Becoming a Pilot in India is the dream of millions of students and their parents. This is the most prestigious and demanding career in our society. Many students are attracted by the fascinating career, high payment salary, and international tour experience to choose Pilot as their dream career option. But some students are not able to reach their goal due to a lack of information about how to become a Pilot in India? If you are one of those who are searching for how to become a pilot in India then stick with us I will explain the detailed information about to become a pilot in India.
Are you one of them who are searching over the internet for How to become a Pilot, Salary, training, and how much money is needed to be a Pilot and not getting some clear and satisfactory answer? Don't worry. You are in the right spot now. I will discuss all the steps that are required to become a Pilot in India which will help you to get your answer. So let's get started.
How to Become a Pilot in India
If you decide to go for this exciting career, you have to choose what type of Pilot do you want to be? I mean there are two options for you. The two options are:-
- Commercial Pilot
- Indian Air Force Pilot
1. COMMERCIAL PILOT / CIVIL AVIATION
Want to become a Commercial Pilot? Before that those who don't know what is a Commercial Pilot, I want to tell them that a Commercial Pilot is a Pilot who is responsible for all the transportation of people or goods from one country to another country or within the country by air with the help of a commercial aircraft.
Commercial Pilot is certified by the Director-General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) with a Commercial Pilot certificate. This job has come with great responsibility. They are responsible for the safety of all the passengers traveling through their aircraft and it is a major duty for them to reach the passenger to their destination in time.
What is the qualification for Commercial Pilot?
The educational qualification that is required to become a Pilot in India is 12th or 10+2 in the Science stream having subjects Physics Chemistry and Mathematics. If you are not a science stream student or you don't have these subjects in your syllabus you can study these subjects by enrolling a course in NIOS(National Institute of Open Science). Then You can start your Pilot training course.
Entrance Examination to be a Commercial Pilot
To become a Commercial Pilot in India, you have to qualify in the entrance exam. The entrance exam consists of three steps and that are Written-test, Medical Examination, and Interview. You need to qualify in all the tests to get a seat in Flying school. Then you can apply for Pilot License. The minimum age for applying for a Pilot license is as follows.
- Student Pilot License (Min. age 16 years)
- Private Pilot License (Min. age 17 years)
- Commercial Pilot License (Min. age 18 years)
What Is The Eligibility Criteria for Commercial Pilot?
You need to have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics Chemistry and Mathematics in the 12th examination to be eligible for the entrance exam. You must have physical fitness and fluent communication skills in English to qualify for the entrance exam.
How to be a Commercial Pilot in India?
There are 2 steps that you can follow to become a Commercial Pilot in India. The two steps are:-
- B.Sc. in Aviation
- Get license
1. Pursue B.Sc in aviation course to Become a Pilot in India
This is the first step towards your dream career. You have to take admission in Flying School to do the B.Sc. course to become a commercial pilot in India. The Admission procedure in Flying School is of three steps. The steps are written test, aptitude test, physical examination, and interview.
You need to clear the written exam to get qualify for the next steps. The questions in the written exam are mainly from the 12th standard Physics Chemistry Mathematics and English subjects. After qualifying in the written exam, you will be able to appear for the Pilot aptitude test to become a pilot in India. The aptitude test focus on Air Navigation, Air Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, and knowledge in Aircraft and its engine.
After qualifying in the two exams then the last step comes. In this step, the candidate goes through a medical test and personal interview conducted by DGCA. You must have to qualify in all the steps to get a seat in the Flying School for the B.Sc. course to become a pilot in India.
2. Get a License to Become a Pilot in India
After completing the course you can apply for a License. For that, you need to face a test taken by the chief instructor of the Flying School or DGCA representative. The test which you have to face is an oral test. As soon as you qualify in the test you will get the License.
Please note that before applying for the license you must have completed a minimum of 250 flying hours during your course in the Flying School. Some of the best Flying Schools in India are given below.
Best Flying School For Aviation Course
The following are some of the best Flying institutes to pursue an aviation course.
