The document outlines the steps to become a commercial or Air Force pilot in India, highlighting the exciting career prospects and responsibilities involved. For a commercial pilot, qualifications include passing written and aptitude tests, obtaining a student pilot license, and accumulating flight hours. Alternatively, aspiring Air Force pilots can join the National Defence Academy after 12th grade, with eligibility criteria and a selection process that includes exams and interviews.

1. How to become a
Commercial or Air force
Pilot?

2. • A career as a pilot not only pays well but also
provides exciting training and exposure.
• When you become a pilot, you not only get to fly
through the skies, but you also get to soar through
your career and life.
• Typically, you should begin training when you are 17
or 18 years old.
• Although the decision to become a pilot is
interesting, the process is lengthy and costly &
exciting.

3. • So, how do you go about become a pilot in India?
• In general, there are two options:
• Civil Aviation (Commercial Pilot)
• Indian Armed Forces (Air force Pilot)
• We'll go over the above two routes in depth in this
section.

4. What Are the Steps to Becoming a
Commercial Pilot?
• A commercial pilot is a pilot who has been qualified
to fly a particular type of airline aircraft and holds a
‘commercial pilot' licence / certificate from the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• While the pay high packages, they come with a lot of
responsibility, as you will be responsible for
hundreds of lives in a single aircraft, transporting
them from point A to point B in the safest manner
possible, as directed by Air Traffic Controller (ATC).

5. • First and foremost, the Higher Secondary Course
should include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• Not only that, but to study in a flying school, you
must have a Class 12th grade average of at least 50%.

6. To get started on this rewarding
career, follow these steps:
• Written exam – This exam analyses your general
English, mathematics, physics, and reasoning skills. It
is based on the 10+2 method.
• Pilot Aptitude Test – This test will evaluate your
knowledge of air regulations, navigation, aviation
meteorology, aircraft, and engines.
• Personal Interview (and) DGCA Medical
Examination – Applicants who pass the written exam
and aptitude test will be eligible to perform a
medical examination conducted by the DGCA,
Government of India.

7. • You must pass an entrance test in order to receive a
"student pilot licence." This consists of an oral exam,
which will be administered by the flying school's Chief
Instructor or a DGCA representative.
• This licence allows you to receive flight training and
learn the fundamentals of flying by taking off in gliders
or small planes provided by licenced flying clubs
around the country.
• You should have completed at least 250 hours of flight
time by the end of your course. Following that, you'll
be able to apply for a Commercial Pilot License (CPL).

8. What Are the Steps to Becoming an
Air Force Pilot?
• So you want to be a pilot?
• But is it not too expensive to become a commercial
pilot?
• The Indian Armed Forces are an alternative.
• Not only do you get free pilot training here, but you
also get to represent your country.
• Even during your training time, you will become a
class-I officer and earn a good salary.

9. • When it comes to selecting candidates, the Indian
Armed Forces focus heavily on OLQs (Officer Like
Quality).
• In order to become a successful military officer, an
applicant must possess 15 character traits.
• If you believe you possess the following
characteristics: effective knowledge, reasoning
capacity, social adaptability, strategy planning,
confidence, strength, and so on, the Indian Armed
Forces might be the right fit for you.

10. How do I join the Indian Air Force as a
pilot after completing 12th class?
• Participate in the National Defence Academy (NDA).
• The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the Indian
Armed Forces' joint services academy, where officers
from the Army, Navy, and Air Force train together
before proceeding to their respective military
academy for further pre-commission training.
• The chosen applicants are qualified for three years
and then commissioned as a Permanent Commission
Officer and assigned to one of the Air Force Base
Stations as a Pilot.

11. • NDA Eligibility Criteria: You should take the NDA
entrance exam right after you complete your 12th
class (with physics and mathematics).
• To apply, you must be at least 16 years old and no
older than 19 years old.

12. The following is the NDA Admission
Procedure:
• Written Exam - This consists of a math and general
skill test. Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English, General
Knowledge, History, Geography, and Current Events
are all included in the questions.
• SSB interview - The second and final round of the
NDA selection process is the SSB interview. The SSB
Interview round is divided into two parts: an
intelligence test and a psychological aptitude test.

13. • Pilot Aptitude Test - This is an only one test.
• You will never be able to appear for the flying
division again if you do not pass the exam on your
first attempt.
• This consists of written and machine tests that assess
your ability to read instruments, maintain control
over your behaviour, and maintain mental strength.

14. • Medical examination - Your eyesight, height, weight,
and general health will all be checked.
• For an NDA aspirant, a minimum height of 152cms is
expected, as well as a corresponding weight.
• Eye vision should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in
the other, with Hypermetropia correctable to 6/6
only (A vision condition in which nearby objects is
blurry).

15. • Read more: - Process to become a Pilot