Many people do not have any idea of how to become commercial pilot in India. They often think that an airline pilot is a commercial pilot.
But in reality, A commercial pilot is someone who can show a minimum level of understanding and skill to earn their commercial pilot license.
Then that license mainly allows them to be remunerated for their services. The job of a commercial pilot is highly specialized. During the training, they are being taught to maintain the aircraft in different situations like bad weather.
A commercial pilot’s main job is to ensure the safety of the passengers. So, it is a very challenging job as you need to have patience, balance, discipline, a sharp eye, and a high-alert mind.
These are very important as this job demands problem-solving skills along with a calculative mind to overcome any crisis with ease.
Steps How To Become Commercial Pilot in India
Flying the aircraft for a living is the dream of many. It is indeed a respected job if you will be able to complete the training.
To become a commercial pilot, you need to earn a commercial pilot license so that you can sit in an airline cockpit. But, first, we need to know the types of it to get a clearer idea.
1. Types of Commercial Pilot
There are several types of commercial pilot jobs available in India. Some of them are:-
- Airline Pilot
In the aviation industry, the main role of an airline pilot is to transport passengers or goods from one location to another.
This is the most common type of pilot. You have to get the most advanced certificate or license to become an airline pilot.
Also, you have to be 23 years old or above to get that certificate. The average salary of this pilot is INR 16 lakhs per year. - Cargo Pilot
- Sport Pilot
- Private Pilot
- Helicopter Pilot
- Flight Instructor
A cargo pilot is someone who flies commercial aircraft from one location to another. They generally carry shipments like mail or packages from several private courier services.
They also have the advanced technology to ensure the adherence to correct the procedures of loading and unloading items to maintain the integrity of the products.
They can earn up to 15 lakhs to 16 lakhs.
Sport Pilots only fly light aircraft in their local area. It is easy to get a sports pilot’s certificate compared to other pilots. You can get it after 20 hours of training.
Sports pilots are allowed to carry only one passenger at a time. They don’t have permission to fly above 10000 feet or at night. The average salary of this pilot is 5 lakhs to 6 lakhs PA.
This is one of the most common types of pilots. The private pilot training is more intense compared to other pilot training.
Their training contains a minimum of 40 hours of flight time. You can get a lot of benefits through the private pilot certificates. They have the permission to fly at night and the controlled airports. A private pilot can earn 16 lakhs PA.
Commercial helicopter pilots generally work in various types of industries.
They carry passengers and cargo, transport injured people to medical facilities, move emergency food, clothes, and medical help to disaster sites, rescue victims from those disaster places, etc.
Often some helicopter pilots work privately for individual customers as well. The salary of this pilot is around 21 lakhs PA.
The role of a flight instructor is to pass the flying knowledge that they have gained from their experience. When you get a certification as a flight instructor, you will get the opportunity to teach new pilots at flight school.
You can also work for a flying club and in return, you will get paid. Flight Instructors can get 13 lakhs PA in India.
2. Licenses Required To Become A Commercial Pilot
You need a proper commercial pilot license to fly any aircraft.
You will get the license from the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) which is under the Indian Government. But to get this, you have to do so much hard work and training.
You can get a commercial pilot license from any flying school that is recognized by the DGCA. Also, you can enrol yourself in a Cadet Pilot Program that is generally run by major airlines including SpiceJet, Indigo, and AirAsia.
Furthermore, you can get a student pilot license as well before applying for a commercial Pilot License. You can easily get it from any DGCA recognized flying school by taking a flying course. First, you need to clear the entrance examination.
Then, you will have to appear for a viva-voce conducted by a DGCA representative. At the end of the course, you will receive the student pilot certificate with which you can apply for a commercial pilot license.
3. Commercial Pilot Courses and Eligibility
An airline pilot needs to have a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university in any subject.
While the commercial pilot needs to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
You can join any flight school or institution that offers an aviation degree that is approved by the FAA.