➤ Madhya Pradesh Flying Club (Indore)
➤ Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (Rae Bareilly)
➤ Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology(Kerala)
➤ Bombay Flying Club (Mumbai)
➤ National Flying Training Institute (Gondia)
➤ Government Aviation Training Institute (Odisha)
➤ Indigo Cadet Training Program (Hydrabad)
➤ Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Ltd. (Ahmedabad)
➤ Karnal Aviation Club (Haryana)
➤ School Of Aviation Science And Technology (New Delhi)
After you get your license, Airline companies hire you as a trainee. During the training period, you get a low stipend but after completing the training you will get a chance to work as a regular Pilot and get a high amount of salary. In this way, you can become a commercial pilot in India. If you searched for how to become a commercial pilot in India then this I the complete guide.
Course Fee For Commercial Pilot in India?
The course fee required to become a Commercial Pilot is very expensive in India. The Flying School charge around 17 to 20 lakhs for the course. The course fee amount of the course varies from institute to institute. This is the main reason for many students not pursuing aviation courses who have an interest in it because they are not financially strong to do this course.
But if you have a burning desire to become a Pilot, you don't have to pay a high amount of money to pursue an aviation course, there is an alternative way and it is Joining the Indian Air Force(IAF) which will be described in following in detail.
2. Indian Air Force Pilot / Army Pilot
If you wish to become an IAF pilot who serves our nation proudly then you don't have to pay a lot of money to get Pilot training. The Indian Government will train you without any cost if you are selected through their various selection procedure.
Army Pilot is a pilot who flies the Fighter Jet to protect our country from any threat in the sky as well as in the mountain area. These Fighter jets are the most advanced aircraft which can speed up to Mach 1 to Mach 2 or even more than that. They are considered the hero of our country.
It is one of the most prestigious jobs from various jobs in India. If you have the zeal and courage to defend our nation from any hostile activities then it is the right career option for you. After the successful completion of the training program, you will be posted as a Class-I Officer and get a handsome salary along with all allowances.
It is the toughest selection procedure as there is a massive amount of candidates applying for it. So, If you think you have to serve your nation as a pilot then it is probably the best career option for you.
How To Be An Army Pilot (IAF Pilot)?
There are mainly 4 ways to become an IAF Pilot or Army Pilot. You have to choose one out of these 4 ways. and the ways are:-
- NDA Exam
- CDSE Exam
- AFCAT
- NCC
Let's discuss them one by one.
#1. NDA EXAM
NDA stands for National Defence Academy. It is the first opportunity that allows aspirants who want to join IAF(Indian Air Force). You can apply for it after the 12th standard. NDA is a tri-service organization that recruits all three branches to train together before they join their respective branch. The training period will be for 3 years. After the successful completion of training, candidates were posted as Pilots at one of the Air Force stations in our country.
If you wish to join NDA after the 12th standard then you have to clear the NDA entrance exam. Before applying for the NDA entrance exam you must know the eligibility criteria for the exam first.
Eligibility Criteria for NDA Exam.
If you decided to go for the NDA entrance exam you must be eligible for the exam first. The minimum eligibility criteria to appear in the examination is 10+2 standard. You must pass in science stream in your 12th exam having subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
NDA allows only Male candidates to apply for the exam. The minimum age for applying the NDA entrance exam is 16 years and the maximum age is 19 years. Students who have in their final year, which means the students who are continuing their study in the 12th standard are also eligible to apply for the entrance examination.
NDA Admission Procedure
The admission procedure in NDA is consists of 4 stages. They are:-
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview
- Pilot Aptitude Test
- Medical Examination
1. Written Examination
Firstly candidates must have qualified in the written examination to go further. In the written exam, there is two paper. One is math and the other one is a general ability test. In the general ability test, the questions are from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, History, Geography, General knowledge, and Current affairs. All the questions in both the math exams and general ability test exams are set as per the 12th standard.
2. SSB Interview
The SSB interview has two stages and they are if the follows.
Stage-1
In this stage, the test which is taken is Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and discussion test.
