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Introduction
How to Become a Pilot: Before 2010 there was no guidance and no expert to tell us how to go about our pilot training and how to become a commercial pilot. There was all heard information, misinformation, and confusion all around.
But now we can figure out the real process from various platforms as there are many resources available to get the right knowledge about pilot training.
So to become a pilot in India the recommended sequence is for it you to successfully get through the below steps that we will cover here in this article. After reading this article you should be able to get your commercial pilot license in the fastest and most efficient way.
There is a lot of wrong information about pilot training and we don’t want you to be the victim of that wrong information.
This article is for aspiring pilots who are serious about pilot training and are eligible to become a pilot. So, to start your pilot training in India, we need to go through and follow the below process:
Step 1: Check your eligibility Haw To become a pilot:
- A candidate should have done the 12th class in the Science stream with Physics and Mathematics.
- The minimum age limit for CPL is 17 years, and the maximum age limit is 60 to 65 years.
- A candidate should have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% marks to become eligible for a Commercial Pilot License.
- A candidate is required to pass the class 2 medical test to become eligible for a Student Pilot License (SPL).
Important: What if you don’t have physics and maths in 12th?
This is not a big deal to become a commercial pilot, If you have done any other course, you should make sure that it is equivalent to 10+2. If it doesn’t have physics or mathematics, you may appear for exams for those and get equivalent certificates from NIOS.
Step 2: Get done with your DGCA Class 2 Medical to start your Pilot Journey:
Are you eligible to become a pilot? You’ve taken your discovery flight and decided you’d like to learn to fly. Whether you’d like to become a private pilot or an airline pilot, the next step is getting your medical certificate.
So let’s get done with your medical before starting your pilot career. Because to become a pilot we need a huge amount to invest. That’s why we recommend aspiring pilots to complete their medical formalities prior to preparing for DGCA ground classes.
DGCA medical is not an active work that consumes a lot of time, all it takes is one day to get the test done and one to two visits to DGCA medical examiner overall this should not take more than 48 hours maximum of your active time.
So as you start pilot preparation get in touch with the DGCA medical examiner to get the recommended test done from a certified pathological lab as you produce those reports to your dgca medical examiner and as long as everything is within normal limits that’s the abbreviation your dgca PMR file number will be generated and you should be able to get your dgca class 2 medical assessment.
Step 3: DGCA Ground Classes Preparation to Become a Pilot:
So as you finish your 12th with physics and maths, and get done with your medical, you can start preparing for the DGCA exams, because when you are just done with the 12th you are in the momentum and zone of studying you are more disciplined than otherwise, so you should not lose that momentum just immediately channel that momentum into studying for the dgca exams and you will perform your best and get done with this one of the most important parts of pilot training.
You can join the best DGCA Ground Classes in India to get prepared for your DGCA exams or Pilot training.
Step 4: DGCA Class 1 Medical to Start your Pilot Training:
After class 2 medical you can apply for class 1 medical with Egca, the process has become way faster than it used to be so take advantage of it. The validity of class 2 medical is 2 years for commercial pilot training so within that period you can apply for class 1 medical and that is only after clearing your class 2 medical not before that requirement for dgca class 2 and class 1 medical is to be fit according to dgca standards for civil aviation pilots.
Note: You might be wondering, what if someone fails in medical then what? So it is strongly recommended that you should get into a pilot career only and only if you are fit to the best of your knowledge. That’s why we recommend getting the medical before starting your pilot career.
If you have any known medical condition that can affect your pilot career then don’t get into a pilot course for those who are unfortunately not privileged with the required level of fitness there are many other aviation career options and in our opinion that if you give enough hard work and hundred percent to any career you will succeed.
There are a few pilot training institutes with more certainty for aspiring pilot students to start preparing for DGCA exams even if they don’t have medical yet. Because at this institute they refund student’s fees in case of any student is declared as permanently medically unfit during their tenure. So aspiring pilot students have nothing to lose and they can utilize time more efficiently instead of waiting on medical assessments for months.
Step 5: Get a Computer Number from DGCA to Appear in Pilot Exams :
As you are on the way to your DGCA exam preparation, to become a pilot in India you will need a computer number to give these exams. Many aspiring pilots as they start, don’t know what this is and those who know which are very few, have applied for it and even fewer have it issued. So let’s have a look at what is computer number in the pilot training program.
A computer number is like an enrollment number for the DGCA exam. it’s like when you walk to a bank to open an account the bank person issues you an account number and that number is the same for the rest of your life, the same is true with the DGCA computer number. Or we can say it is your roll number for DGCA papers that are required to become an airline pilot. You can only apply for DGCA exams once you have a computer number issued to you by the DGCA.
The important point is that you need to be aware of all the procedures. It’s very easy to get a computer number application rejected as no mistakes in this application are overlooked by DGCA, so take guidance from someone who has done it successfully or get help from an expert.
DGCA CPL Exams | DGCA Pilot Exams
You will need your 12th certificate & mark sheet with board verification certificate (BVC) of physics and maths for issuance of the dgca computer number in the CPL category. So for the same reason if you haven’t received the 12th results yet, then you will need to wait for the computer number application until you get those results.
