Commercial Pilot

To become a Commercial Pilot one must have a commercial Pilot license (CPL). In India the licensing authority is Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). After 10+2, (English, Mathematics and physics), one can undergo a pilot training course from a reputable DGCA-approved institute. Reputed flying clubs conduct written entrance exam and one must be medically fit to apply and must meet the criteria as per the Class I medical assessment rules of the DGCA. It is mandatory to complete 200 hours of flying and to clear theory papers to be eligible to apply for the commercial pilot licence (CPL).

Selection Procedure:

Before beginning the training to obtain CPL the flying clubs and academies select students for training. For selection they should clear the written exam, pilot aptitude test, and interview.

Written exam for CPL is paper of 2 hours duration, maths, physics, general english, and reasoning. Successful candidates of exam undergo the pilot aptitude test and interview.

Eligibility for Rajiv Gandhi Uran Academy: Age 17 years, 10+2 or equivalent with maths and physics and English, Class 1 medical certificate is required before joining the course.

Student Pilot Licence (SPL): This is an examination conducted by flying clubs in every State and covers papers in Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation Air Technical. It is a theory exam. Eligibility-age of 16 years minimum and pass in class X. A medical certificate of fitness, security clearance and a bank guarantee of Rs.10,000 is required.

Aspiring Pilots receive extensive training in the academies and the flight instructors begin with the flight training. First flights are dual flights after 15 hours or more of dual flight one flies solo. One also flies cross country before one applies for CPL.

For CPL one has to clear 5 theory exams in subjects Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Engines, Seamanship and complete 250 hours of flying. 250 hours of total flying time (150 hours of solo, 25 hours of cross country, 10 hours of instrument flying , 5 hours of night flying). Even after getting the CPL one should have multi engine endorsements to apply for an airline job.

Once in a job, one can get further training on simulators to get the type endorsement (say, from Airbus or Boeing) to be able to work as a co-pilot. This training takes six months to one year after you get the CPL.

CPL License and training as a particular aircraft leads to a co-pilot assignment. Promotion depends as flying experience and vacancies. Co-pilots must have the required numbers of flying hours and license. A pilot has to keep training himself and depending on the type of license one has to continuously renew one’s license through medical and other tests.

What will you study?

In addition to flying on twin engine simulator, one will study Flight planning, Air navigation, Aviation meteorology, Air frames and engines, Air regulations, Cockpit resource management

Study Abroad

One can also get training at any reputed institute outside India but to get the CPL one has to clear the exam and other procedure as specified by DGCA from time to time.

Commercial Helicopter Pilots

Helicopter pilots need to have Commercial Helicopter Pilots License (CHPL). This License can be acquired after completing required hours of training and after clearing the exams on aviation subjects.

Helicopter Pilots find employment with big companies, with helicopter services companies and Public Sector organisation and other security/protective agencies.

Flying Training is costly. The fee at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy in Rae Bareilly for Ab- initio to CPL course is around Rs.32 lakhs. While the refresher courses are not so costly.

The cost of training at CAE Oxford Avaiation Academy Gondia is 36 Lakhs.

• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy, Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh - The institute also offers BSC Aviation (Affiliated to university) degree simultaneously with CPL course, subject to completion of syllabus
• Government Aviation Training Institute, Bhubaneshwar.
• Government flying training Institute Bangalore
• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, NFTI Gondia
• Gujarat Flying Club, Vadodara