How to Become a Pilot: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Jobs, Salary

Steps to Become a Pilot

Becoming a pilot is a multi-step process in India. Candidates looking to become commercial pilots have to obtain certain certifications. Candidates looking to join the Indian armed forces must clear entrance exams like AFCAT or NDA. The general steps to becoming a pilot are as follows. 

• Join a Flying School - Candidates should choose a flying school based on their preference and must enrol in a DGCA-approved flying school. These schools develop a strong base for candidates and also teach aviation subjects in detail.
• Gain Relevant Experience - Adding flight hours is one of the essential steps in becoming a Pilot. 250 hours of flight time is required to become a Commercial Pilot. For Military Pilots, flight time is 1,500 hours. Flight hours are accumulated under the supervision of flight instructors. Apart from flight sessions, candidates are also required to undergo ground theory training.
• Complete Remaining Tests - Candidates are required to pass all aptitude and psychological tests to become eligible for applying for big airlines. They are also required to work as Pilots and Co-pilot.
• Pilot License - Candidates should prepare and pass the DGCA exam which tests the candidate’s knowledge of aviation theory, regulations and other related topics. After clearing the exam, they can apply for different licenses like SPL, PPL, CPL and ATPL.
• Work as a Pilot - After completing the above steps, candidates can start working as Pilots or Co-pilots. With time and experience, they can see increment to higher posts like the Captain and working on long-haul flights.
• Endorsement - Candidates wishing to operate a certain kind of aircraft will have to do additional type rating training and obtain endorsement for that particular aircraft. 

Eligibility Criteria to Become a Pilot

To become a Pilot in India, candidates are required to undergo necessary training and meet certain criteria. The typical eligibility criteria for pursuing a career as a Pilot include the following.

• Candidates must be Indian nationals to apply for the pilot licence.
• Candidates must have cleared class 12 in PCM with 50% marks from a recognised board. 
• Candidates should have a minimum of 18 years to apply for the course.
• Candidates are required to fulfil a specific number of flight hours from a recognised flying school.
• Candidates should have a flight license to work as a pilot in India.

Besides the above eligibility criteria, candidates must also match the physical requirements to be a Pilot. They must have a Class I Medical Certificate issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The physical eligibility criteria for male and female candidates are mentioned in the following table.

Eligibility Criteria for Male Candidates

Eligibility Criteria for Female Candidates

Licenses to Become a Pilot

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body that issues different types of pilot licenses in India. There are different types of pilot licenses in India based on candidates’ interests and flight types. The common pilot licenses in India are as follows. 

• Private Pilot License (PPL) - PPL is the work step in becoming a pilot in India. The license allows pilots to fly aircraft for their personal and recreational purposes. Training involves basic flight operations, navigation and manoeuvres. 
• Commercial Pilot License (CPL) - CPL allows pilots to fly aircraft for commercial purposes and get compensated for their services. They can work for airlines, cargo airlines, charter companies and more. They are required to fulfil additional training hours along with the basic training. 
• Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) - It is the highest level of pilot license in India allowing pilots to work as first officers or captains in commercial airlines. It covers advanced flight operations, CRM and airline procedures. Candidates are also required to possess a significant amount of flying hours. 
• Instrument Rating (IR) - IR is an additional license allowing pilots to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). It improves pilot’s credibility and skills as they are trained to navigate in adverse conditions while solely relying on instruments for navigation and control. 
• Multi-Engine Rating (ME) - This license allows pilots to operate aircraft with multiple engines. Pilots learn the complexities of handling larger aircraft like asymmetric thrust, engine failures and more. 

How to Become a Pilot after 10^th 

To become a pilot after class 10, candidates are required to opt for the science stream in classes 11 and 12 and follow the below-mentioned steps to become a pilot. 

• After class 10, candidates should pursue physics, chemistry and maths as primary subjects and try to pass with a good percentage.
• Candidates should be medically fit to fly. They must undergo a fitness test at a DGCA-approved facility to obtain a Class 1 Medical certificate. 
• They should search for DGCA-approved flying schools and get admitted to one. They should finalise school based on their career goals and pilot type.
• Candidates should learn about different aspects of ground training and various theories like aviation regulations, meteorology, navigation, aerodynamics and more.
• After ground training, they have to undergo flight training under the supervision of a flight instructor. Candidates have to accumulate flight hours per their pilot license.
• They also have to clear DGCA written exams on different aviation-related subjects. 
• Upon completion of the above steps, candidates can obtain their Private Pilot License (PPL). They can earn more flight hours to earn other pilot licenses. 

How to Become a Pilot after 12^th 

To Become a Pilot After 12th candidates are required to clear class 12 with the science stream to apply for pilot training schools. The general steps are as follows. 

• Join a Flying School - Candidates should choose a flying school based on their preference and must enrol in a DGCA-approved flying school. These schools develop a strong base for candidates and also teach aviation subjects in detail.
• Gain Experience - Adding flight hours is one of the essential steps in becoming a Pilot. 250 hours of flight time is required to become a Commercial Pilot. For Military Pilots, flight time is 1,500 hours. Flight hours are accumulated under the supervision of flight instructors. Apart from flight sessions, candidates are also required to undergo ground theory training.
• Complete Remaining Tests - Candidates are required to pass all aptitude and psychological tests to become eligible for applying for big airlines. They are also required to work as Pilots and Co-pilot.
• Pilot License - Candidates should prepare and pass the DGCA exam which tests the candidate’s knowledge of aviation theory, regulations and other related topics. After clearing the exam, they can apply for different licenses like SPL, PPL, CPL and ATPL.
• Work as a Pilot - After completing the above steps, candidates can start working as Pilots or Co-pilots. With time and experience, they can see increment to higher posts like the Captain and working on long-haul flights.