Pilots are professionals who undergo in-depth training for flying various aircraft. There aredistinct courses that are taught corresponding to the numerous aircraft that are in use. The cadets begin their training modules with the operation of various types of aircraft such as passenger aircraft and cargo aircrafts. There are different categories of pilots based on the election of streams and subjects that a candidate seeks to pursue.

• Airline Transport Pilots –Pilots who are entrusted with flying commercial planes by private airlines through which they carry passengers to different locations are known as airline transport pilots.
• Air Force Pilots – Cadets who are selected and thoroughly trained under the national Air Force Academy. Because of the rigorous training, they become experts in flying armed jets and serve the nation under the defense ministry
• Private Pilots – People who can afford private jets, prefer to employ private pilots who can fly them around at any time required.

• Flight Instructors –Instructors who work for a training institute where their job profile is to coach other aspiring candidates on the mechanism of flying. Sport Pilots – Sports Pilots mostly stay within a limited range of flying.

What are the Eligibility Criteria?

An individual who wishes to enroll himself/herself into any of the Aviation courses will be required to adhere to certain eligibility criteria as underlined by the academy. The following are the eligibility requirements needed to become a pilot in India:

• First and foremost, the aspirant’s age should not be less than 17 years
• Depending on the institute, the candidate percentage of 12th boards should not be less than 50%
• One should have mandatorily studied Maths, Chemistry, and Physics along with the English Language at the intermediate level.
• If one has not studied the science subjects mentioned above, he or she can pursue the required subjects in two ways: 1) National Institute of Open Schooling or 2) pursuing those subjects as a private candidate through any state board
• All aspirants need a medical clearance certificate from the authorities concerned.

Pilot Courses after the Intermediate Level (Commercial pilot):

An alternative to becoming a pilot after passing the 12th by opting for a commercial pilot training program (CPL).To enroll for this course one has to clear an entrance exam, and interview followed by a medical test conducted by the DGCA certified medical doctors. Coming to the fee structure of pilot training courses after the intermediate level starts from 40 to 50 lakhs INR and can scale more if one plans to study abroad.

The Route of NDA

In our country India, there is a golden opportunity to serve the nation while being a pilot. The National Defence Academy exam is a coveted opportunity for those aspirants who want to become a pilot after the intermediate level. After one is selected through a rigorous process, he/she has to complete a three-year course that would entail flying. Upon the completion of the course, one becomes a permanent commission officer

Step-by-Step Process of how to become a Pilot after 12th

Stage 1: Completing a bachelor's degree To become a pilot, one needs to pursue and complete a bachelor's in any subject whereas a commercial pilot needs to pass the intermediate level. Few flight academies are part of the two to four- year colleges/ universities offering aeronautics or aviation degrees as approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Stage 2: The Flying hours To become a licensed pilot an aspirant mandatorily has to achieve a required number of flying hours. If one is aspiring for a future as a pilot, then, he/she is required to complete a certain number of flying hours during training to finally earn a license. The flying hours are variable because it primarily depends upon the chosen pilot program by the candidate. For example, to earn a commercial pilot’s license, 200 hours of flying training is required, and for an airline pilot, 1,500 hours of flight time is mandatorily required.

Stage 3: Pilot’s license There are a few steps required to finally earn that coveted license. The first step would be to complete the required number of hours of flying, the second hurdle would be a written assessment where one has to exhibit his/her flying abilities in a written manner and the final step would be clearing the physical test.

Stage 4: Training and Tests In many airline companies, it is necessary for pilots to give aptitude and psychological tests as a precondition for employment. Once placed in a company, pilots further undergo weeks of training and flight experience to get a hang of an adventure as co-pilots. Securing a prior experience with a regional airline company is always beneficial in the long run if you later plan to join a major airline