Almost every one of us is excited when we see an aeroplane? Whenever we look up at the sky, we see birds flying without any stress and tensions and dream of flying like them. Yeah, this dream can never come true. But have you ever thought of the pilots? Indeed, we can never become a bird but, that does not mean that we cannot fly in the sky. You can become a pilot to get the pleasure of flying high up in the sky. It is a sector that is catching mass attentions.
Earlier, becoming a pilot is a daring dream. But now, it is time you can live your dream. Becoming a pilot is no longer an impossible dream to fulfil. In India, there are two ways by which you can become a pilot-
- By securing a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
- By becoming a pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF)
The civil aviation licenses include the student pilot license, private pilot license and final license.
- You can get the student pilot license at the age of 16
- You can get the private pilot license at the age of 17
- You can get the Commercial Pilot License at the age of 18.
1. COMMERCIAL PILOT OR CIVIL AVIATION
Pursuing a career in civil aviation is full of responsibilities because you will be responsible for hundreds of lives in a single aircraft from one place to another in the safest possible way. A commercial pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).To pursue a career in this field, you need to study in science stream- physics, mathematics and chemistry as compulsory subjects. There is a set of entrance procedure to get admission to a pilot training course. The entrance procedure includes a written test, a medical examination, and an interview. You should have scored a minimum of 50% in class 12 to join a flying school.
Student Pilot License (SPL) :
It is not that tough to get a student pilot license. It is similar to a learner’s degree before the experienced one. You need not have any prior experience before applying for an SPL. But it is compulsory to secure an SPL license before they can apply for CPL. Admission procedure:
1. Candidates must have cleared a minimum of the 10th board examination from a recognized board.
2. They should possess medical fitness as per DGCA guidelines.
3. Once the candidate gets prepared, they can apply for SPL in any flying school approved by DGCA.
4. He/she should appear for the written test and oral exam held by a DGCA representative or the chief instructor of the flying institute.
You should have in-depth knowledge about the national airspace systems, basics of aerodynamics, practice with flight simulators, weather principles, basic maneuvers and the training requirements. Exams for SPL held during July. Keep a check on the submission form dates of the particular institutes.
Commercial Pilot Training (CPL):
Students who have cleared the SPL/12th grade with 50% can apply for a commercial pilot training course from DGCA approved training institutes. Candidates applying for CPL have to appear the written test by the institute on subjects- math, physics, English and reasoning. They will also have to go through the aptitude test. Medical fitness is necessary before applying for CPL.
Private Pilot License (PPL):
Candidates interested in applying for a PPL should have a good health history and pass the flying and written tests. The exams are conducted once in 3 months. A minimum of 50 hours of a flying period is mandatory.
"There's Always A Scope Of Improvement"
2. INDIAN AIRFORCE
It is one of the arms of the Indian armed forces. Their mission is to secure Indian airspace and conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. You can join the Indian air force after qualifying for the NDA examination ( National Defense Academy). Candidates must undergo training of 3 years before graduating. There are three ways of becoming a pilot after graduation:
1. CDSE ( Combined Defense Service Examination ): This exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC. The age of the candidate should be in the range of 20-24 years. Engineering candidates can also apply for CDSE.
2. NCC: Candidates with an air wing senior division C certificate holder of the national cadet corps can apply to the flying branch of the Indian Airforce. The age limit for NCC is also 20-24 years. Both men and women can join the air force by this process.
3. AFCAT (Airforce Common Admission Test): It is an entrance test conducted with the help of C-DAC (centre for the development of advanced computing) for the candidates who are willing to join IAF as commissioned officers in flying. The age limit for AFCAT is 20-24 years.
So, these are all the details for becoming a pilot. Your life depends upon your choice. Work hard, fly up!
By – Sanchayita Chattopadhyay
