Are you dreaming of soaring through the skies as a pilot? Great news! This guide will walk you through every step of your journey from a 12th pass student to a professional pilot. Buckle up and let’s take off on this exciting adventure!
Step 1: Check If You’re Eligible to Become a Pilot
Before you start your pilot training, make sure you tick all these boxes:
- Age: You need to be at least 17 years young to start training. But don’t worry if you’re even younger – you can use this time to prepare.
- Education:
- You must pass 12th standard with Physics and Maths.
- Didn’t take Physics or Maths in 12th? No problem! You can still appear for these subjects through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
- Aim for at least 50% marks in 12th. Some airlines might ask for a minimum of 60%. So better still, keep a benchmark of 60%.
- Language: You need to be good at English. It’s the language pilots use all over the world. Start practising now if you need to improve.
Step 2: Get Your Medical Certificates
Just like how we service planes to make sure they’re fit to fly, pilots need to prove they’re healthy too. For this, you’ll need two types of medical certificates:
- Class 2 Medical Certificate:
- This is your first step. It’s like a health check-up for beginners before you start your journey to become a pilot.
- You can get this from doctors approved by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) in many cities across India.
- After the check-up, you’ll get your medical certificate called CA-35. This proves you’re fit to start training.
- Class 1 Medical Certificate:
- This is a more detailed check-up. It is advisable to do this before you start flying training. Also, Class 1 is mandatory for the issuance of your Commercial Pilot License later.
- You can only get this in 5 cities: Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Jorhat.
Step 3: Find out The Best CPL Ground Classes in India
- Find the best institute providing the best CPL ground classes in India and enrol for the same. (For initial homework, you can refer to google. However, do make it a point to visit the short-listed institutes and interact with their students to get the first hand information. Do not merely rely on the reviews or the social media impact of the so-called influencers in the trade. You could regret.)
- Prepare for MCQ-based computerised exam. This includes the subjects mentioned below:
- Air Navigation (how pilots find their way)
- Aviation Meteorology (understanding weather for flying)
- Air Regulations (the traffic rules of the sky)
- Aircraft Technical knowledge (how planes work & fly)
- Technical General
- Technical Specific
- Radio Telephony Restricted (RTR) (communication system used between pilots, air traffic control (ATC), and ground stations)
Don’t worry if this sounds tough. You will learn this in your CPL ground classes.
Tip: This is to inform you that, as of now, there are no CPL ground classes that are “Government approved” or “DGCA approved.” This is intentionally deceptive and designed just to mislead students and entice them to join their academy. So, please BEWARE!
Step 4: Choose Your Flying School
Picking the right flying school is like choosing the right college. Here’s what to look for:
When choosing a school, think about:
- How good is their training? Ask current students if you can.
- What types of planes do they have? More variety is usually better.
- What is the health of the aircrafts.
- How many instructors do they have for each student?
- What’s the weather like where the school is? You need good flying conditions to learn.
- How much does it cost? Pilot training is expensive, so compare prices and the quality of training..
Step 5: Hit the Books in Ground School
Before you can fly a plane, you need to understand how everything works. This happens in ground school:
- You’ll study these subjects:
- Air Regulations
- Aviation Meteorology
- Technical General (Aircraft, Systems & Engines)
- Technical Specific (about a particular type of aircraft)
- Air Navigation
- Radio Telephony (how pilots talk to air traffic control)
- Get your DGCA Computer Number:
- This is a unique identification number assigned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to pilots and other aviation personnel in India. This is used to maintain a record of the individual’s training, licensing and other information related to their aviation career.
- Go to pariksha.dgca.gov.in to apply online.
(If u have any doubt while applying, you may whatsapp your query on 8800101111 to seek advice)
- Pass the DGCA theory exams:
- These happen multiple times each year.
- The questions are multiple-choice, like your board exams.
- Study hard! (Mind you, in your aviation career it’s not your getting the answer right but the understanding & reasoning behind your choice that really matters). These exams test if you’re ready to fly safely.
Step 6: Take to the Skies – Flight Training
Now comes the exciting part – actually flying planes! Here’s what you need to do:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requires a minimum of 200 hours of flight time to obtain a Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL):
- Pilot-in-command (PIC): At least 100 hours of flight time as PIC
- Cross-country flight: At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC, including a flight of at least 300 nautical miles with landings at two different airports
- Night flight: At least 5 hours of night flight time as PIC, including a minimum of 10 takeoffs and 10 landings
- Instrument flying: At least 20 hours of instrument flying
- Simulator training: At least 20 hours of simulator training
Step 7: Learn to Talk Like a Pilot
Pilots have their special way of talking on the radio. You need to learn this too:
- Pass the Radio Telephony Restricted License (RTR) exam.
- Then, pass another exam conducted by DGCA for the Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License (FRTOL).
These licenses prove you can communicate clearly and correctly while flying.
Step 8: Show Off Your Skills – CPL Skill Test to Become a Pilot
Now it’s time to prove you can fly like a pro: A DGCA approved examiner will fly with you to check your skills to evaluate if you can handle the plane in different situations, like taking off, landing, and handling emergencies.
Think of this as your driving test, but for flying!
Step 9: Apply for Your Commercial Pilot License
You’re almost there! Now, you need to get your official license:
Gather all these documents:
- Your filled application form
- Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Proof that you passed all DGCA theory exams
- Your flying logbook showing all your flight hours
- Reports from your skill tests
- Your FRTOL
Submit everything to the DGCA and wait for them to process your application. Soon, you’ll have your Commercial Pilot License!
Step 11: Land Your Dream Job and Become a Pilot
Now you’re ready to apply for airline jobs:
- Keep an eye out for job openings in different airlines.
- Prepare for entrance exams and interviews. Each airline has its own process.
- If you’re selected, you might need to train on the specific type of plane that the airline has. This training on the specific type of plane is called Type Rating.
Some Extra Tips for Your Journey:
- Start saving money early. Becoming a pilot is quite expensive.
- If you need help paying for training, look into bank loans.
- Be serious and focussed in your ground classes. Negate short-cut methods of learning that help you pass exams but don’t make you employable. Ironically, this is what is going on in most of the so-called reputed institutes in India (often backed by social-media influencers). Don’t fall prey to them. Take a well-informed decision. After-all, it’s your life.
- Stay fit and healthy. Pilots need to pass regular medical checks.
- Keep up with aviation news and new technologies.
- Make friends with other pilots and people in the aviation industry.
Remember, becoming a pilot is a challenging but rewarding journey. It takes time, hard work, and money. But if you’re passionate about flying, all the effort will be worth it when you’re up in the clouds, living your dream.
So, are you ready to spread your wings and fly? With this guide and your determination, the sky’s the limit! Good luck on your exciting journey to becoming a pilot!
