Pilot Training

Do you dream of ruling the skies? You can realize your dream of flying, provided you meet the minimum requirements, and join a flying academy [1]to obtain a commercial pilot license. With the increase in competition in the airline industry, the career prospects of a commercial pilot are very bright. Today, pilots are earning better salaries than ever before, and there are more airlines to hire them.

To become a commercial pilot, you must get a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). But before you get a CPL, you must have a Student Pilot License (SPL). There are three pilot licenses, SPL, Private Pilot License (PPL), and CPL.

A CPL allows you to fly for airlines. Once you get an SPL, you can opt for Private Pilot License (PPL) or Commercial Pilot License (CPL). But the PPL does not allow you to fly commercially and is generally taken up by those who have a passion for airplane flying.

Eligibility/Admission requirements

Age

For SPL - Not less than 16 years

For PPL - Not less than 17 years

For CPL - Not less than 18 year

Eye Sight

Your vision in one eye must be perfect - 6/6 eyesight. In the other eye, you could have an imperfection of 6/9, which must be correctable to 6/6.

Physical Fitness

You must be physically fit and free of any disease that can hamper normal functioning.

Educational Qualification

Class 10 for SPL
10+2 with Maths and Physics with at least 50% marks

Pilot Training Average Fees and Expenses

India

Rs. 10-18 Lacs depending on the flying academy.

Abroad

Rs. 18-25 Lacs, depending on the country and flying academy.

Pilot Training Course Duration

India

Around 2 years

Abroad

6-12 months ( It may vary country to country)

Student Pilot License

You must clear a written theory examination in Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology and Air Navigation and Air Technical.
You must obtain a medical certificate of fitness from doctors designated by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Only two bodies in India -- Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi; and the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bangalore -- are authorised to give you a medical fitness certificate.
You need a security clearance.
You need to take an oral examination and an aptitude test.
You need to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 10,000.
If you clear the medical test and the exams, you will be granted the SPL.

After you get an SPL, you can go ahead and get PPL and CPL. After getting the SPL you can directly go for a CPL. If you want to become a commercial pilot and get a job in the airline industry you need to have a CPL.

Private Pilot License

After you obtain the SPL, you will be assigned an instructor to start your flying lessons. You will learn the basics of flying and your instructor will accompany you on flights.
After 15 hours of flying with an instructor, you can fly solo and go cross-country as well.
To obtain a Private Pilot License, you need to fly a minimum of 60 hours. Of these, at least 20 hours should be solo flying and 5 hours should be cross-country flights.
You also need to appear for the written theory examinations in subjects like Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Engines and Seamanship.
You need to obtain the medical fitness certificate from the AFCME or IAM.
You must have passed Class XII or equivalent exam with Physics and Maths.

Training Costs

Rs 3,500 per hour
To get a PPL, you need at least 60 hours of flying. Thus, the total flying expense is around Rs 2,100,00.

Commercial Pilot License

The age range for getting a CPL is between 18 years and 30 years.
You need a minimum of 250 hours of flying to get this license.
- 150 hours have to be solo flying
- 25 hours of cross-country flying
- 10 hours of instrument flying (which means you rely only on the plane's instruments for flying without looking at the horizon or external assistance),
- 5 hours of flying in the night.
A medical certificate from ACFME or IAM and theory tests in Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical and Planning are other important parts of the process.
You can get the Private Helicopter License if you complete 40 hours of flight training with 15 hours of solo flying. You also need to take written exams on basic aviation subjects.
To get a Commercial Helicopter Pilot License, you need 60 hours of flight training as well as appear for a written exam.

Training Costs

Rs 900,000
For a Commercial Helicopter Pilot License Rs 1300,000
The fees at the premier flying school, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Rae Bareilly are above Rs 16 lakh for CPL+PPL. The 18-month CPL course for those who already have a PPL costs around Rs 12 lakh.

Airline Transport Pilot's License

The above mentioned licenses can only allow you to fly as a co-pilot. If you want to take over as captain, you need the Airline Transport Pilot's License, which is the highest aviation license available. Along with clearing written papers, you also need to clock a total of 1,500 flying hours and take medical tests.

