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What is the eligibility criteria to be an Airline Pilot?

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3 answers

RE: What is the eligibility criteria to be an Airline Pilot?

Meghna Mukherjee
Meghna Mukherjee
Verified Career Expert
Counselor at Adaptive Minds
  • Mumbai

Hello there,

Since I do not know your qualification, let me begin by a little description of what flying is all about.

Flying requires complete control over the devices, as well as being able to concentrate and communicate with the ground staff authorities, and being able to calculate the time, space and distance in times of emergency.

Thus the basic requirement for a pilot includes knowledge of Physics and Math.

As such a pilot need not be a Graduate.
But minimum requirement is 12th pass with knowledge related to Physics and Math.

The Pilot training is divided into 3 main areas:

  1. Student Pilot Licence ( SPL): The minimum requirement apart from 10th class and Math and physics knowledge, is that the candidate needs to be atleast 16 years of age. Also one needs to clear the medical fitness tests and tests related to Air control and other regulations.
    Once a students gets the SPL, he is eligible to move to the next level.

  2. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL): The minimum requirement here is the student must have an SPL, must be minimum 17 years of age and must be 12th pass, with knowledge related to Math and Physics.

Apart from this, the student needs a minimum of 250 hours of flying hours which includes 150 hours of Solo Flying, 25 hours cross country flying, 10 hours of Instrument flying and 5 hours of night flying. Also they have to clear the written examination which are conducted at;least 6 times, which includes a tests related to Air regulations, Aviation Meteorology Air Navigation, technical and Planning.

Cost can be anywhere between 8 to 15 lacks.
3. Private Pilot Licence (PPL) A student can directly opt for PPL, after getting a SPL. Not compulsory to obtain a CPL.
Since the training here is rigorous.

A minimum of 750 hours of flying, which includes flying with an instructor too. After a minimum of 15 hours of dual flying experience, the pilot is allowed solo flying.
Here too, they have to clear entrance exams related to handling situations at the time of flying, in-case of emergency, and unavailability of help.
The costs can range anywhere from 3 to 6 lacks
Aquiring the Commercial Pilot Licence makes you eligible to fly.

But apart from the licence, few other traists required are:

  • Vigilicence
  • Concentration
  • Ability to troubleshoot
  • Communication skills
  • Empathetic
  • Comforting
  • Perfect Vision
  • Reasoning Ability

For more information check: http://dgca.nic.in/

Wish you good luck......

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Caching Date: 1/17/2026 9:46:25 PM