Any student who is going abroad for flying training, knows that he or she needs 200 hours of flying training to get a Commercial pilot license. But where they get stuck is when they don’t have an idea of how to fly these 200 hours and make the most out of it. How many PIC, Dual, Cross country hours is needed is always a doubt. The diagram below taken from the dgca website gives a good idea about the documents and the hours needed while doing your CPL but I still think there’s a need to elaborate further.Let’s have a look after you glance through the diagram below.
So you want to be a Pilot??. Well, I am a firm believer that if you put in enough efforts, you can achieve anything. But in todays competitive world is just effort enough?. What is actually needed, is to focus your efforts in the right direction. I hope my posts give your efforts a direction.
Medical fitness has always been the most important aspect of a pilots life. If your not medically fit as per governing authorities in your country, you cannot fly. Its been one of the frequent questions I have been getting from budding pilots.
First of all, lets get into the history of pilot uniform. The modern uniforms you see pilots wearing today, was really started and inspired by the airlines Pan American world airways in the 1930’s. Continue reading Why do pilots wear uniforms?
My name is Capt Sanjith Christopher, and I’m a helicopter pilot. I have been flying since the last 4 years. I have accumulated around 2000 hours of helicopter flight time as of now. Though its not much, but its pretty good for a guy who is 26 years old. The machines I have flown are Schweizer 300, Robinson 22, Robinson 44 and Dauphin AS365N. Presently, I am flying for the Indian Govt and my base of flying changes every month.
First lets cover what are the basic prerequisites to be a Commercial pilot in India. So I’m not going to waste your or my time introducing myself, you can find that in the about section. As most of you are going to be school and college students who are going to read this. I will break it down in points, like school days!!
As per rules laid out by DGCA, an applicant of a Private Pilot’s Licence (Aeroplanes/ Helicopters), Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes/ Helicopters), Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (Aeroplanes/ Helicopters), Flight Engineer’s licence, Flight Navigator’s licence, and Pilot’s Licence (Microlight aircraft/Light sport aircraft/Gyroplanes) shall have the ability to speak and understand the English language used for radiotelephony communications to the level of proficiency specified by the Director General. In simple terms, English language proficiency for pilots is compulsory.
It’s not only limited for pilots, but also air traffic controllers. an applicant of a Student Air Traffic Controller’s Licence or Air Traffic Controller’s Licence shall have the ability to speak and understand the English language used for radiotelephony communications to the level of proficiency specified by the Director General.
Minimum qualification for English language proficiency for pilots test
A candidate appearing for English Language Proficiency assessment shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Age: – He/She shall be not less than sixteen years of age on the date of application. (b) Educational Qualification:-He/She shall have passed Class Ten Examination or its equivalent examination from a recognised Board. (c) Training: – Minimum Aviation English training from DGCA Approved organisation.
Minimum Aviation English Training Requirements for Candidate
The primary goal of this training is to train and assess the candidate for aviation english. Aviation English Training will seek to address, in a systematic way, the six skills in the ICAO Rating Scale. Training will also aim to go beyond the test and provide the extensive practice that is necessary to consolidate language skills, build confidence and ensure adequate safety margins when operating in stressful conditions
An Applicant who has passed English language Exam in Class 10 or 10+2 Examination shall undergo training from DGCA approved organisation in Aviation English language for a minimum duration of at least 30 hours before appearing for the English language proficiency test subject to applicant having passed all written examinations for issue of Licence.
The test
An Applicant shall undergo English language proficiency test by a test team consisting of at least:
(a) Interlocutor. (b) At least two member Rater Team comprising of (i) Operational Expert; and (ii) Language Specialist Expert.
Role of Testing Team members
The interlocutor will play the role of administrator and is responsible for interaction with the candidate during the test in order to complete the speaking task. He/she is also responsible for conduct of the assessment and resolve differences between the two primary raters, if any.
The two raters shall be responsible for assessing the candidate for aspects of assigning the score to a candidate’s performance in a test.
The parameters to conduct an assessment shall cover six skill areas of linguistic performance: pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and interactions.
The result
As a result of all the training and the test you will be rated on a scale of 1 to 6.
The rating provided by the testing team should be based on the following:-
(i) Rating assigned should be based on spoken language (speaking and listening) and not on reading and writing skills.
