Get Ready To Fly! How to Become a Pilot in India?
Looking for the answer of how to become a pilot in India after 12th? Well, it is one of the most asked questions of the students. The aviation industry offers the right package and pilots get the highest salary in the industry. The career as a pilot is full of new challenges and stable too. Students can get the answer of how to be a pilot after 12th from a professional only. Career counselling after 12th can guide them well to be a pilot.
When you dream of being a pilot, you choose a challenging career path. The answer of how to become a pilot in India is easy and straight, but to make your dreams come true, you will have to pay more attention to your studies. Pilot training cost on India is not affordable for all, but if you have a passion for being a, then you can take the risk of massive investment in training. We will also discuss the cost further in the article first let us elaborate bow to become a pilot in India.
Career As Pilot in India
If you aspire to become a pilot, then you will have to start your preparation much earlier. When you plan to become a pilot, you touch the sky and get a stable career. Commercial pilots get the highest pay in the aviation sector, and pilots in the Indian Air Force get a challenging and full of adventures life with excellent pay.
Class 12th is a milestone in every students’ life, and a right career decision at this point can make you fly higher in the sky. When you chose to be a pilot, then you chose a stable and adventures career. Who doesn’t get impressed with the white uniform and handsome salary of a pilot in India? Let’s check how to become a pilot in India and training available for this;
How to Become a Pilot in India?
If you want to touch the sky and feel like a bird, then the pilot is the best career choice. The aviation industry offers many jobs, but the pilot is one of the highest paying jobs in this industry. You have two options to be a pilot; first is to be a commercial pilot, and the second one is to join the Indian Air Force.
Career in both of the categories offers salary and respect. The only difference between the first and second option is a thrill. When you work for Indian Air Force, the proud, affection and adventure you face are beyond the words. Let’s look at both routes to be a pilot in India and understand the steps you will have to take to be a pilot in India.
- Civil Aviation or Commercial Pilot
In Civil aviation, the domestic and international airlines get counted. The commercial pilots are trained to fly the aircraft owned by different airlines. Air travelling is becoming a popular mode of transport, so the rise in demand for commercial pilots is expected. The role of a commercial pilot is to fly the aircraft with passengers. They can also pass an emergency plane, rescue operations or charter planes and others. A commercial pilot is responsible for the lives of the passengers travelling in the aircraft. Salary of the commercial pilot in India is reasonable, and airlines offer many other benefits to their pilots. Commercial pilots are trained professionals. The idea to be a commercial pilot is fascinating, but there is training and discipline of many years involved. Scroll down to know the requirements to be a commercial pilot.
- Requirements to Be a Commercial Pilot
The first step to becoming a pilot is to choose science stream after 10th. You must have studied physics, Chemistry and Maths in your higher secondary. If you don’t have maths and physics subjects in 12th, learn them from National Institute of Open Schooling.
After completion of 12th with minimum 50% marks, you will have to appear in the entrance exam to become a commercial pilot. The entrance test includes a written test, medical exam and interview. the test is conducted bt different flying schools to offer admission to the students. The training school will give licence to the students according to their age. Student Pilot License is granted to 16 years old. Seventeen years old gets Private Pilot License and 18 years old get the licence of a commercial pilot.
How to be a Commercial Pilot in India?
Here we have compiled the process to be a pilot in steps. Read them to know how can you fulfil your dream of fly in the sky;
Step 1: Participate in the entrance exam conducting by the flying schools in India and then get the admission in flying school. The school will take you to B.Sc Aviation.
Step 2. After completing the course, you will have to apply for the licence according to your age.
Flying Schools in India
Here is the list of best flying schools in India that offer training to the aspirants and help them to make their dream of flying aircraft come true;
- Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA), Rae Bareilly
- Madhya Pradesh Flying Club (MPFC), Indore
- Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology, Kerala
- CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, Gondia,
- National Flying Training Institute, Gondia
- Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd., Ahmedabad
- Indigo Cadet Training Program, (Hamilton, New Zealand & Hyderabad, India)
Pilot Training Cost in India
The cost to become a pilot in India is very high as the training is expensive here. First, make sure that you can bear all the expenses and then only apply for admission in the aviation training academy. An individual will have to pay approx. 15 to 20 lakh to be a pilot and the feed doesn’t ensure your pilot licence.
1. Join Indian Air Force
Flying in the sky can be the dream of many, but not all can pursue it due to the high fee of pilot training institute. The pilot training is expensive in India, but the Indian air force can offer you this free of cost.
The life of a pilot in IAF is full of adventures and risk. Moreover, serving the nation as a pilot in IAF is a dream, and only fortunate ones can do it. When you choose IAF to be a pilot, then you not only get an excellent salary but also become a class I officer in Indian Air Force.
2. How to Become a Pilot in the Indian Air Force?
· NDA
The basic requirements to be a pilot in IAF is same; you must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Maths in 12th. NDA releases the application form twice in a year. You can fill the form and participate in the NDA entrance exam after 12th.
To get the training to be a pilot in IAF, you will have to face an additional test, Pilot Aptitude Test. Applicants can take this test only once. To be an IAF pilot, you will have to clear the test in the first attempt. In this test, your ability to read and understand the instructions will be checked. The NDA authorities will also check your mental strength and your control on it.
Once you clear the NDA exam, you can join its flying branch. In NDA you get training for three years, and on completion of training, you will become a pilot as Permanent Commission Officer and get posted at one of the Air Force stations if the country. NDA is the answer to your how to become a pilot after 12th in India. All you need to be a pilot through NDA is a strong mind and a good grasp of your 12th (PCM) subjects.
· CDSE Entry to the Air Force
If you have done your graduation and want to know how to become a pilot after graduation, then the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) is the answer. You can take the entrance exam of CDSE to be a pilot in IAF after graduation. On clearing the entrance exam of CDSE, you will have to take the pilot aptitude test. Like NDA in CDSE, it is also one time opportunity for you and you will have to clear it in the first attempt.
On clearing the Pilot Aptitude test, you will get the pilot training to join Indian Air Force at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. On completion of training, you will be sent to the flying unit of IAF as a pilot.
· Entry to the Airforce through (SSC)
You can join Indian Air Force through SSC. You will be allowed to serve the nation for not more than 14 years if you choose to enter in Airforce through SSC. To get an entry in SSC, you will have to qualify the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT). You will undergo a training of 74 weeks to be a pilot after clearing the Pilot Aptitude Test. the test details will be the same as mentioned in NDA and CDS. To take SSC exam, you must be graduate in any stream but must have studies physics and Maths in 12th. BE, B. Tech both get acceptance to take the SSC exam. The age of the applicant must be 19 to 23 years. If you have a commercial pilot licence, then the maximum age limit for you is 25 years.
