Career in Flying- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Every child dreamt of flying. Some wished to fly as passengers while others wished to become pilots, taking aircraft soaring into skies.

Every child dreamt of flying. Some wished to fly as passengers while others wished to become pilots, taking aircraft soaring into skies.

Most kids have possessed at least one toy aeroplane or helicopter. The urge to scale new heights, especially travel in clouds, is an innate instinct of humans. Since centuries, attempted to imitate birds and fly across every inhabited continent.

Esoteric gods and deities are depicted with wings. Over the last five centuries, human flight was evolved, from hot air balloons and giant kites to gigantic modern passenger aircraft and small supersonic fighter jets.

These modern day contraptions capable of taking on skies work on skills of a single human- the pilot.

Types of pilots

Modern aviation demands various classifications of crew who fly these highly sophisticated machines. Pilots nowadays can be classified in a few broad categories.

1) Helicopter pilots: Those who fly civilian or military helicopters.

2) Fighter/ combat pilots: Pilots trained to fly fighter planes at supersonic speed.

3) Commercial pilots: Highly experienced pilots flying passenger aircraft.

4) Sports/ Amphibian pilots: Pilots capable of taking off and landing hydroplanes over water.

5) Freighter pilots: Crew who fly gigantic freighter aircraft.

6) Balloonists: Hobbyists who soar into the skies using hot air balloon.

7) Surveillance pilots: Extremely skilled military pilots who fly at extreme altitudes.

8) Hobby aviators: People who own and pilot their small, propeller aircraft.

9) Test pilots: Extremely skilled daredevils who test new models of aircraft.

10) Space pilots: Usually former military pilots trained to fly space shuttles.

Flying as profession

Obsession to fly grew stronger among humans post December 17, 1903, after Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first mechanized flight at Kill Devil’s Hill near Dayton, Ohio.

Their primitive flight of a few hundred meters led to rapid development of aviation.

Thanks to advances in various fields, it is now possible to take lessons at flying schools to become a pilot.

Flying is a very lucrative profession in most countries. Commercial piloting ranks among the highest paid professions of the world. Pilots are responsible for ferrying hundreds of passengers between two distant locations.

Modern day pilots require multitude of skills. Proficiency in math and physics, superior physical and mental fitness, alert mind and ability to respond instantaneously to crises, are some talents required of a pilot. These skills apply to all pilots, without exception.

Career as a pilot

A career as pilot is excellent for teenagers who retain their childhood dream of soaring into skies. It is a very lucrative profession anywhere in the world. Median salary of a skilled pilot is US$ 6,000 per month, which increases with experience and seniority.

Commercial and freighter pilots travel around the world and see exotic countries as part of work. They train juniors freshly out of aviation schools.

Pilots are skilled in providing assistance during in-flight medical emergencies, including cardiac arrests and deliveries. Fighter pilots serve their country, ensuring it’s aeronautical, maritime and land frontiers are safe against enemies and terrorists.

Helicopter pilots carry vital cargo, medical personnel and engineers between two locations inaccessible by other modes of transport.

Balloonists are known for assisting meteorology and cartography. Hobby aviators are useful for crop dusting and rushing medical assistance to individuals or communities facing calamity.

Surveillance pilots provide vital data required to safeguard the world against terrorist nuclear threats by rogue nations.

Legendary pilots of the world

All astronauts and cosmonauts who went into space were pilots.

Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space was a military pilot of erstwhile Soviet Union

Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on Moon was also a pilot.

Charles Elwood (Chuck) Yeager was the first pilot to cross sound barrier and fly supersonic.

Joe Engle, a US Air Force pilot took his plane 280,600 feet above ground level, on the border of Earth’s atmosphere and space, paving way for space exploration.

Brian Trubshaw and John Cochrane piloted maiden flight of the world’s only supersonic commercial airliner, Concorde in 1969.

In 1991, Indian civilian and military pilots conducted the world’s single largest evacuation of civilians, from Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, before Gulf War.

Miriam Al Mansouri, of United Arab Emirates Air Force became the first woman combat pilot to launch attacks against terrorist network Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Civilian and military pilots from India braved enemy fire and cratered runways to evacuate stranded compatriots and foreigners from war-torn Yemen in 2015.

Successful aircraft companies were launched by test or design pilots including Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin, Anderi Nikolayevich Tupolev and Antony Fokker, to name a few.

How to Become a Pilot

You need not undergo rigors similar to the legendary Orville and Wilbur Wright. Modern flying schools have rendered it easy to learn the skill. In most countries, teenagers qualify as trainee pilots after they attain 16 years age. Rules for flying differ in various countries.

Qualifications to become a pilot:

For Indian Air Force

Minimum qualification: SSC or HSC

Minimum Age: 18 years

Excellent English language skills

Very high physical and mental fitness standards as defined by Indian Air Force

You need to pass entrance exams to qualify for basic airman training with Indian Air Force.

For Private institutions

Minimum qualifications: SSC or HSC

Maximum age: 18 years

Excellent English language skills

Level-2 medical and mental fitness certificate

Basic entrance exam at some private flying schools

Indian Air Force:

Salaries of IAF pilots are commensurate with those stipulated by wage boards of the Ministry of Defense and the Indian Armed Forces.

They vary according to rank and are not dependent upon the type of aircraft flown.

Commercial Airlines:

Salaries are same for passenger and freighter pilots

Pilots beginning as First Officers usually draw between Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 150,000 per month on commercial airlines of India.

Flight commanders are paid salaries in excess of Rs.350,000.

Private pilots

These include pilots of helicopters, small aircraft owned by organizations or individuals

Around Rs. 100,000 per month

Important points for becoming a pilot

Those wishing to learn flying have two options. They can enrol and qualify to study flying with the armed forces of the country. Or they can attend state-run or private flying schools that flourish around the world.

Excellent physical and mental fitness is demanded by military and civilian flying schools.

Academic qualifications required to enter flying school varies by country. Some countries limit flying schools to graduates of aeronautical engineering. In others, higher secondary qualifications suffice.

The basic Private Pilot course of 30 to 60 days, costs about US$ 10,000 in the US. This excludes rent for trainer aircraft. Hiring a trainer aircraft depends upon number of hours a student needs to learn with flying instructor.

Flying is taught free to military pilots. They are required to compulsorily serve their nation’s armed forces for a fixed number of years, in lieu of this training.

Flying is not enough

In almost every country, the knowledge of handling an aircraft is insufficient to qualify as pilot. Some require additional training. This includes

Instruments Rating Training: To learn about cockpit instruments of an aircraft.

Instruments Check Training: An advanced course that teaches how to check various on-board instruments essential to flights.

Meteorological and weather training: Budding pilots are trained on how to manage flying in various weather conditions.

Non-fixed wing aircraft training: This training is taken by helicopter pilots.

Myriad other courses are required for a student or Private Pilot to get ratings as Commercial Pilot. These include training in first aid and medical emergency.

Conversion to fly different types of aircraft is vital to graduate from flying small, private aeroplanes to gigantic modern airliners. It also involves hands-on training on aircraft, flying with an instructor or solo.

The best way to get free advanced training is to join as trainee pilot in any large airline. Military aviation schools offer this training as part of curriculum and skills upgrade.

Important Note: The number of flying hours- solo and under instructor- required to qualify for various higher licenses, differs by countries.

In some countries, a pilot with 3,000 flying hours experience can join an airline as co-pilot while others stipulate a minimum of 5,000 flying hours. Highly experienced pilots usually possess 10,000 and above flying hours.

Working as pilot

Working as pilot is exciting and fun. Commercial and freighter pilots take their company’s aircraft to distant lands.

Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) laws, they are entitled to a few hours or a couple of days ‘layover’ or statutory leave at destination.

Food and accommodation costs are met by the airline.

Low Cost Carriers: These no-frills airlines offer cheap tickets, no in-flight meals and less free-baggage allowance. They hire pilots with 3,000 to 5,000 flying hours. Their flights are generally of 45 minutes to two hours duration. They are placed as co-pilots with more seasoned pilots as commanders.

Conventional long-haul airlines: These carriers operate long distance flights between countries and continents. Some of these flights span 12 or more hours, non-stop. They hire former military pilots and upgrade their skills on flight simulators and on-hands training. Flight commanders usually possess about 10,000 flying hours experience.

Freighter airlines: Airlines or cargo carriers hire a mix of pilots, based upon the routes they operate. Seasoned pilots are teamed with those who have lesser experience. Flying freighters is complex. It requires very high level of landing, cruise and take off skills due to heavy payload.

Private pilots: Companies, millionaires, prominent personalities who own executive jets hire private pilots. They fly only when required by the employer.

Helicopter pilots: In recent years, helicopter pilots have become more prominent. Helicopters are used for a variety of purposes. They help in disaster mitigation and providing food, medical aid and other essentials to calamity victims. Helicopter pilots are in great demand in oil exploration companies having rigs in high seas or mountainous regions of the world. Helicopter pilots also save lives by flying airborne ambulances.

Types of aircraft and pilots

All students at flying schools generally learn on small, single or twin-engine propeller planes. Part of their studies is conducted on flight simulators. Simulators resemble an aircraft cockpit, complete with controls.

