Be a pilot!

1. What are the steps to obtain an Indian Commercial Pilots License?

DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) is the regulatory authority that issues Commercial Pilot License in India. The rules are laid by them under a special name called Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Click here for their website. The following steps will give you a brief idea of the processes.

Step 1: You will need to be a minimum of 12th pass from a recognized board in the MPC/PCM stream (Maths, Physics, and Chemistry) or equivalent certification from an open school if not from the MPC/PCM stream. The minimum age to start flying is 16, and the minimum age of issue of CPL is 18.

Step 2: Staying fit is key to a successful career in aviation! You will be needing a Class-II followed by a Class-I medical license to obtain your CPL. Please read this carefully and completely.

Step 3: You will be needing a computer number to appear for exams conducted by DGCA. Apply here
The following are the subjects which you will be appearing for, the syllabus for the same can be found here.

Air Navigation
Air Regulation
Aviation Meteorology
Technical General
Technical Specific (Aircraft you will be flying)

Step 2 and Step 3 can be done simultaneously at your preference.

Step 4: Join a Flying Club/Academy that is recognized by the DGCA. A list of the same can be found here. Before joining any academy/club, we strongly suggest to do a thorough background check of the flying school.

Student Pilot License (SPL) will be issued by the flying club/academy which will allow you to start your training. Click here to know more. The general trend is to obtain a CPL with Instrument Rating. The split of the required hours can be found here.

Step 5: Apart from these subjects you will be needed to obtain another license called the Radio Telephony Restricted (Aero), also known as RTR (A). It is issued by Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Details about that can be found here.

Step 6: An optional step that you can consider to increase your chances of joining an airline. You can opt for Type Rating on a particular airplane that you wish to fly in the future by joining any Approved Training Organisation. A list can be found here for some of the Indian ATOs

2. What are the costs incurred during CPL training?

The cost may fluctuate from 30-45 lakhs. It depends on which academy you are flying from and what aircraft are you training on. You can also look out for government sponsorships in these tough times. Some airlines like Indigo, have a comprehensive cadet programs that can cost you around 80 lakhs to 1 crore.

3. Do I need to have a good percentage or a degree?

There is no such requirement from DGCA to have a good percentage in Class 10th or 12th and it is also not mandatory to be an undergraduate for obtaining a CPL. Nevertheless, the percentage and degree help you during your airline interviews and also acts as a good backup option in the future.

4. Can flying be done outside India?

Yes, absolutely. Flying can be done outside for complete CPL. But you’ll have to go through the conversion process that includes some flying and pass couple of theoretical papers back here in India to issue your Indian CPL license. A thorough read of this document shall clarify most doubts. Keep in mind that you complete flying training abroad in an aircraft type that is available and registered in India as well.

5. What is type rating? Is it necessary?

Type rating is a specific training of a particular commercial aircraft like the Airbus 320, Boeing 737 to name a few. It is a very highly specified course and is conducted by many organizations around the world with a laid down course structure. It may vary on costs from aircraft type to type. A range of costs could be anywhere from 12 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs depending on the organization and various training standards and methodologies that they follow. Sometimes airlines do call for type rated pilots and hence giving you an added advantage. Rules about type rating can be found here.

6. “I’m passionate about a flying career. Should I pursue this course?”

Questions like these are often faced by people already in the aviation industry, either employed or unemployed. To start of with nobody can or should stop you from living your passion and dream. But you may consider the following major key points before proceeding any further. They are as follows:

Requires big financial assistance. As you may have calculated from the above values mentioned. Taking minimum and maximum into consideration if you opt to complete type rating from the CPL level, it may be from 40 Lakhs to 75 lakhs. (Factors include Academy, type of aircraft and other costs).
Could be time consuming to finish the training that includes clearing of theoretical papers.
Unemployment is relatively high due to not enough opportunities, as in the demand-supply curve is off limit currently.
Risk to life is not totally ignorable.

7. What is the expected salary at the start of my airline career?

Salaries vary from airline to airline, to start off with one may earn anywhere from INR 1.15-2.50 Lakhs per month. It is highly recommended that before stepping into the field, a proper consultation is sought from experienced industry people.

Keep in mind the above listed points always and then make a decision. Completely involve your parents in these discussions as well. As negative and discouraging the above points may sound, but a thorough analysis is a must is the objective of the points.

About POH

Welcome you onboard to a learning experience that will last a lifetime. We have over a decade years of experience in the field of Aviation and Teaching.

We conduct CPL and ATPL classes and specialize in Airbus A320 ground classes and simulator sessions in Hyderabad.

Connect with us!

2nd Floor, Plot 41,Sai Villas, MRO Office Road, Shamshabad, Hyderabad, Telangana - 501218
+91 8977 020 320
info@planesoverhead.com

Cheers and Happy Landings!