Types of Pilot Courses: Which One is Right for You?

Do you want to fly an aircraft and experience the thrill of being in the air? If yes, then you have to be aware of the pilot course that you need to undertake. With different types of courses, be ready to fly into the clouds, challenging gravity and enjoying the limitless freedom of the sky! Let’s start with the types of pilot courses and their eligibility and age criteria. Apart from that, you will also get an answer to the question of which course is best for you, so let us start.

Every piloting course is associated with a different license, and for undertaking different pilot courses, there are different eligibility requirements in terms of age, educational experience, and practical flying experience.

Private Pilot License (PPL): A PPL is a license that permits persons to fly for personal or recreational reasons. The holders of this license can fly most single-engine aircraft and transport people, but they cannot fly for commercial purposes. The minimum age for applying for a PPL course is 17 years. A total of 50-60 hours of practical flying is required to attain this license.

Commercial Pilot License (CPL): This is a pilot course that allows people to fly aircraft for commercial purposes, as suggested by the name of the commercial pilot course. CPL holders may work as pilots on charter flights and also work as flight instructors. The minimum age for a person to undertake a commercial pilot course is 18 years, and the maximum age is 65 years.

Regarding educational qualifications, a candidate should have passed class 12th from a recognized board or university, with Physics and Mathematics as subjects. A minimum of 250 hours of practical flight training is necessary for an applicant to become a commercial pilot.

Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL): This is the most advanced pilot training course. ATPL holders are entitled to fly large commercial aircraft as pilots-in-command and operate in airline operations. A total of 1500 flying hours and training are required for the ATPL. A person should be at least 21 years old and hold a graduate degree from a recognized University.

Student Pilot Licence (SPL): This is the very first course in terms of piloting. It allows people to learn to fly under a certified flight instructor. SPL holders are limited in the types of aircraft they might fly and should operate under specified parameters. A person should be at least 16 years of age and should have passed class 10th from a recognized board or University.

Apart from ticking all the boxes, as far as eligibility is concerned, it is important for all the candidates to fulfil the DGCA’s medical fitness criteria. All the candidates should pass a medical test, which an authorized aviation medical examiner performs to perform to determine their physical and mental fitness.

To answer this question, one has to be very clear about the goals and the feat which is to be achieved from a piloting course. If you want to become a pilot for making a career, then CPL and ATPL courses are right for you. On the other hand, if you are to learn piloting for recreational purposes, then an SPL or PPL can serve the purpose.

To do the pilot course of your choice, you need to enrol in the best pilot school in your area. If you are living in Delhi-NCR, then there is no need for you to look beyond Flapone Aviation, the best pilot training school in Delhi-NCR with experienced faculty, best-in-class facilities, and competitive pricing.