Note: Some misconceptions are there like can someone apply for a computer number without having dgca medical the answer is YES. You can apply for a DGCA computer number before you get your medical because the computer number is for DGCA exams and the DGCA PMR file number is for DGCA medical, These two enrollment numbers are two separate issuances and these remain the same throughout your pilot career.
The computer number is handled by the Pariksha wing of the DGCA and the PMR file number is handled by the medical cell of DGCA.
Step 6: Apply For DGCA Exams for Commercial pilot license:
Once you have a computer number you can apply for dgca exams. If you are planning on doing your flying training abroad then you need to pass 3 subjects as follows:
- Air Navigation,
- Aviation Meteorology, and
- Air Regulations
Those who are planning on flight training in India need to pass an additional two subjects that are:
4. Technical General, and
5. Technical Specific
The passing percentage for these exams is 70 and the knowledge that you gain while preparing for these exams is vitally important for your entire pilot career. DGCA exams study is not anything like conventional studies for school and college exams where some students just pass and forget about the subject ever existed.
This knowledge is something that the candidate will also be assessed over in his/her airline recruitment exams if you consider the pilot career. So prepare in such a way that you will never forget it.
If all that sounds overwhelming to you you can simply join the DGCA ground classes, which guide students through the process and assist them in computer number applications for those who want to join India’s best online on-demand ground class for DGCA exams.
Many aspiring pilot students clear their DGCA exams on their first attempt with excellent results. They facilitate you with the knowledge and resources so that you will succeed in your pilot career.
So this is what your first 90 to 120 days into aviation should look like, you should be done with your DGCA exams and medical in this period whether from India or abroad. It is strongly recommended to do medicals before starting your flight training.
Step 7: Join a Flight Training School to Earn your Commercial Pilot License
The next step to becoming a pilot is joining a flying school. You can do your flight training from India or you may join any flight school abroad. Before your flight training, you should do your research about flying training institutes like:
- The completion time
- Training quality
- All exposures to flying in a high air traffic environment
- Aviation market
- Cost of training
- Accommodation
- Flying infrastructure
- Instructors
So as you join flight school after your research, you can expect to finish your flight training in less than 12 months. This training will involve:
- Getting a private pilot license or student pilot license.
- Getting an instrument rating building solo 100 hours of experience.
- Getting a commercial pilot license.
Overall flight experience on your logbook will be between 200 hours on successful completion. If financially it is not feasible for you to do flight training abroad, India also has many good flight schools to become an airline pilot.
India is one of the fastest-growing aviation industries choosing a flight school in India is not a bad option either all flight schools in India are approved by DGCA as they become operational flight training in India takes 15 to 18 months as long as the aspiring pilot student has his or her DGCA exams cleared you will have it cleared before joining the flight school whether from India or abroad flight training involves learning different skills, maneuvers procedures, techniques, etc.
Without a doubt, flight training is one of the most memorable and joyous experiences in pilot training that pirates cherish for the rest of their lives once you have completed flight training as per the DGCA requirements you are almost ready to get your DGCA commercial pilot license.
Step 8: Get RTR(A) License
The RTR(A) license holder is responsible and authorized for Operating All radio frequencies and radio equipment on board an aircraft. The license is a mandatory requirement for an aviation enthusiast to professionally work as a commercial pilot or a flight dispatcher in India as per DGCA regulations.
Radio Telephony Restricted Aero or RTR Exam needs to be passed to get a commercial pilot license in India. It is conducted by a combined team of Wireless Planning Commission(WPC) and DGCA India, the exam consists of 2 parts. The first part is a practical assessment of your communication capabilities. The second part is of direct interviews with a WPC representative and a DGCA representative.
You will pass the exam only after passing both parts in the same attempt. Those who have cleared part 1 are called for part 2. Results of part 1 are announced almost immediately and that of part 2 is announced 2-3 weeks after the exam.
Those flying from a commonwealth country can skip the steps of taking the RTR exam in India for issuance of the DGCA commercial pilot license (CPL). Those who are planning on doing the flight training in India will need to give the RTR exam.
Step 9: Get Your Commercial Pilot License(CPL) from DGCA:
Following the above steps the documents could be submitted to DGCA for the issuance of CPL as you meet the dgca requirements you will be issued a commercial pilot license. (CPL)
There you have it While the journey of a pilot career doesn’t end here getting a DGCA CPL is a remarkable milestone as you receive this commercial pilot license.
Keep continuing your momentum of chasing that seat in the airline cockpit, continue preparing and as airlines come up with the recruitment perform your best and achieve that goal of becoming an airline pilot.
While reading this article you must be aware of your pilot training for sure, having this information is important but at the same time thinking about all this at once could get overwhelming. So don’t worry you should focus on step by step process.
The baby step process is a proven method and eventually as you continue your stride in the right direction. We strongly believe that you will eventually step into the airline cockpit as a commercial airline pilot.
Read our more blog:- DGCA Class 1 and Class 2 Medicals for a Pilot – Guide
Happy Landings!
