How to Become a Pilot in India? Know All Under One Umbrella

Many people are pretty inquisitive about the fact of how to become a pilot, and it is also the dream of many. However, just having a question in your mind and dreaming about the same is not the way to go forward to become a pilot; it requires judicious use of time, effort, and money to turn the dream into a reality.

Whether you want to pursue piloting as a career or just experience the thrill associated with flying an aircraft, you may be wondering whether to start the journey of becoming a pilot. This piece will take you through the steps of becoming a pilot and what will be the perks of doing the same.

The time it takes to become a pilot depends upon various factors, including the type of pilot’s license, the country of operation and the dedication to learn the necessary skills. However, to determine how long it will take for you to become a pilot, both ground classes and flight training need to be considered.

Obtaining a pilot license in India involves several steps. First, you need to complete a certain number of flight hours. For a private pilot license, you'll need 40-60 hours of flight time, which allows you to fly small aircraft for personal use. To get a CPL, 250 hours of flight time and advanced training are necessary. Moreover, you'll need to pass aviation exams to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

Apart from flight training, ground classes are also essential. These enable you to learn about various topics necessary to become a pilot, such as aviation regulations, aircraft systems, navigation, and meteorology. These classes can be taken online or offline.

Overall, the answer to the question of how you become a pilot is that it can take several months to several years, depending on the type of pilot certification. Some flight schools have accelerated programs, allowing students to finish training faster. However, these programs require full-time availability, so they are not the way to go for people who are already indulged in some other job and want to pursue the pilot training along with that.

If you are passionate about becoming a pilot, remember that patience and focus are key. Regardless of the time, stay determined and committed to your goal. Becoming a pilot may be long, but the rewards are worth it.

To answer the question of how to become a pilot in India, you must complete flight training and pass aviation exams. There is a viva and practical test, where a pilot aspirant will demonstrate the knowledge and practical skills attained during the course of the training.

Apart from the technical skills and knowledge essential for becoming a pilot, physical fitness and mental focus are also important factors, as are the capability to handle stress and make speedy decisions. Pilots are accountable for passenger and crew safety and should perform their duties both effectively and efficiently.

All in all, becoming a pilot is a challenging but gratifying process. Flight training requires dedication, and students have resources to help them complete it without much fuss. Aspiring pilots can fly with a Flight Instructor who provides much-needed assistance at the time of the training. Upon completing the flight training, there is a sense of accomplishment and one feels proud of oneself.

If you are thinking that after becoming a pilot in India, you can only work in the private sector, and there are no opportunities for government jobs, then you are surely caught on the wrong foot. There are also opportunities to work in the Indian Air Force as a pilot and serve the nation with your piloting skills.

When it comes to becoming a pilot in India, no age is considered the 'best' age. You can get a student pilot license at 16, a private pilot certificate at 17, and a commercial pilot license at 18. If flying an aircraft is your dream, age should never be a barrier. The flexibility in age requirements empowers you to pursue your passion for flying in the later stages of life.

To have an answer to how to become a pilot in India, specific qualifications are to be met, which vary on the type of license. But, talking in general terms, there is a need to:

• Meet the age criteria: The minimum age to become a pilot in India is 16 for SPL, 17 for PPL, and 18 for CPL.

• Meet the minimum education requirement: The educational requirements depend on the school you choose to train at. In India, for a student pilot license, one should have passed class 10th or equivalent, as a minimum. On the other hand, for a commercial pilot license, passing the 12th standard in Physics and Mathematics is needed.

Medical Requirements

• There are 2 medicals done: CLASS 2 and CLASS 1.
• A muscled body is not mandatory to become a pilot, but proper medical fitness is essential. So, for this, DGCA has appointed doctors all over India.

Initially, you should complete a CLASS 2 medical. You can contact an approved class 2 doctor, a list of which is available on the DGCA website. After the medical is completed, you will receive a PMR number, also known as the file number. Then, you should apply for a CLASS 1 medical to the DGCA.

The Air Force medical centres mostly provide CLASS 1 medical care, but a few civil centres are also available in India for this purpose.

What after Medical?

• Once the conditions mentioned above are met, for answering how to become a pilot, the applicants can enroll with a Flight Training Institute. There, the student must have a minimum of 200 hours of flight training, with 100 hours as a pilot-in-command. Mostly, this training is done on a single-engine training aircraft. To get into an Airline company as a pilot, one has to get a multi-engine endorsement on the respective pilot license.

• Whenever you sit in the cockpit, there is a challenge to overcome. So, a pilot should be able to deal with to deal with such circumstances; the aspiring pilot should also clear five DGCA theoretical exams, namely

• Air Navigation
• Meteorology
• Regulations
• Technical General
• Radio Telephony

• Communication skills: Pilots must have excellent communication skills with air traffic control, crew, and passengers. It is because this will help to mitigate any precarious situation with ease

• Situational Awareness: Pilots should be conscious of their surroundings, instruments, aircraft systems, and weather to make informed decisions during flights.

• Problem-solving skills: Pilots should be well-versed in solving any sort of difficulties and handling emergencies during flights. They must reach conclusions quickly to avoid any sort of hara-kiri.

• Decision-making: Pilots should make quick decisions. They must evaluate the circumstances during options and determine what is best for a particular situation.

• Hand-eye-coordination: Pilots should have good hand-eye coordination skills to operate aircraft precisely.

• Attention to Detail: Pilots must pay attention to every minute detail to guarantee the apt implementation of all procedures, checklist adherence, and accurate monitoring of aircraft systems.

• Emotional stability: Pilots should keep their emotions in check in challenging conditions. They should have a cool head on their shoulders, stay focused, and make sensible judgments.

