Do you want to become a pilot after your 12th? If so, you can pursue a pilot training course after completing the 12th. The key requirement to become a pilot in India is to pass 10+2 in science.
Though lots of other academics are there that offer pilot training to commerce students as well. A candidate has to be at least 17 years old to become a pilot in India.
Also, they have to provide their medical fitness certificate. A pilot is a highly skilled and licensed professional who goes through in-depth training to fly various kinds of aircraft or helicopters.
The responsibility of the pilot is to maintain several kinds of the internal mechanism of any aircraft. They also have to keep in mind various situations like aircraft performance, weather conditions, altitude, etc.
The average salary of a pilot in India is INR 30 lakhs to INR 50 lakhs. However, in this article, we will be discussing all the information on how to become a pilot in India, types of pilots, eligibility, pilot licenses, pilot institutions, etc. To know more about it,
How To Become a Pilot In India
Types Of Pilots
1. Airline Transport Pilot
The airline transport pilot is one of the most common types of pilots in India. Their job is to fly commercial airlines that carry passengers.
You need an ATP certification to become an airline transport pilot. To become an airline pilot, one must be 23 years old or above.
2. Private Pilot
A private pilot generally flies private jets or planes. Besides this, they are allowed to fly at night and to the controlled airports.
You need to have a Private Pilot License to become a private pilot. Their training requirements are generally very intensive compared to other pilots.
3. Sport Pilot
Sports pilots fly aircraft at low altitudes. They only have permission to fly in their local area. One can get the sports pilot’s certificate easily.
Sports pilots can only carry one passenger at a time. Also, they are not allowed to fly above 10000 feet or at night.
4. Air Force Pilot
This type of pilot usually flies high-tech aircraft for different missions of the Air Force in India. You need to crack the AFCAT examination to become an Air Force Pilot in India.
They need to go through the NDA training before becoming an air force pilot in India.
5. Flight Instructor
The role of a flight instructor is to teach new pilots, aspiring pilots, and veteran pilots. If you get the flight instructor certificate, you will be allowed to teach in flight schools, colleges, airline academies, etc.
You have to go through the training process before becoming a flight instructor in India.
Types Of Pilot License
Every type of pilot should have a pilot license to become a pilot in India. To know more about it you can check here.
1. Student Pilot License
The student pilot certificate is mainly issued by a flight instructor of a flight school or institution. The role of this license is to identify the student as the pilot in command during their solo training.
Without the certificate, they won’t be able to do the entire training.
2. Sport Pilot License
Pilots with this certificate cannot operate aircraft only with two people in the daytime. It gets issued to the airman who wants to operate the aircraft with a goods weight of 1320 pounds or less.
The sports pilot certificate is not very expensive to gain.
3. Private Pilot License
A private pilot certificate is the most popular and basic certificate. This certificate enables the pilot to fly private jets or small jets. Millionaires generally hire this type of pilot. They are not allowed to fly commercial aircraft.
4. Commercial Pilot License
Commercial Pilot Certificate is the initial certificate that generally allows the pilot to fly any commercial planes of major airlines. To get the certificate, a pilot must have 250 hours flight lessons along with the requirements.
5. Certified Flight Instructor
This license enables the pilot to teach the new pilots in various flying institutions such as flying schools, colleges, universities, etc. To get this certificate, they have to complete their training first.
So, they generally pass on the knowledge to the next generation.
Tips For Picking Up A Flight School
There are a few things that you need to take into consideration before choosing the right flight school for you. It is necessary to do some research before enrolling yourself in a flight school.
You should consider your goals, schedule, budget, and personality. So, we will be giving some tips so that you can choose your school at your convenience.
1. Establish Goals
It is the most important thing for you to know. Before starting to look for a flight school you need to know what type of pilot you want to become. You also have to know whether flying is a hobby or not.
2. Budget
commercial pilot training is very expensive. This cost will vary depending on what you want to learn from your flight school because learning some aircraft can cost more than the others.
So, if you are not so sure how much money you want to spend, then you can compare some top-rated schools in India to get a better idea of the airline fees. Through this, you can choose from those schools that fit your budget.
3. Schedule
Another important element to choose the right flight school is to understand how much time you want to invest. Usually, commercial pilot training takes a lot more time and money.
So, you have to decide how much time you can give to your flight school. As per your convenience, you can choose your flight school which timing will match your time.
4. Do Proper Research
Picking out the best flight school is a tough task as there are so many in India. It is always great to choose a reputed flight school with experienced teachers.
If you are looking for a school to complete your ATPL Integrated training, then you have to make sure that the school has stimulators, a fleet, and needed facilities.
We will be giving some reputed flight school names to help you to choose. Some of them are Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, Bombay Flying Club, Madhya Pradesh Flying Club,
Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy, Bihar Flying Institute, Indian Aviation Academy, Ahmedabad Aviation
& Aeronautics Ltd, Government Training Flying School, Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy, etc.
Conclusion:
The aviation sector is something that is now catching the attention of most people. If you are someone who dreams to fly up in the sky, then it is the right time to live that dream.
Your journey in the aviation sector won’t be smooth as you have to put in so much time and hard work to become a pilot. This will all be worth it when you will become a successful pilot.
Until then, you need to stay focused on how to become a pilot in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I do to become a pilot in India?
At first, you have to clear the 12th examination with a great score in mathematics and physics. Then you need to clear DGCA classes along with a medical examination. After that, you can find the right pilot training school for yourself to get further details.
2. How much salary a commercial pilot can get?
In India, the initial salary of a commercial pilot is almost 2 lakhs per month. After gaining experience, a commercial pilot can earn 5 lakhs to 7 lakhs per month.
3. Do the workers of the airport fly for free?
It mainly depends on the airline that you are working for. Different airlines provide different benefits. Sometimes they provide 100% discounts and sometimes 50%. It totally depends on the benefits agreement of a particular company.
4. What is the entrance exam for the pilot?
Three aviation exams are there in India including IGRUA (Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy) Entrance Test, AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test), and AME CET (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Common Entrance Exam.
5. Do pilots get the job easily in India?
No, it is very hard to get jobs as pilots in India. You have to crack some examinations along with the medical test. If you are color blind, you can’t apply for the pilot job.