Stage-2
If you get qualified in the first stage then only you are eligible for the 2nd stage. In this stage, the candidate appears a Psychological test conducted by a Psychologist, Group tasks, and a Personal Interview.
3. Pilot Aptitude Test
Candidates are allowed to take this test only once. If you fail in the first attempt, then you will never be going to eligible for the Flying branch ever again. This test consists of a written test as well as machine tests. This test is meant to evaluate you on how you control your actions, mental strength, and ability to read instruments.
4. Medical Examination
You will have to face a medical examination and have to qualify for that exam. In that exam, your weight, height, and eyesight will be examined. The minimum height required for the NDA aspirants is 152 cms and the weight is according to the height.
#2. CDSE Exam
CDSE stands for Combined Defence Service Examination. It is for the students who completed their graduation and want to come to the defense sector. The aspirants who are selected through the CDSE are sent for the Pilot training at the Air Force Academy which is in Hyderabad. There they got the training and after training, they are placed as the Pilot in the Flying units.
CDSE Exam Eligibility Criteria
You must be eligible in order to face the CDSE exam. The eligibility criteria for CDSE aspirants are given following.
- The candidate must be Indian Nationality
- Only Male Candidates are eligible
- The minimum age is 19 and the maximum age is 23 for CDSE aspirants
- Must be unmarried at the time of applying
- Must have completed graduation(3year) in any discipline having subjects physics chemistry and mathematics in the 12th standard or must have completed B.tech / BE(4 years) in any branch.
CDSE Exam Procedure
The candidate who is going for CDSE Exam must go through the following procedure.
1. Written Test
In the written exam of the CDSE exam, the questions are asked from English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge.
2. SSB Interview
The SSB interview has two stages and they are if the follows.
Stage-1
In this stage, the test which is taken is Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and discussion test.
Stage-2
If you get qualified in the first stage then only you are eligible for the 2nd stage. In this stage, the candidate appears a Psychological test conducted by a Psychologist, Group tasks, and a Personal Interview.
3. Pilot Aptitude Test
Candidates are allowed to take this test only once. If you fail in the first attempt, then you will never be going to eligible for the Flying branch ever again. This test consists of a written test as well as machine tests. This test is meant to evaluate you on how you control your actions, mental strength, and ability to read instruments.
4. Medical Examination
You will have to face a medical examination and have to qualify for that exam. In that exam, your weight, height, and eyesight will be examined. The minimum height required for male candidates in the CDSE exam is 162.5 cms and the weight is according to the height.
#3. AFCAT
AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test. In this exam, the candidate enters into the air force in the SSC entry scheme. SSC stands for Short Service Commission. According to this SSC, entry candidates can't serve in the Indian Air Force(IAF) for more than 14 years.
To join in IAF Pilot through this entry candidate must have qualified in the test which is the AFCAT test. Those who got selected for this test are sent to the Air Force Academy, Dundigal for 74 weeks of training.
AFCAT(SSC) Eligibility Criteria
You must be eligible first to appear in the AFCAT test. The eligibility criteria are:-
- The candidate must be an Indian Citizen
- The minimum age is 19 and the maximum age is 23 years
- Both male and female candidates are eligible for this
- Must have completed graduation(3year) in any discipline having subjects physics chemistry and mathematics in the 12th standard or must have completed B.tech / BE(4 years) in any branch with a minimum of 60% of marks aggregate.
- You should be unmarried while applying
AFCAT(SSC) Exam Procedure
There are 4 types of selection procedures in the AFCAT exam. You have to qualify in all the stages in order to get selected for the Pilot in IAF.
1. Written Exam
In the written exam, the questions are asked to test your Verbal ability, numerical ability, Reasoning, General Awareness, and military aptitude.
2. SSB Interview
The SSB interview has two stages and they are if the follows.
Stage-1
In this stage, the test which is taken is Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and discussion test.
Stage-2
If you get qualified in the first stage then only you are eligible for the 2nd stage. In this stage, the candidate appears a Psychological test conducted by a Psychologist, Group tasks, and a Personal Interview.