Training Costs

Rs.30,000 to Rs.40,000 per hour.
Often, the airline you work for may sponsor the training costs.

Pilot in Indian Air Force

You can also become pilot in Indian Air Force. To join Indian Air Force, you need to take the NDA entrance test after class 12 with Physics and Maths. If you clear NDA exams and join the Academy, your pilot training will be free of cost, and you will be paid a good stipend throughout the 3 year tenure of the training at NDA, followed by specialized training at the Air Force Academy. After this, you will be commissioned as a Flying Officer and posted as a pilot at an Air Force Station.

But once you get into the IAF, you cannot leave at your own will. You need to serve a minimum number of years. Pilots are not released unless they are not required by the IAF.

Scholarships

The following scholarships are available at and administered through IGRUA, in Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh):

Indian Airlines scholarships
Two scholarships of Rs 4,00,000, each given on merit-cum-means basis per batch.

Air India scholarships
Two scholarships of Rs 4,00,000, each given on merit-cum-means basis per batch.

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
For two women pilots on merit-cum-means to the extent of Rs 3,00,000 each per batch.

Scholarships for SC/ST candidates
Rs 2,00,000 on training fee.
Additional Rs 2,00,000 by IGRUA to three SC/ST candidates per batch by selection on merit cum means basis.
Some state governments award scholarships to SC/ST candidates for training at IGRUA. Eligible candidates may approach the respective State SC/ST Welfare Directorate for the same.

JRD Tata Memorial scholarships
For four students, of an amount not less than Rs 1,00,000 on merit-cum-means basis. The JRD Tata Trust offers up to Rs 10 lakhs per year to trainees.

The Madras Flying Club scholarship
Eligibility: Class X + 10+2; you must also have a Private Pilot License from the Madras Flying Club.

A government scholarship for pilot training is available for SC/ST candidates who have completed SSC/10+2.

Visit the following web sites for more information on scholarship:

Flying school-airlines tie-ups

Various flying schools have tied up with banks as the cost of pilot training is very high. These flying schools also have a tie-up with airlines to provide them with trainee pilots.

United Aviation, a pilot training school [5], has tied up with Spice Jet wherein it provides pilots to the airline.
American School of Aviation [6] has an official tie-up with Kingfisher Airlines.
Aerostar Aviation [7], a Delhi-based flying school has tied up with Flight Safety Academy of USA to help bridge India's pilot shortage.

Bank loans

Pilot training is one of the top three categories of education loans, along with MBA and hotel management. Following are some of the banks where you can apply for education loan to become a pilot.

Centurion Bank of Punjab
State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur
Corporation Bank provides education loan for Commercial Pilot Training both in India and abroad.
State Bank of India [8]
Canara Bank [9]
Syndicate Bank [10]
Punjab National Bank [11]
Central Bank of India
ICICI bank education loan
Union bank of India

Career Prospects

In the recent years, airline industry has seen fierce competition. With the entry of many low cost airlines, the domestic market has suddenly expanded. According to the Federation of Indian Airlines, or FIA, the Indian aviation industry needs more than 4,500 to meet its demand. Furthermore, the attrition rate in the industry is very high. This adds to the rise in average salaries.

Top Recruiters

Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Spice Jet, Indian Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Gulf Air, Emirates

Average Salaries

Entry level salary of a commercial pilot in a private airline is about Rs 1.5 Lacs per annum. In recent times the salaries of commercial pilots have multiplied many times and a monthly salary of around Rs.2 Lac or even a higher figure of Rs 4 Lac does not surprise anymore. Midlevel salary could go up to Rs 5 Lacs per month.

Study abroad

You can also go abroad for pilot training. You can explore foreign locations such as Australia, US, Malaysia and UK for pilot training. However, going abroad for pilot training is comparatively expensive. The advantage is that most of the flying academies in Australia, US, and UK have a shorter duration of course. You can expect to get a CPL in 6-12 months rather than almost 2 years that it takes in India.
For more information on study abroad options for pilot, visit http://www.studyplaces.com/study-abroad/-/Aviation+and+Cabin+Crew/-/-/pilot [12] .