How to Become a Pilot After 12th?

What should I do after 12th to become a pilot? If you are planning to pursue the career path of a pilot, you can pursue a pilot training course after 12th or qualify NDA exam to get the training of an Air Force pilot. The key requirement to become a pilot after 12th is that you must have completed 10+2 in Science but there are several pilot training academies that also offer admission to commerce students. The minimum age limit for students aspiring to become a pilot in India is 17 years and you will also have to provide fitness and medical certificate. This blog brings you all the information on How to become a pilot after 12th, fees of pilot training courses, requirements, eligibility, top pilot training institutes in India and abroad and salary prospects of pilots in India.

How to Become a Pilot after 12th?

To enroll in any of the Aviation courses, you will be required to fulfill eligibility criteria as set by the institute or academy. Enlisted are the eligibility requirements to become a pilot after 12th in India:

• Your age should not be less than 17 years to begin training
• You must have scored 50% in 10+2 which may vary as per the Institute requirement
• You must have studied MPC subjects [Maths, Physics, and Chemistry] along with English at the intermediate level
• If you are a non-science student, you may pursue the required subjects through the National Institute of Open Schooling or as a private candidate from the respective state board
• You will need a medical certificate issued by the required authorities.

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How to Become a Pilot in India?

Before providing you with a detailed guide on how to become a pilot after the 12th, let’s first give you an overview of the two routes you can take to become a pilot in India which are as follows:

Civil Aviation

(Taking the Non-Military Route through Commercial Pilot Training Programmes)

To take this route to become a pilot, you need to gain a commercial pilot certification from a certified authority which is the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation in India. As a commercial pilot, you will be flying a specific aircraft for an airline and there are many training academies around the world that offer varied programmes in Commercial Pilot Training and the essential eligibility requirement for same is that the student must have completed 10+2 with science stream from a recognized board of education [more on this in the next section]. Here is a list of top flying schools across the globe that you must consider:

• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy
• Flight Safety Academy
• Pan AM International Flying Academy
• Singapore Flying College
• CTC Wings, Europe

To explore training programmes for this route, check out our blog on Commercial Pilot Courses!

Indian Defence Forces (Air Force)

If you are willing to clear the competitive entrance exams for Indian Defence Forces, then taking the Airforce route to become a pilot is the suitable one for you. The shortlisted candidates from the rigorous admission process are trained for 3 years at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Here is the admission procedure to get into the Indian Defence Forces:

Pilot Entrance Exam After 12th
The pilot entrance exam after 12th in India is the NDA Exam. Qualifying for the NDA exam, you can join the flying branch of IAF. It is a math-based and general ability exam comprising English, Geography, History, General Knowledge, Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Current Events as the main subjects.

SSB Interview: There are two stages of the interview:
1. Officer Intelligence Test & a Picture Perception and Discussion Test
2. Psychological tests are taken by a psychologist followed by group tasks and then a personal interview

Pilot Aptitude Test
Consists of written and machine tests to assess the candidate’s ability to read instruments as well as their mental strength and how efficiently they can perform in different circumstances.
This test must be cleared in the first attempt otherwise you will be deemed ineligible for the flying branch and can not apply again.

Medical Examination
The candidate’s height, weight and eyesight are thoroughly examined.
Requirements
Eye vision: 6/6 in one eye & 6/9 in other. (correctable 6/6 for hypermetropia)
Height & Weight: 152 cms with correlated weight

To know more about the eligibility criteria and process in detail, read our exclusive blog on How to Join Indian Air Force!

How to Become a Pilot after 12th?

Stage 1: Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree

An airline pilot requires a bachelor’s degree in any subject, whereas a commercial pilot usually needs a high school diploma or equivalent. Some of the flight schools are part of 2-4 year colleges/universities offering the desired aviation or aeronautics degree, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

Pilot Courses after 12th

Opting for a Commercial Pilot Training [CPL] program after 10+2 is yet another way to become a pilot after 12th. For this, you will be required to clear an entrance exam, interview, and a medical test as set by the institute. The fees of Pilot Training courses after 12th ranges from INR 15 Lakhs to 20 Lakhs and can also vary if you plan to study abroad. Here are top institutes for Pilot Training courses after 12th:

• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy
• Bombay Flying Club
• Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology 
• Madhya Pradesh Flying Club
• National Flying Training Institute

Through NDA Exam

In India, the coveted NDA exam is a golden opportunity for those who want to become a pilot after 12th. Upon completing the 3 years long course, you also have to attend flying training. Thereafter, you will work as a permanent commission officer.

Other Essential Details on How to Become a Pilot After 12th:

• It is necessary to clear the class 2 medical of DGCA
• Join an aviation institute
• Fly at least 200 hours
• Clear the exams
• Get the CPL certificate

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Stage 2: Get the Flying Experience

If you are aspiring to become a pilot then, you are required to achieve a certain number of flight training hours to earn a license. The training hours depend upon the desired type of pilot program. For instance, for a commercial pilot’s license, 250 hours of flying is needed and 1,500 hours of flight time for an airline pilot. A formal training equips you with basic education, however, to gain in-depth knowledge and experience, you can hire a personal instructor or even join the military for exposure. 