3. Pilot Aptitude Test
Candidates are allowed to take this test only once. If you fail in the first attempt, then you will never be going to eligible for the Flying branch ever again. This test consists of a written test as well as machine tests. This test is meant to evaluate you on how you control your actions, mental strength, and ability to read instruments.
4. Medical Examination
You will have to face a medical examination and have to qualify for that exam. In that exam, your weight, height, and eyesight will be examined. The minimum height required for a male candidate in the AFCAT exam is 162.5 cms and the female candidate's height is 148 cms and the weight is according to the height.
#4. NCC
NCC stands for National Cadet Corps. You must have heard about the NCC in your school time. The students who had joined NCC in their school and have Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate, it can help you to join the IAF through the Directorate General National Cadet Corps or through your respective NCC Air squadrons.
If you have NCC 'C' certificate in which you secured 'A 'or 'B' grade then you don't have to go through the written exam in order to join IAF. You can directly appear for the SSB interview.
NCC Eligibility Criteria?
Some eligibility criteria must be followed by the aspirants to join IAF and these are of the following.
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen
- Must be unmarried at the time of applying
- The minimum age must be 19 and the maximum is 23.
- Both Male and females are eligible
- Should hold Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate
- Must have completed graduation(3year) in any discipline having subjects physics chemistry and mathematics in the 12th standard or must have completed B.tech / BE(4 years) in any branch with a minimum of 60% of marks aggregate.
IAF Selection Procedure Through NCC
As we know if you want to go for IAF through this entry, you don't have to face the written exam. You can directly be allowed to appear SSB interview.
1. SSB Interview
The SSB interview has two stages and they are if the follows.
Stage-1
In this stage, the test which is taken is Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and discussion test.
Stage-2
If you get qualified in the first stage then only you are eligible for the 2nd stage. In this stage, the candidate appears a Psychological test conducted by a Psychologist, Group tasks, and a Personal Interview.
2. Pilot Aptitude Test
Candidates are allowed to take this test only once. If you fail in the first attempt, then you will never be going to eligible for the Flying branch ever again. This test consists of a written test as well as machine tests. This test is meant to evaluate you on how you control your actions, mental strength, and ability to read instruments.
4. Medical Examination
You will have to face a medical examination and have to qualify for that exam. In that exam, your weight, height, and eyesight will be examined. The minimum height required for a male candidate to qualify for the IAF through NCC is 162.5 cms and the female candidate's height is 148 cms and the weight is according to the height.
What is the Pilot salary in India?
A pilot job is considered among the top-earning jobs in India. There are two types of pilots whose salary differs from each other. The two types of Pilots are Commercial Pilot and IAF Pilot. The average salary of a Commercial pilot is 70 to 80 lakhs per annum and the average salary of an IAF Pilot is about 15 to 40 lakhs per annum.
What is the Cost of a Pilot Course?
As we know there are two types of Pilots. If you go for the IAF Pilot, it is free. All you need to qualify in the entrance test described in this article. If you go for the Commercial Pilot, you need to spend at least 15 to 20 lakhs as a course fee and the course fee varies from institute to institute.
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CONCLUSION
I hope you got the answer to your question,' How to Become a Pilot In India?'. These are all the possible ways to become a Pilot in India. This is a fascinating career and it has a huge demand among the youth of India. The career path for becoming a Pilot is a little bit harder but you can achieve it by focusing on your study and physical fitness. I wish all your dreams come true and you achieve what you want.
FAQ
Q1. What is the age limit to become a pilot in India?
Ans - The age limit to become a pilot in India is 16 to 23 years. The age depends upon what type of pilot you want to be.
Q2. What is the course fee for a commercial pilot in India?
Ans - The course fee for a commercial pilot in India is 15 to 20 lakhs. It also varies from institute to institute. But you choose to become an IAF pilot then the course fee is very less.
Q3. What is the salary of a Pilot in India?
Ans - There are two types of pilots whose salary differs from each other. The two types of Pilots are Commercial Pilot and IAF Pilot. The average salary of a Commercial pilot is 70 to 80 lakhs per annum and the average salary of an IAF Pilot is about 15 to 40 lakhs per annum.