• Teamwork and Leadership: Pilots should work as part of a team and with crew members and ground workers. Hence, leadership and teamwork are vital for smooth operations.

• Flexible: Pilots should be adaptive to changing weather conditions and flight plans and willing to acquire familiarity with all kinds of new technology with considerate amount of ease.

To answer how to become a pilot, an aspirant needs to get a pilot license and complete the training. The pilot license you will require depends on the type of flying you want to do and the type of aircraft.

In India, the DGCA issues several pilot certificates and ratings, including:

1. Student Pilot License

To get an SPL, you must pass a written exam, be at least 16 years old, and possess a valid medical certificate.

2. Private Pilot License

To get your hands on a PPL, you must complete the desired flight training and pass the written exam and practical flight test. The aspiring pilot should be at least 17 years old and have 40 hours of practical flying experience.

3. Commercial Pilot License

To get a commercial pilot license, one must complete the stipulated practical flight training and pass written and practical exams. A person should be at least 18 years of age and have 200 hours of flight time.

4. Airline Transport Pilot License

To get an ATPL, one must be 21 years old and have 1,500 hours of flight time, including 500 hours of cross-country flight time.

Apart from these pilot licenses, there is one more kind of pilot license; if you want to learn how to fly a helicopter, you can also learn the same and attain the license regarding this. But with that license, you can only fly a helicopter and not any other aircraft.

Helicopter Pilot

They are only apt to fly helicopters. They may work in different sectors, for example, military, search and rescue operations, air ambulance services, law enforcement, or tour pilots.

Pilot Ratings

Furthermore, pilots earn various ratings for their licenses. These ratings let pilots fly different types of aircraft or fly in different types of conditions. Some common ratings are:

Instrument rating: This rating lets pilots fly in instrument climatological conditions, which means they are not able to see the ground or other aircrafts outside the cockpit.

Multi-engine Ratings

This rating allows pilots to fly multi-engine aeroplanes.

Flight Instructor Rating:

This rating allows pilots to act as instructors and instruct aspiring pilots on how to fly the aircraft.

The type of pilot license and ratings required by a pilot will depend on what kind of flying does a person wants to take up. If you are to fly just for fun, just a private pilot license can do the job. If you want to take flying to the next level and make a career, you will need a commercial pilot license and also additional ratings, for example, a multi-engine rating or an instrument rating.

When, you are not sure about which pilot license or ratings are required by you, talk to a flight instructor about the same. They can help you develop a training plan that fits your needs, and in the process, you will come out of the dilemma.

To get a pilot license or rating, there is a need to complete all the required theoretical and practical training and pass the exams. Training programs are obtainable at flight schools.

Here are the steps for getting a pilot license and ratings:

Find a flight school offering the essential training and ratings.

Register for the training program and complete the coursework and flight training.

Pass the exams administered by the DGCA, the regulatory body for aviation in India.

Apply on the online portal and get the pilot license or rating from the DGCA.

When attaining a Commercial Pilot Licence, some other certificates and ratings can be pursued. To pursue an aviation career, it is important for an aspiring pilot to fulfil all the prerequisites regarding the flight time of the desired company. These will vary according to the industry. There are more than a few ways to get this flight time. The most common method is to become a Flight Instructor. As an instructor, you will use the skills and knowledge of your flight training to help future pilots hone their skills.

Once you have the required flight time in your kitty, you’ll be ready to advance your aviation career.

Apart from these licenses, for being on the way how to become a pilot in India, pilots need to obtain additional ratings to fly an aircraft. For instance, a pilot may require a multi-engine rating to fly a multi-engine aircraft. It’s important to go through all the requirements for flying and to work with a flight instructor.

With all the training and licenses needed, becoming a pilot can be a tad expensive. The cost of pilot training depends on various factors, including the type of license, duration of training, and the type of aircraft used. The costs comprise the charges of practical flight training, ground classes, exam fees, and other miscellaneous expenses.

It is important to go through the cost concerns of getting a pilot license before deciding to make the heavy monetary investment. Discounts can be availed through scholarships, loans can be taken, or there are other funding options that can be availed by the aspirants.

Salary of a Pilot in India

• Commercial/Private: Rs. 15 LPA to Rs. 50 LPA
• Government (IAF): Rs 4.5 LPA to Rs. 9 LPA

Job-wise Salary of Pilots

•  Commercial Pilots: Rs. 15 LPA to Rs. 80 LPA
• Airline Pilots (Transport): Rs. 10 LPA to Rs. 50 LPA
• Flight Instructors: Rs. 5 LPA to Rs. 30 LPA

By looking at the salary ranges of pilots in India in different sectors and with different kinds of licenses, you can get an idea of what you will earn upon becoming a professional pilot.

Choosing a flight school for getting an answer to how do you become a pilot can pose a big challenge, but it’s a significant decision and can impact your future in a big way. To come to terms with deciding whether or not to choose a particular flight school, you can take a tour of the institution to gaze at all of the aircraft and also interact with the instructors.

If you are looking for a flight school in Delhi-NCR, then you can always come to us at Flapone Aviation, one of the best flight schools in the region. Here, you can also check the local weather conditions that might play a pivotal role in your training. If you are thinking about the affordability factor, then also you will not be disappointed.

There is a range of aircraft and simulators, and all of them are kept in good shape and form as well so that they can be used to give the best results to aspiring pilots. Aircraft trustworthiness is not to be worried about when you are here with us, as there are best-in-class aircraft and instructors. If you’re looking for a flight school and want to be part of the best in the business, there is no need to look beyond us, as we are the pioneers in aviation and drone pilot training in India.