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Stage 3: Earn a Pilot’s License

The first step is to complete the required number of hours of flight experience, followed by a written assessment exhibiting your flying abilities and clearing the physical test. The key is to be confident and prepared. List of major pilot licensing issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in each country are as follows:

• Private Pilot License (PPL)
• Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
• Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP)
• Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL)
• Commercial Multi-Engine Land (CMEL)
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFL)

In the US, certification is regulated by the FAA, while Transport Canada issues licensing in Canada. In most European nations, including the UK, Switzerland, Greece, France and many more, licensing is furnished by the National Aviation Authority. 

Further, based on the type of pilot you want to become, the age requirements for a license will vary.

• Student Pilot License – 16 years
• Private Pilot License – 17 years
• Commercial Pilot License – 18 years

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Stage 4: Complete Additional Training and Tests

A lot of airline companies require pilots to take aptitude and psychological tests as a precondition for employment. Once placed, pilots undergo further weeks of training and flight experience to get a hang on 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. 

Stage 5: Advance as an Airline Pilot

Leaping from pilots to the rank of a captain completely depends on seniority and experience. You will have to clear additional FAA written and practical exams in order to obtain more flight ratings. You can continue learning and exploring the changes in the industry. Enriching seminars and webcasts are extended by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) for mastering and growth. 

Where to Pursue Pilot Courses after 12th?

These are some of the globally recognized colleges, universities, and academies catering to provide foundational and technical skills essential to building your career as a professional pilot:

• Purdue University
• University of North Dakota
• Ohio State University
• San Jose State University
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Academy College
• Hallmark University
• Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
• Rio Salado College
• Aeroism Flight Academy
• Flight Safety Academy
• Singapore Flying College
• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy

Best Indian Colleges

• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy
• Bombay Flying Club
• Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology 
• Madhya Pradesh Flying Club
• National Flying Training Institute
• Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Limited
• CAE Oxford Aviation Academy
• Indigo Cadet Training Program 
• Government Aviation Training Institute
• Puducherry Thakur College of Aviation
• Government Flying Club 
• Orient Flying School
• Institute of Aviation and Aviation Safety 

Types of Pilot Careers

Before we delve deep into the explanation of how to become a pilot after 12th, let us first understand how many types of pilots are there:

• Airline Pilot
  A pilot is someone who is involved in flying the airline to carry passengers and cargo on a fixed schedule at a larger distance around the world. This is considered to be the number one career for pilots.
• Regional or Commercial Pilot
  A commercial pilot is involved in flying regional airline to carry passengers and cargo at shorter distances. Younger aspirants prefer this career because it requires fewer overnight trips and will keep you nearer to home. 
• Corporate Pilot
  A corporate pilot is involved in flying smaller corporate turboprops and jets for private enterprises or individuals in order to assist the travel of corporate executives to meetings. 
• Fighter Pilot
  Also known as a Military Pilot, you will be trained to work for the Air Force or army, flying military aircraft and transporting military cargo and riders. Fighter pilots are involved in aerial combat as well.
• Charter Pilot
  A pilot flying travellers to specific destinations is known as a charter pilot, it is also termed as “Air Taxi”. You can operate your own private charter company or simply work for other charter airlines.

Skills Required 

• Strong technical skills
• Critical thinking and decision-making
• Situational and environmental awareness
• Good communication skills
• The highly focused and disciplined personality
• Striving continually for excellence
• High-level flexibility
• Mental stability and physical fitness
• Good sense of teamwork
• Inherent or learned leadership quality

Major Recruiters 

Your tantalizing career as a pilot will kickstart once you have completed the right education and have obtained the required certification or licensure. Now that you are familiar with the route and know the answer to how to become a pilot after class 12th, let us have a look at some of the major employers of this field-

• Air India
• IndiGo
• Air Asia
• Spice Jet
• Air India Charters Ltd
• Alliance Air
• India Jet Airways
• Air Costa

Salary of Pilot in India

When it comes to calculating the monetary returns in terms of salary, the sky is actually the limit for pilots! Out of all the job profiles, commercial pilots generally have better salary packages. In India, upon completing 250 hours of flying, one is entitled to pursue a career as a commercial pilot and can earn a jaw-dropping monthly salary of 1.5- 2 Lakh. On the other hand, if you are choosing the route of the Indian Airforce, your yearly package can go around 5-8 Lakh per annum.

FAQs

For pilots, the sky’s the limit and that is exactly what we at Leverage Edu help you with, providing you with all the required knowledge and supporting you build a lucrative flying career. Reach out to us at +91-8826200293 to know about the exciting opportunities you can grab onto, to help you understand how to become a pilot after 12th. 

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