On the other hand, if you want to opt for commercial pilot training after your 10+2 examination, then you have to apply for an aviation course in any institution.
You have to pass the entrance exam and interview along with the medical test. But pilot training is very costly ranging from INR 15 lakhs to 20 lakhs. For more information, you can click here.
4. Commercial Pilot Training
Commercial Pilot Training offers a successful career in the field of aviation. The training to get CPL is mainly based on the standards of the DGCA, Government of India.
The Commercial Pilot Training consists of 1 to 2 years and is divided into three categories including Ground Training, Flying Training, and Stimulator Training.
The duration of training is 80 hours for the academic session on the ground and the flying training duration is 200 hours. It is necessary to complete your training at DGCA recognized schools, institutions, or colleges.
To apply for Commercial Pilot Training, the basic eligibility criteria are:
The applicants should have passed their 12th examination with a PCM/3 years diploma course from a recognized university.
A candidate should be medically fit.
His/her age should be 17 years or above.
The average course fee for this training is 3 lakhs to 12 lakhs. Through average salary they can earn up to Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs PA.
5. What do Commercial Pilots Learn During Training?
Commercial Pilots learn every aspect related to aircraft and aviation. After completing all examinations, candidates have to take their training session very seriously.
Because hundreds of passengers lives will depend on their expertise. So, it is one of the major parts of becoming a good and successful pilot in India.
You have to learn all the things including flying an aircraft, maintaining an aircraft, knowing the physics and the science that is generally involved in the aircraft flight.
Understanding how to communicate with the air-traffic control, training in equipment found in the cockpit, etc. To know more about it, you can click here.
There are several subjects that a candidate must learn during their subjects. Those are Cockpit Resource Management, AirFrames and Engines, Air Navigation, Air Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, Flight Planning, etc.
6. Commercial Pilots Training Institute
Pilot jobs are in high demand now. you can become a pilot if you work hard in a good pilot training institute. There are plenty of aviation schools, colleges, and universities in India that impart aviation training.
The top 15 Commercial Pilots Training Institutes are:
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, Uttar Pradesh
Carver Aviation, Baramati, Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy, Hyderabad
Faculty of Flight Safety Services, Delhi Flying Club
Flying Training Institute, Kolkata
Gujarat Flying Club, Vadodara
Nagpur Flying Club, Nagpur
Orient Flying School, Chennai
Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics
Bihar Flying Institute, Patna
Ludhiana Aviation Club
Assam Flying Club, Guwahati
PTC Aviation Academy, Chennai
School of Aviation Science & Technology (SAST), New Delhi
Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology, Kerala
Conclusion
It is not impossible to get a chance to how to be a commercial pilot india. Few things are important that one should keep in their mind.
Firstly, candidates should not have any pre-existing disease.
Secondly, it may take some years to become a pilot.
Thirdly, the fees for commercial pilot training are high.
So, I think you should know all the details about the career before going for it.
Choosing a career in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot is not only a challenging task to do but also a rewarding one.
It offers a high salary along with thrilling adventures. So, you can say that this is one of the most exciting career choices in India.
I hope you liked our article on how to become a commercial pilot in india, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How much do I have to pay for the indian commercial pilot Training?
Commercial pilot training in India costs around 35 to 40
lakhs if you take training from DGCA approved reputed aviation school or university.
Q2. Can anyone get a pilot job easily in India?
No, it is really hard to get a pilot job in India.
Q3. Can I apply for the pilot job after completing 12th in India?
Yes, you can apply for the pilot job after completing your 12th. You can take training from any DGCA recognized school or university.
Q4. What are the soft skills that are required to become a commercial pilot?
Along with the technical skills, you must require some soft skills such as great communication, teamwork skills, multitasking, stress management, and decisiveness.
Q5. In India, how long does anyone have to wait to become a commercial pilot?
It will take a minimum of two years to become a successful commercial pilot in India with A type rating.