Pilots are the backbone of the aviation industry. Thus, they are professionals who are responsible for running the aircraft and maintaining/ managing the internal systems of the aircraft. A pilot can enjoy an exciting, pleasing & fast-paced lifestyle. Apart from these, one can also experience new cultures while traveling around the world. They are also known as Airline Captain, Airline Transport Pilot, Airline Pilot, Aircraft Pilot, Commuter Pilot, and Aviator. However, in order to choose a pilot as a career one needs to have a complete understanding of its eligibility requirements, career, scope, etc. So in this article, we have mentioned full information about the career as a pilot, just go through the complete post and you will be aware of all the facts and details.
Career As a Pilot: Eligibility Requirements
- Subject combination: Science stream in 12th.
- Exams: ATPL, IGRUA, Institutions Exams, Etc.
- Aspirants should have passed class 12th from a recognized board of education.
- They should have studied science stream with Physics and Mathematics being the major and compulsory subjects.
- They must have acquired 50% in class 12th.
- The maximum age to apply is 17 years.
- Aspirants should have Good IQ and Problem-solving skills, Decision Making Skills, Good Eyesight, Good Communication Skills and they must be physically fit.
Famous Institutions Offering Pilot Training Course
- Orient Flight School, Chennai
- Puducherry Thakur College of Aviation
- Institute of Aviation and Aviation Safety
- Rajiv Gandhi National Flight Training Institute
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Rae Bareli
- Government Aviation Training Institute, Bhubaneswar
- Government Flying Club, Lucknow
Pilot Training Courses
- Student Pilot License with a duration of six months.
- Private Pilot License with a duration of one year.
- Commercial Pilot License with a duration of three years.
Employment Opportunities for Pilots
Aspirants who want to become pilots must know the employment opportunities available for them. They can grab employment opportunities in fields such as:
- Airline Industries
- Drone Providers and Manufactures
- Indian Armed Forces
- Transportation and Logistics Company
- Indian Airforce
- Indian Navy
Job Profiles:
- Co-Pilot
- Chief Pilot
- Commercial Pilot
- Airline Pilot
- Captain
- Commuter Pilot
- First Officer
- Experimental Test Pilot
Top Recruiters:
- Air India
- India Jet Airways
- Alliance Air
- Air Costa
- Air India Charters Ltd
- SpiceJet
- IndiGo
- Air Asia
Career As a Pilot: Admission Process
If you aspire to be a pilot, you can get direct admission to many top institutions of pilot training. However, firstly you need to clear the entrance exam & must be physically and mentally fit as per the standards of the aviation industry.
Every year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) organizes an entrance test namely IGRUA at the national level. For training in a private pilot institution, you need to submit the fees of Rs. 15 to 20 lakh approx. The fee cost will depend on the basis of what type of license you need.
Career Options After 12th Science 2022: Engineering, Medical & Other
Pilot Salary/ Pay Scale
In India, if one has a flying experience of 250 hours, they can work as a commercial pilot. A commercial pilot is highly paid in India. A fresher can earn Rs 1.5 Lakh monthly. After gaining experience of 2 years or more, they can be paid Rs. 5 to 6 Lakh per month on International flights.
The initial salary of a private jet pilot is the same as a commercial pilot, but after an experience of a few years, they can get Rs. 50 lakh per annum. If you work with the Indian Navy and Indian Army, then you can get between Rs. 5 Lacs to 8 lacs per year. Being a pilot in Indian Air Force is a highly respected job. In order to be a commercial pilot abroad, one should hold a flying experience of 750 hours & possess a basic license experience. Abroad, you can earn double the salary package than in India. While in some foreign countries, the salary is 3 or 4 times more increased than in India.
A pilot is allowed to work 40 hours a week (rarely). They can work late on weekends, holidays and even at night. A commercial pilot gets an 8-hour break between shifts. Most of the pilots monthly fly between 85 and 100 hours. They get a total of 100 hours (monthly) or 1000 hours per year. Celebrities or businessmen also employ commercial pilots. Pilots manage the safety of all passengers and crew onboard during the flight. Pilots typically fly smaller planes such as jets or light aircraft in the private sector.
They are responsible for carefully checking communications systems and sophisticated computer-controlled programmed navigations. They stay in touch with the air traffic control and face to deal with unexpected weather changes and other conditions.