Career as Commercial Pilot

A career as commerical pilot is exciting, challenging and rewarding. Airline pilots are trained rigorously to fly many kinds of aircraft and helicopters. They are not only trained to fly the aircrafts but also to make the right decisions in complex situations where time is a critical factor. A commercial aircraft pilot has to keep in mind the safety of the aircraft, crew members and passengers, the comfort of the passengers and crew and the airline’s time schedule and efficiency.

Job of a pilot is highly specialized one and requires knowledge of air navigation, operations of sophisticated electronic and mechanical controls, interpretation of meteorological reports, lending the aircraft under adverse circumstances, and being a leader to the flight crew and passengers under climatic and other emergency situations.

The aviation industry in India is divided into two sectors: Commercial and Military. Commercial aviation includes passenger airlines and cargo planes, international air services, air taxi and charter operations. Military aviation includes the Indian Air Force and the aviation wing of the Navy and Army.

Eligibility Criteria 

To become a commercial pilot in India, you have to first get a Student Pilot License (SPL). To get the SPL you should be 10+2 pass with science stream and aged at least 16 years old. You should register yourself at a flying club which is recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India. Registration requires a medical certificate, security clearance and a bank guarantee. An oral examination takes place in the area of  Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Engine (technical and specific). Successful completion of the examination offers you for an SPL certificate.                                                                                  

The second step is the Private Pilot License (PPL). The education qualification for this exam is 10+2 with science stream. Your age should be of 17 years. PPL training includes sixty hours of flying of which about fifteen hours are dual flights, it is accompanied by the flight instructor and at least 30 hours of solo flights apart from five hours of cross-country flying. This makes you qualified for the PPL exam, which comprises of Air Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Engines and Seamanship. You need to have a medical Fitness Certificate issued by the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment (AFCME).

Commercial Pilot License:  A Commercial Pilot License can be obtained only after a PPL has been received. To qualify for a Commercial Pilots License (CPL) 250 hours of flying (including 60 hours for the PPL) is required. Besides that you have to undergo a Medical Fitness Test which is held at New Delhi. The examination of CPL consists of Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical, Planning, and communications in the form of Radio & Wireless Transmission. The age required for this test is 18 to 30 years. With the CPL certificate, a pilot can take up any professional flying assignment.

Training of Helicopter Pilots: Helicopter pilots need to have Commercial Helicopter Pilots License (CHPL). This license can be acquired in two stages. The Private Helicopter License (PHPL) requires a 40 hours of flying training (15 hours should be solo). And on clearing the written exams of aviation subjects you get the CHPL license. Helicopter Pilots can find employment opportunities with the commercial organisations, Public Sector organisation and other security/protective agencies.

Flying clubs in India

Some of the flying clubs in India which are imparting training in flying and offering SPL, PPL, and CPL, certificates are:

Flying Training Institute, Behala, Calcutta	Government aviation Training Institute, Civil aerodrome, Bhubaneswar
Karnal Aviation Club, Kunjpura Road, Karnal, Haryana	Government Flying Club,Aerodrome, Lucknow
School of Aviation Science and Technology, Delhi Flying Club Ltd, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi	State Civil Aviation, UP Govt. Flying Training Center Kanpur and Varanasi
Mumbai Flying Club, Juhu Aerodrome, Santa Cruz West, Mumbai	Rajasthan State Flying School, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur
Govt. Flying Training School Jakkur Aerodrome, Bangalore	Andra Pradesh Flying Club Hydrabad airport, Hydrabad

Career Prospects

The demand for trained, skilled, and qualified pilots is increasing in India as the more and more people are taking flights to complete their journey in short time. As new airline are opening in India there is a huge demand for commercial pilots in India. A trained pilot can also look for employment opportunities in foreign countries. The employment opportunities in this profession are available in government and private airlines (domestic & international), cargo planes, charter planes, private planes.

Remuneration 

The total remuneration of a pilot includes contributory provident fund, gratuity, medical facilities and free/concessional air passage. A trained commercial pilot can earn from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 150,000 per month, depending on the airline and experience.

Institutions offering aviation courses 

•  Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), Raebareli (UP)  www.igrua.gov.in
• Orient Flight School Chennai with operations at Puducherry  www.orientflights.com
• Thakur College of Aviation, Shaymnarayan Thakur Marg, Thakur Village, Samata Nagar, Kandivli (E), Mumbai;
• Institute Of Aviation and Aviation Safety (IAAS), Mumbai; www.mu.ac.in/