Pilot minimum requirements

Minimum Requirements to be a Pilot in India

Introduction

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.

I have written before about How to be a commercial pilot in India . So this time I would like to talk about the minimum requirements you should have even before you think of becoming a pilot in India.

So we know basically there are three steps towards our goal.

  1. Student Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes/Helicopters)
  2. Private Pilot license (Aeroplanes/Helicopters)
  3. Commercial Pilot License (Aeroplanes/Helicopters)

Now to the above if you want, you can add Instrument rating, Type rating, Instructor rating etc. But the above three are the bare minimum steps. And lets look at the requirements one by one.

Student Pilot License (Aeroplane/Helicopter)

Age: 16 years and above.

Educational qualification: Shall have passed Class Ten or its equivalent examination from a recognised Board.

After you have both of the above requirements you should clear your medicals and pass an oral examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology and Aircraft and Engines. All as per the syllabus prescribed by DGCA.

You need this license along with an FRTOL to start flying.

Private Pilot license (Aeroplanes/Helicopters)

Age: 17 years and above.

Educational Qualification: shall have passed Class Ten or equivalent Examination from a recognised Board.

After you have both of the above requirements along with an SPL.

Note: Your class 1 medicals should be valid.

You will have to pass a written examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology and Aircraft and Engines. All as per the syllabus prescribed by the Director-General.

Note: So if you have a valid Private Pilot’s Licence (Aeroplanes/Helicopters) or a Commercial/Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (Aeroplanes/Helicopters) you need to pass an examination in Aircraft and Engines only.

Flying: You will have to fly a total of 40 hours on Aeroplanes/ Helicopters as per syllabus prescribed by DGCA.

Commercial Pilot License (Aeroplanes/Helicopters)

Age: 18 years and above.

Educational Qualification: He shall have passed Class Ten plus Two or an equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics, from a recognized Board/University.

After you have both of the above requirements along with an PPL.

Note: Your class 1 medicals should be valid.

You will have to pass a written examination Air Regulations, Air Navigation Meteorology and aircraft and Engines and Signals (practical) examination for interpretation of aural and visual signals, as per the syllabus prescribed by the DGCA.

Note: The holder of a current Commercial Pilot’s Licence (Aeroplanes/Helicopters) applying for the license shall be required to pass an examination in Aircraft and Engines only.

Flying: You will have to fly a total of 200 hours on Aeroplanes and 150 hours in Helicopters as per syllabus prescribed by DGCA.

Conclusion

I hope I was able to add some value and reading through was worth your time!!.

Thankyou for your time!!.

For further clarifications feel free to contact us or email me on sanjithkc@yahoo.com.

Tap on the notification button for frequent updates. Thankyou!!.

Reference: https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/

12 thoughts on “Minimum Requirements to be a Pilot in India”

  1. Why this web site name is ,
    Like this ? Do u have any issue with indian?
    I am informing DGCA India , PM office and IT minister of India.

    1. Dear sir,
      It’s your wish regarding wherever you want to report.. It’s a free country.
      But this site is inspired by what they used to call me in the US and also in the Indian flying school I was in.
      So I used to tell the, this stupidindianpilot will show you what he is capable of.
      So that’s the story behind it.

  2. I am very much interested but I am having some doubts regarding vision. Can anybody clear it.

  3. For those of you interesting in becoming a pilot in Canada I recommend my website scudrunners.com
    tons of great info on there. Ask any questions to our knowledgeable pilot group and we also have free pilot exams and other resources.

  4. Greetings of the day ,
    I am currently pursuing my CHPL from U.S.A., and am in a sort of a tight spot as i have 25 hrs left for checkride , dgca needs 10 hours of R44 endorsement, but the institute I’m flying has one R44 which went into overhaul . They do have a 206. I wanted to know if I can get it converted by flying 206 .
    And secondarily ,I have cleared DGCA’s Air nav , air regs and met, so if I do fly 206 or R44 is there any other exams like tech speci I need to clear after coming back to India?

    I appreciate this blog as Helicopter industry in India is not as huge as fixed wing leading to the trainees having less to no reference to the requirements set forth by DGCA or a mere guide to completing the training. So thank you.

    Cheers and have a good day.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *