How to Become Pilot After 12th: Comprehensive Guide

If you have a genuine passion for the field of aviation, becoming a pilot in India is an excellent career move. As per Boeing, India is one of the booming markets for pilots and may require up to 31,000 pilots in the next two decades. This will naturally equate to more opportunities for skilled professionals in the field down the line. So, let's explore how you can become a pilot after 12th and the best universities for your flight training. 

5 Benefits of Career as Pilot

Becoming a pilot after your 12th is one of the best career options as this field offers numerous benefits. Some of these include:

Attractive Salaries 

Pilots are some of the highest-paid professionals in the world. The average salary for pilots globally is nearly US$71,867 per year (~₹59 lakh). At the same time, as per Glassdoor, the average salary for Indian pilots is around a whopping ₹83.41 lakh per year. Airlines often provide several other benefits to pilots, making it a lucrative job overall. 

Steady Demand and Job Growth 

Pilots are in demand worldwide, and with several mega aircraft deals being concluded in India, this trend will continue in the near future. Moreover, the country is projected to require around 1,000 – 1,100 pilots yearly to meet the growing demand for air travel.

Flexible Work Hours 

Pilots don’t have the typical 9 to 5 job. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has set a limitation on pilots' working hours to ensure proper work-life balance. For instance, airlines cannot ask pilots to perform more than 210 hours of duty in 28 consecutive days. They must also ensure that pilots receive a minimum weekly rest of continuous 36 hours. Thus, you can use your day off to spend time with your family. 

Travel Passes for Family Members

Airlines in India offer pilots several perks, such as Air India, that allow their immediate family members to travel with them for free.  

Explore Different Cultures 

Becoming a pilot allows you to travel the globe and explore various cultures. Thus, allowing you to experience new languages and cuisines. 

Of course, one of the biggest takeaways of becoming a pilot is the sheer excitement and passion involved in soaring above the skies, controlling aircraft, and being responsible for the safety and security of innumerable individuals. 

Types of Pilot Careers

Many aspirants search for how to become a pilot after engineering or 12th. If you are one of them, then here are some types of pilot careers that can be of interest to you:  

• Commercial pilots with international, national, or regional airlines.
• Flight instructors who teach aspirants and also evaluate experienced peers. Teaching opportunities are available across airlines, aviation institutions, and so on. 
• Pilots for businesses and companies, corporate jets and private jets. 
• Cargo pilots who deliver packages and other goods. 
• Aircraft sales and ferry pilots who deliver aircraft to owners. 
• Air taxi or charter pilots who ferry people to particular destinations. 
• EMR pilots who fly air ambulances and also help in emergencies, transportation of patients, organ deliveries, etc. 
• Government service pilots and law enforcement/military pilots. 

Step-By-Step Process to Become Pilot After 12th  

If you are wondering how to become a commercial pilot after 12th, the following steps can help you understand the process: 

• Choosing science stream in classes 11th and 12th with Mathematics and Physics as the compulsory subjects. 
• Applying to a DGCA-approved flying training school or institution. 
• Going through a medical test at a facility approved by the DGCA for obtaining a Class 1 Medical Certificate. 
• Enroll in a flying school approved by DGCA and begin flight training. 
• Going through ground school and receiving theoretical knowledge on regulations, navigation, aerodynamics, and more. This also prepares aspirants thoroughly for the written examinations held by DGCA  as part of the process for certification. 
• Undergoing hands-on flight training under the supervision of certified instructors. 
• Clearing the DGCA written examinations throughout the course period. 
• Gathering the specified flight hours (as regulated by DGCA) for the pilot license you are interested in. This may be cross-country or solo flights, along with extra training hours, if needed, to ensure that you gain sufficient competency in flying. 
• After clearing the required tests and completing the flight hour requirements, you can receive a private pilot license (PPL), which helps you fly aircraft for personal purposes. 
• Acquiring additional ratings, including the MER (Multi-Engine Rating) or IR (Instrument Rating), to expand your qualifications and boost your career. 
• Getting the commercial pilot license (CPL) from the DGCA after passing all examinations and accumulating sufficient flight hours. This will help you apply for positions at leading airlines. 
• Gather experience as a co-pilot or airline first officer before applying for promotions and becoming a captain. 

Recommended Read: Best Flying Schools in the world

10 Best Universities for Pilot Course Abroad

Here are some of the leading universities for aviation worldwide. 

1. Purdue University, Indiana, United States
2. The University of Oklahoma, United States
3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, United States
4. University of North Dakota, United States
5. The Ohio State University, United States
6. Oxford Aviation Academy, United Kingdom
7. San Jose State University College of Aviation, United States
8. University of New South Wales, Australia
9. Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
10. Cranfield University, United Kingdom 

You should carefully review the various aviation courses and their fees at these top universities before deciding. 

10 Top Colleges for Pilot Courses in India

Here are some of the well-known colleges for pilot courses in India. 

1. Air Charter Services Pvt. Ltd. (ACS)
2. Alpine Institute of Aeronautics
3. Adhiyamaan College of Engineering
4. Centurion University
5. Bharat Institute Of Aeronautics
6. Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (IAME)
7. Indian Institute of Aeronautics
8. Mahaveer Academy of Technology and Science University (MATS) University
9. Indraprastha Institute of Aeronautics
10.  NDC Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

Qualifications and Other Requirements for Pilot 

Here are some of the common qualifications and requirements necessary for pilots: 

• Pilots should have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. 
• Though not mandatory, some pilots also hold undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in aviation or aeronautics.
• They should have completed 200 hours of flying.
• They should hold a Class 1 Medical Fitness Certificate by DGCA.
• Aspirants should also adhere to the following physical standards:
• Height: 162.5 cm
• Leg length: 99–120 cm
• Thigh length: 64cm
• Vision: One eye- 6/6 and another eye- 6/9 without night or color blindness.
• Pilots should hold a valid CPL or PPL.

In addition to the above basic requirements, many airlines also ask pilots to take psychological and aptitude tests. 

UG Courses to Become Pilot

At the undergraduate level, aspirants may pursue a Bachelor’s of Management Studies-Airlines and Airport Management and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Aviation in India. Besides these, you can pursue aviation studies abroad. For instance, the US offers cutting-edge courses in aviation, such as a Bachelor’s in Professional Flight and a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering Technology.

PG Courses to Become Pilot

If you are wondering how to become a pilot after B Tech, you can pursue several postgraduate courses to gain specialized knowledge and skills in the field of aviation, such as MBA in Aviation Management. However, these are not necessary to become an airline pilot in India. Moreover, students can also pursue several advanced post-graduate courses abroad, such as MS in Aviation and Aerospace Management and MS in Engineering Technology. 

However, students who have completed their pilot training abroad must get their foreign commercial pilot licenses converted to Indian pilot licenses. For this, they will have to clear written and skill tests conducted by the Central Examination Organisation (CEO) of DGCA in Air Regulation and Air Navigation Composite. Moreover, they must fulfill the requisite flying requirements, a minimum of 200 hours. 

Major Recruiters of Pilots

Here are some of the top companies recruiting  pilots in India and the salaries they offer:

Source: Glassdoor (as of January 2024)

Signing off, it can be said that becoming a pilot is one of the best career decisions for those who are intrigued by a life spent exploring the skies and learning how to navigate cutting-edge aircraft. 

Disclaimer: All salaries mentioned are subject to change

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