Fly High – A guide to Pilot Training in India

 The spark that Wright Brothers ignited has turned into a burning desire for the human race. The soaring curiosity and obsession with the sky have made aviation the most lucrative and sought-after job sector in the world.

But desire only is not the parameter that makes one a great pilot since the job brings with itself a lot of responsibility and commitment. It requires specialisation, acumen, rigorous training and great discipline. How then does then one step into aviation as a career?

Well for starters, you can obtain a Student Pilot Licence (SPL). Think of it as a learner’s licence in pilot training. In fact, you need an SPL to get a Private Pilot Licence (PPL). To be eligible, you need to have completed 10th standard from a recognised Board, must be 16 years of age and must clear dgca s class 2 medical. You won’t get any flight training but you are required to undertake an oral test and a Pilot Aptitude Test. 

A more advanced one is the Private Pilot Licence (PPL), for which you must be at least 17 years of age, must have passed 10+2 with physics and chemistry as subjects and must have a Class 2 medical fitness certificate. In this course you will have to complete minimum of 40 hours of total flying, out of which you should have completed minimum of 20 hours of solo . 

One must clear all theory exams with subjects such as Aircraft Engines, Regulations, Meteorology, Navigation etc. This licence is for enthusiasts and is more of a recreational nature.

Whereas, Commercial Pilot Licence or CPL is the one you should obtain if you plan to get recognised professionally. For this you should have completed grade 12 th with physics and mathematics , successfully clear dgca s class 1 medical test .

You must log in a total of minimum 200 hours of flying time including 100 hours pilot in command . Out of 100 hours of pilot in command time one should complete minimum of 20 hours of pilot in command cross country .Apart from this one should complete minimum of 10 hours instrument training and 5 hours of pilot in command in night . Dgca CPL/ATPL Exams are conducted 4 times a year , tentatively in january , april , july and september . CPL ground school subjects include Flight Planning, Technical, Navigation, Meteorology, Regulations etc.  After completing both ground training and flight training, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the authority that regulates civil aviation in India awards you with a Commercial Pilot License .

If you want to act as pilot in command on an aircraft which weighs heavier than 5700 kg , for that you must obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, which requires you to meet the minimum requirement of 1500 hours flight time. Since you’ll be responsible for the crew and the aircraft, the course structure and training make sure that you have enough practice and expertise to think on your toes. There has always been a shortage of Captains , so one should try his best to complete his 1500 hours at the earliest and get done with all other formalities to attain an ATPL .

If private pilot training courses seem expensive to you, you can step into the adventurous field of military aviation to satiate your thirst for becoming a pilot. But for that, you need to make sure your grades are top-notch and you are medically fit.

So why wait? Go get yourself enrolled because the sky is full of possibilities for people who wish to explore its depths.

Visit us https://www.hmaviation.net/p/commercial-pilot-license