Commercial Pilot :
Introduction
The job of commercial pilot is the most glamorous and exciting job in
aviation. It is highly rated and one of the most adventurous career
which requires intensive training. This profession also demands a lot
of time, dedication, patience and sacrifice. A career in aviation
attracts many youngsters as it provide opportunity to travel around the
globe. This is a lucrative field. But apart from all those attractive
things the job of a commercial pilot makes him responsible for the
aircraft he flies and the lives of his passengers.
The most important person on an aircraft is the pilot. Pilots are
highly trained professionals who fly airplanes and helicopters carrying
passengers or cargo.
This is a highly specialised job which requires knowledge of air
navigation, interpretation of meteorological reports, operations of
sophisticated electronic and mechanical controls, leading the aircraft
under adverse circumstances, and being a leader to the flight crew and
passengers under climatic and other emergency situations.
There are a number of institutes under the recognition
of the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation which conducts training in
this field.
Eligibility & Course Areas
Educational: To become a commercial pilot in India, one has to first
possess a Student Pilot License (SPL). To get the SPL those with 10+2
with science and aged at least 16 years should register at a flying
club which is recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA), Government of India. Registration requires a medical
certificate, security clearance and a bank guarantee. An oral
examination in subjects such as Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology,
Air Navigation, Engine (technical and specific) follows the
registration. Successful completion of the examination entitles you for
an SPL certificate.
The second step is the Private Pilot License (PPL). PPL training
includes sixty hours of flying of which about fifteen hours are dual
flights, that is accompanied by the flight instructor and at least 30
hours of solo flights apart from five hours of cross-country flying.
This makes one eligible for the PPL exam, which consists of Air
Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Engines and
Seamanship. The prescribed age for appearing for this exam is 17 years
and an educational qualification of 10+2 along with a medical Fitness
Certificate issued by the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment
(AFCME).
A Commercial Pilot Licence may be obtained only after a PPL has been
acquired. To obtain a Commercial Pilots License (CPL) 200 hours of
flying (including 60 hours for the PPL) is necessary. Besides that you
have to undergo a Medical Fitness Test which is held at New Delhi and
an examination which consists of Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology,
Air Navigation, Technical, Planning, and communications in the form of
Radio & Wireless Transmission. With the CPL, a pilot can take up any
professional aspect.
Job Prospects
With the privatisation, lot of avenues have opened for CPL holders.
They can find employment opportunities in both government (Indian
Airlines, Air India) as well as private domestic and international (Jet
Airways, Sahara etc.) airlines. Even large corporate houses with their
own aircraft require the services of pilots.
Career options
In this field after getting CPL one start as a trainee pilot. After
being a trainee, one becomes a pilot or first officer on board based on
ones seniority. Seniority is determined by hours of flying experience
and successful completion of various programs. Then one becomes a
Commander or Captain and thereafter a Senior Commander.
From pre-take off to actual landing and signing off,
pilot must be highly responsible. Before take-off pilots check pre-
flight plans. These includes the route to be taken and height
maintained, meteorological readings, conditions of all equipments, air
pressure and temperature inside the aircraft etc. They have to do
complex calculations of take-off and landing and have to check fuel
needed for the particular distance to be traveled and height and weight
to be maintained. During the flight too pilot must be constantly alert,
ensuring there are no mechanical snags, maintaining contact with air
traffic controls and cabin crew through-out the flight. He also has to
keep a record of flight details.
Remuneration
Pay scales of commercial pilots in the public sector organizations
depend on the grade level of the positions. They will get attractive
remuneration and incentives. The total remuneration also includes
contributory provident fund, gratuity, medical facilities and
free/concessional air passage. Pilots are also entitled to a range of
benefits and allowances in addition to housing, medical and out-
station allowances, as well as free/concessional air passages for their
immediate family and dependants. Commercial pilots can earn from Rs.
40,000 to Rs. 150,000 per month, depending on the airline and one's
experience.
Commercial Pilot Training : Institutes
There are few best aviation training institutes in India and Abroad.
Please contact us regarding the flying training institute on 0091-9179159197 and write on sushil.aerosoft@gmail.com
How to Choose a Flight School?
Before start searching for the best school, please remember that you
should first be sure about what you are looking for.
In other words, you should know the answer for this crucial question:
What is my career goal?
Once you have an idea of what you want, make a list of possible flight
schools which you think might help to attain your career goal- Just
like aviators do before commencing a flight. There they always prepare
a checklist to make sure that all the procedures essential for a safe
flight are adhered to.
Make your checklist for the schools by gathering all available
information about each school you are interested in.
The list should include:
Faculty
Pilot training must be done in a school where they employ faculty with
enough knowledge & expertise. Having well qualified aviation
specialists with knowledge, experience, competencies and most of all,
airline know-how as ground and flight instructors is the first and
basic indicator that the school is a good one.
Then find out the instructor-student ratio at the school. So many
students waiting for their turn to get instructions is not a good sign.
Aircraft and other infrastructure
How many and what types of aircraft are used in training program is the
second important thing we should find out. Even if the faculty is good
a school without minimum essential aircraft types will take you
nowhere.
Then find out if the school’s airport have instrument approaches and
control tower service. A flying school with a neat airport with these
facilities can always be considered a good bet.
Then ask the school authorities that if they have housing and
additional training facilities.
The Age Factor
How long has the flight school been in business?
This is the next question one should always find answer to before
opting for a school. Only schools with required infrastructure can
survive the first few years of operation. Aviation schools that have
been teaching pilot students for 10 years or longer tell us that they
have the financial strength and management ability to excel & endure.
Type of training
Only a flight school that teach students to fly in all kinds of weather
can be considered a good one. Enrolling at a school paying huge fees is
not to be a blue sky pilot! You are entitled to get the confidence that
can be attained only by flying in different weather conditions. The
school should teach you that flying is a never ending learning
process!!
Then see how the ground classes are conducted.
Proper ground classes are well laid foundation for flying lessons.
Because, it is in these classes that, you study the theory part of the
flight and acquire the academic knowledge is essential to fly safely.
In ground classes you study not only how to control an airplane but
also why the plane is being controlled.
Talk with other students
This is may be most effective method to elicit the exact answers to
most of the above queries. Some flying schools might not be much
willing to share this kind of information with prospective students.
And here is something interesting about the flying schools across the
globe which you may find useful in your hunt for the proper school.
Good schools can be broadly divided in to two:
1. The Serious Type.
2. The Family Type.
The first one will be a large, well established school with so many
students from all over the world taking flying lessons in dozens of
aircraft. Everything will be according to schedule & time table. A very
successful aviation venture- to cut it short. If you are somewhat
brilliant and in need of not much individual care and attention and
your foremost goal is to graduate as quickly as possible, this type of
school is for you.
Now at the Family Type you won’t have all the buzz like that in the S’
Type. Though it might be in the business of teaching flying for three
or four decades, the number of students will always be less. The number
of aircraft too will be less – below 10. But a handful of faculty who
are working at the school for quiet some years will be all attention,
care & love when it comes to student-teacher relationship. The owner of
the school will be more like a father.
Yes, just like a family. If you are an average student who require more
care and attention; if you are a shy type; if you are not that
extrovert- you must select this school.
And now something more that you should never forget:
Gather as much info as possible about the school’s reputation on
regulation and safety policies. Flying, after all, is all about safety.
- Capt. Sushil Kumar
(Pilot Officer)