(ii) The assessment should have a distinct aeronautical radiotelephony focus, addresses the use of language in a work-related aviation context, voice- only communications, using strategic competences for safe communications in case of complications or unexpected turn of events, and emphasizing intelligibility in an international community of users.
(iii)Operational Level 4 should not target high degrees of grammatical correctness or native-like pronunciation. Grammar, syntax, vocabulary and pronunciation should be primarily judged to the extent that they do not interfere with effective oral communication.
The final rating shall not be the average or aggregate of the ratings in each of the six ICAO language proficiency skills but the lowest of these six ratings.
Trainers shall not test candidates/test takers to whom they have imparted language training.
English language Proficiency tests shall be conducted directly, through face-to- face only at approved address of testing services provider and shall be recorded on audio and video media.
Look at the chart below to understand what each of the ratings from 1-6 means.
Renewal
Candidates whose rating falls below the Operational Level 4 will have to provide evidence of having undergone at least 30 hours of fresh aviation English language training before appearing for a retest or as recommended by language Specialist Expert Rater of the testing team, whichever is higher. Also have a look at the chart below to understand when you need to renew your ELP.
Conclusion
Thankyou for reading. Feel free to contact me for further doubts.
Through this write up I intend to talk about where can you get your type rating in India. After you finish your training on airplanes or helicopters and get your Commercial pilot license, you would be required to do a type rating. So what’s a type rating?? A type rating is a specialized training program that pilots undergo to become qualified to operate a specific type of aircraft, such as a particular model of jetliner or helicopter. It includes both theoretical knowledge and practical flight training to ensure pilots are competent and safe when flying that specific aircraft type. So for example, you will be flying a Cessna 152/172 during your training but after your training you will have to learn to fly a bigger aircraft like the Airbus 320, or Boeing 737, this training is called type rating.
The Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s (Restricted) License (FRTOL(R)), issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), allows individuals to operate radio communication equipment on aircraft. This license is typically required for those who want to work as radio operators or communication specialists in the aviation industry and obviously as a pilot you should compulsorily have one.
So have you heard about Instrument rating?? Let me give you a brief idea about what it is. An instrument rating is an advanced qualification for pilots that allows them to fly aircraft solely by reference to instruments, without relying on visual cues. It’s essential for flying in adverse weather conditions or situations with low visibility.
So have you heard about Instrument rating?? Let me give you a brief idea about what it is. An instrument rating is an advanced qualification for pilots that allows them to fly aircraft solely by reference to instruments, without relying on visual cues. It’s essential for flying in adverse weather conditions or situations with low visibility. Pilots with an instrument rating are trained to navigate and control the aircraft using the cockpit instruments, including altimeters, gyroscopes, and navigation systems.
A Boeing 747 with a typical amount of passengers and cargo tends to burn a little over a gallon of fuel every second. This roughly estimates to about 3,804 gallons of fuel per hour, meaning that a Boeing 747 traveling from New York to Los Angeles, about a five-hour flight, would consume almost 20,000 gallons of fuel.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of the aviation industry, the integration of artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force. It is revolutionising the way airlines, airports, and aviation professionals operate. AI’s unparalleled ability to process vast amounts of data, learn from patterns, and make intelligent decisions has opened up a new realm of possibilities for enhancing safety, efficiency, and passenger experience.
From optimising flight routes and predicting maintenance needs to enabling autonomous systems and personalised customer support, AI’s applications in aviation is reshaping the way we fly and travel.
India acquired 56 Airbus C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet. The first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to the customer in ‘fly-away’ condition. The following 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.
The term is used to describe the place from where the pilot controls the aircraft. It is used interchangeably with the word flight deck. It contains all the controls a pilot needs to fly the aircraft. One can also think of the cockpit as the nerve center of the entire aircraft.
There are a few competing theories behind the use of the word, “Cockpit”.
How to choose out of the multiple flying schools in India?. This is one of the first question that comes in the mind of an aspirant. Is the school good?, how fast will they finish my training??. Questions are never ending. But the initial and relevant question you should ask first is, Is the school approved by DGCA??. Because if it’s not approved or temporarily suspended and if you train from there, you might not got a license even after spending a fortune on your training.
