresponding state board.
- Medical Fitness: This means that the candidates have to meet certain requirements of medical fitness as specified by the DGCA. They have to undergo through a medical examination by aviation medical examiners to check fitness of the body and mind.
- English Language Proficiency: The DGCA ELP Test also known as the English Language Proficiency Test is a test that any pilot in India is supposed to undertake when seeking the pilot’s license or renewing the license. This exam aim at assessing the pilots English communication ability in the areas of speech and writing. End of Part Two.
This test is done according to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Language Proficiency Rating Scale that has 6 distinct levels. In case of India the structure has the minimum level for pilots at the level 4.
The examination is broken into three sections:
- Reading: This section based on the comprehensive ability test for ascertaining the pilot’s capability of reading and comprehending written English.
- Listening: In this segment, the pilot is meant to check on his ability to hear spoken English.
- Speaking: This element focuses on the pilot’s language and communication skills specifically in the English language.
The examination is administered by a panel of examiners who are either an expert in English language or a pilot. The examiners will give the pilot respective scores on each of the areas tested in the examination. This is how it is added: The first point is added to the second point to get the third point and the total of the three points makes the total score.
To pass the DGCA ELP Test, a pilot must attain at least Level 4. If a experimental fails the exam, they have 30 days to retake it.
Pilot Aptitude exam: India based flying training schools have it scoring system where students are made to sit for a pilot aptitude test to get a feel of flying. This exam tests such skills like spatial orientation, motor coordination, attention division and(numero) decision-making capability.
Every flying course either before or after the successful completion of the Flying Course there is a final examination prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Five DGCA theoretical exams need to be cleared, namely:
- Air navigation
- Aviation Meteorology
- Air Regulations
- Technical general
- Technical specific
Radio Telephony Examination- The candidate also has to pass a Radio Telephony (RTR) test conducted by Government of India (MINISTRY OF Telecommunications) is conducted six times in a year. This exam as the name implies prepares a pilot to handle radio telecommunications as all the work being done in the cockpit in the air is conducted through radio communication.
Financial Capability: It may be costly to become a pilot of an airplane as it turns into a profession. This means that the candidates ought to be financially capable to meet the cost of flying hours, grounds school, examinations, among other charges.
Pilot job description including the physical requirements that can only be met by a candidate as shown below (male candidate).
- Height: 5 cm
- Vision: In one eye 6/6 and in other eye 6/9
- Leg length: 99 cms to 120 cms
- Thigh length: 64 cms
- Sitting height: Five centimeters up to ninety-six centimeters.
Physical standards for appointment as a pilot (For Female Applicant)
- Height: 162. 5 cm
- Vision: In one eye, it was 6/6 and in the other eye varying reading of 6/9 was observed.
- Leg length: 99 cms to 120 cms
- Thigh length: 64 cms
- Sitting height: 81. Have a length which ranges from 5 cm to 96 cm.
Some of the leading institutes for pursuing an Aviation course:
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA) located at Rae Bareilly
- Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology in Kerala
- National Flying Training Institute Gondia
- Bombay Flying Club – Mumbai
- Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd We have interviewed an organization called
- Madhya Pradesh Flying Club (MPFC) located at Indore.
- CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, Gondia;
- Indigo Cadet Training Program, (Hamlin, New Zealand & Hyderabad India)
Note: As for any institute, there are certain norms and standards in regard to physical fitness as well as vision.
Further, I would like to bring here into understanding that the expenses required for a person aspiring to become a commercial pilot in India is relatively high. But there is a loophole to becoming a pilot in India and that is to join the Indian Defence Forces. Read on for more information.
How to become a commercial pilot:How to become a commercial pilot:
A Commercial Pilot is a pilot that operates an aircraft in commerce with a particular commercial carrier, and is certified by an appropriate licensing body. In India the Authority is the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It can therefore be said that being a commercial pilot entails a lot of responsibility. In one aircraft you are handling hundred of lives, you must get them from A to B within the shortest time possible and most importantly ensuring that all their lives are save.
Therefore, if you want to get into this line of work or know someone who does you are in the right place.
FAQs
Q: How much does it cost to become a pilot in India?
A: Course fee differs according to the type of license a candidate is aspiring for and the training academy he or she is getting enrolled in. It may be from a few lakh to crores of rupees.
Q: What is required educational qualification to become a pilot in India?
A: For being a pilot in India one needs to complete 10+2 examination with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects. There are also medical tests to be conduct, acquisition of a CPL and essential flying training to be undergone as well.
Q: Is piloting a high paying job in India?
A: Yes, one can imagine that to become a pilot may be a good paid job in India. The pilots that fly commercial airplanes and especially those with experience are capable of earning satisfactory salaries and other fringe benefits.
Q: Pilot study is very fine, Is pilot study very hard?
A: To become a pilot one has to be commite and work hard. It involves tackling of complex subjects such as aerodynamics, theory of flight, navigation, meteorology and the aircraft systems. But with It is possible with a lot of devotion and training to get a good curve.
Q: This is in light of the pilot course how long does it take?
A: The duration of the pilot course depends of the type of license as well as the training option chosen. A private pilot license obviously may take several months. While a commercial pilot license might be consider as a many years’ course.
Q: How can I become pilot if am over 21?
A: Yes, it is possible and many people do become pilots after they have reached this age of 21. It does not find any upper age limit for commencing pilot training in India but one has to qualify the necessary criteria and medical fitness.
Q: How many hours do pilots fly?
A: Working hours may differ with the type of operation and airline the pilots are in. Aviation has shift operations where pilots are able to work during odd hours such as early mornings. Late in the evening, during the weekends and/ or public holidays. Most restricte working hours are meant to make sure that doctors and other health facility workers get adequate rest as well as be safe.
Q: Just to quote; Is pilot a government job?
A: Pilots may work in the public and private sectors. Pilot locations are available in government governments like the Indian Air Force. Indian Navy, and many public sector airlines in India.
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