Trainers simulate various conditions that are experienced in real life flying. Pilots are trained to handle fixed wing jet, fixed wing propeller, fixed wing rotor, gyrating wing and rotor aircraft.

Hazards of learning flying

A pilot’s course and profession is rife with hazards. Prime among them is mechanical failure of aircraft or instruments failure. Often, these cause aircraft to crash with fatalities.

Rising terrorism threats across the world has rendered a pilot’s job more dangerous. They are prone to hijackings and terror attacks while flying.

Over decades, hundreds of pilots have suffered mental disorders due to prolonged flying hours requiring extra alert mind and thought. Military pilots who witness action during wars sometimes suffer emotional disorders and other ailments.

Best flying schools in India: Know the pilot’s choice (Box)

When we asked some pilots what flying meant to them, most of them replied back with different variations of the phrase – “an exhilarating experience”. For us as outsiders to this industry, being a pilot by profession is all about getting paid to do something you love along with having an office that travels and sights that keep changing. Seems like an ideal situation, doesn’t it?

But that is not all that is to this profession. To be a successful pilot one requires knowledge, intellect, ability to think and perform actions quickly, working tough terrains and even working odd hours. So, yes the job of a pilot is not all play and no work.

“True” confirms Kanishk Singh, who since childhood was passionate about flying and is currently working in the capacity of Commander with Air India. He further adds, “My passion for exploring the skies made me leave my engineering studies mid-way and I contacted few people to find the best flying schools in India to get a firm foothold into the profession, and trust me I have no complaints.”

Further, this young pilot shares his ground research on finding the best flying schools there are in the country with Shiksha.com, which may help you make a more informed decision when selecting the ideal flying school for you.

Top 5 Indian Flying Institutes

The Pilot fraternity considers the below mentioned flying schools to be the best in the country:

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA)

How many of you know that our Late PM, Rajiv Gandhi before joining politics worked as a co-pilot with Indian Airlines? Yes, this is a fact and he laid the foundation stone for IGRUA in 1985. IGRUA is a government body which offers courses such as ab-initio to Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), simulator training as per candidate’s requirements, multi-engine endorsement, instrument rating, CRM workshop, MCC course and ab-initio to Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) course for foreign nationals as per regulatory requirements in their respective countries. The aircrafts used for training at this institute are TB-20, Zlin, DA-40 and DA-42.

However, if you thought you can simply pay the fee and get admitted to this flying school then you are wrong. Candidates are shortlisted for selection on the basis of a two hour written test followed by a pilot aptitude test. Once a candidate clears these two rounds they are eligible to appear before an interview panel which consists of representatives from NACIL, DGCA, a psychologist and IGRUA examiners.

National Flying Training Institute (NFTI)

Established in 2007, NFTI is one of the nine flying schools established by CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, which is one of the best flying schools in the world. It is located at Gondia in Maharashtra and is also sometimes referred to as CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Gondia. Other locations in the world where CAE has centres are Oxford, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Phoenix and Rae Bareli in India. NFTI trains candidates on a modern training fleet of DA 40 and DA 42.

Candidates are offered 19-month pilot training programs which comprises of ground school courses which are in accordance to instructions as laid out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Madhya Pradesh Flying Club (MPFC)

This flying club came into existence in 1951 and till 1982 it maintained and operated aircrafts belonging to the MP government. The club is also known to train Indian Air Force pilots from time to time. MPFC has a fleet of Cessna -152/A, Cessna -172R and multi engine six-seater aircraft P-68C-TC and Baron G58 for training aspiring pilots.

Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd. (AAA)

Established in 1994, this flying school operates from its own hangars at SV Patel International Airport Ahmedabad and Mehsana Airfield. AAA presently has five single-engine aircraft Cessna 152/ Cessna 172 and one single/multiengine flight simulator. AAA presently has four ground instructors and five flight instructors for a batch of 70 students.

Bombay Flying Club

Operating since 1928, the Bombay Flying Club is affiliated to the Mumbai University and DGCA. The father of aviation in India, Mr. JRD Tata in February 1929 obtained his pilot license from this flying school. The club has a fleet of PIPER PA18, Cessna 152A, Cessna 172, Cessna172R (glass cockpit-like airlines aircraft cockpit)-Single Engine & Seneca (twin engine) aircraft.

This flying school offers a BSc in Aviation/ Aeronautics degree and apart from this interested candidates can even receive training in aircraft maintenance engineering and cabin crew training.

These are some good flying schools in India. However, most flying courses and training is very expensive to the tune of over Rs 25 lakh. So, you may want to consider taking a study loan for it. Some good news here is that some states in the country such as Bihar sponsor selected students to receive pilot training at different state flying schools. So, research well before you decide to take off.