The First Step: Making the Decision!

Before stepping into the world of aviation, you must be clear about your goals. Do you want to fly as a hobby or make it your career? Becoming a commercial pilot requires extensive training, financial investment, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Meeting the Eligibility Criteria

To become a pilot in India under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), you must meet specific criteria:

Educational Qualification

Minimum 10+2 with decent marks in Physics, Maths and English.

Age Requirements

Student Pilot License (SPL): Minimum age 16 years

Private Pilot License (PPL): Minimum age 17 years

Commercial Pilot License (CPL): Minimum age 18 years

Medical Requirements

You must first obtain a Class 2 Medical Certificate from a DGCA-certified examiner to begin your pilot training.
Before applying for the CPL, a Class 1 Medical Examination is mandatory — also conducted by an approved DGCA medical examiner.

Good vision, normal hearing, and overall physical fitness are essential to qualify and sustain a career as a professional pilot.

Specific Requirements for Female Pilots

Pregnancy:

Female pilots must be grounded during pregnancy and for a period after childbirth, according to DGCA regulations.

Gynecological Health:

Regular check-ups are required to ensure overall fitness for flying duties.

Meeting these eligibility criteria is your first step towards becoming a pilot in India. It's essential to stay in good health and maintain the required physical fitness to ensure a long and successful career in aviation.

Choosing the Right Flight School

Selecting the right flight school is crucial. Look for DGCA-approved institutes with a strong training curriculum, experienced instructors, modern aircrafts, and most importantly the student-aircraft as well as the instructor-student ratio in the flight school. The right training environment significantly impacts your skills and career progression.

Ground School – Building Theoretical Knowledge

Before you fly, you must be well aware of the aviation fundamentals. Ground knowledge includes:

Meteorology
Air Regulations
Air Navigation
Technical General
Technical Specific
Radio Telephony

A strong grasp of these subjects is essential for clearing DGCA exams and becoming a competent commercial pilot in India.

Flight Training – Logging Your Hours

Practical training is where the real journey begins. Depending on your career path, here’s what you’ll need:

Private Pilot License (PPL): Minimum 40 flight hours (most students complete 50-60 for proficiency).
Commercial Pilot License (CPL): Minimum 200 flight hours, including 185 hours on Single engine aircraft and 25 hours on Multi Engine Aircraft/Simulator.
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL): Requires 1,500 hours, usually accumulated through working as an instructor or in charter operations.

DGCA Exams and Final Check

Clearing DGCA exams is mandatory at each stage which would require you to score at least 70/100 for the DGCA exams and clearing Part 1 and Part 2 to obtain the Radio Telephony license. Once you’ve logged the required hours on Single engine as well as Multi engine aircraft and passed your exams, you’ll undergo a skill test (check) with a DGCA examiner. Passing this test earns you your license.

Type Rating – Specializing in a Commercial Aircraft

To fly for an airline, you must complete a Type Rating for a specific aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. This specialized training is conducted in full-flight simulators and is a significant investment in your aviation career.

Applying for Airline Jobs and Clearing Assessments

With your CPL and Type Rating, the next step is securing a job with an airline. Airlines conduct rigorous selection processes, including:

Written exams on aviation knowledge and basic aptitude
Compass/Adapt to assess the cognitive abilities, spatial awareness, and multi-tasking skills
Personal interviews and Group Discussions to evaluate decision-making and situational awareness

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pilot?

The timeline depends on training intensity and individual progress:

Private Pilot License (PPL): 3–6 months

Commercial Pilot License (CPL): 12–18 months (can extend based on training frequency)

Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL): 2–5 years (gained through job experience)

How Much Does Pilot Training Cost in India?

Aviation is a high-investment career, and training costs vary based on the institute and aircraft used. Approximate costs under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA:

Private Pilot License (PPL): ₹7–10 lakh

Commercial Pilot License (CPL): ₹50–70 lakh (including flight training, DGCA exams, and additional costs)

Type Rating: ₹15–25 lakh (varies by aircraft type)

Challenges in Pilot Training

The path to becoming a pilot goes beyond simply meeting the required flight hours; it’s shaped by different factors that can either fast-track or extend the process. Every aspiring aviator encounters obstacles that challenge their dedication, patience, and persistence at some point or the other, some of these challenges being under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA:

Step	Description
Training Frequency:	The pace at which a pilot progresses is directly tied to how often they train. Those enrolled in the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA who dedicate themselves to full-time training move ahead swiftly, while those training only on weekends or intermittently may experience longer gaps between lessons, leading to a slower progression. Consistency is key — staying actively engaged ensures better skill retention and a smoother learning curve.
Weather Conditions:	Aviation is at the mercy of nature. Flight training under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA is heavily dependent on weather conditions, and poor visibility, strong winds, or unexpected storms can result in cancellations, causing delays in flight schedules. While these challenges are inevitable, they also build patience and adaptability — qualities every great pilot must possess.
Financial Considerations:	The reality of pilot training is that it requires a significant financial investment. Some students may find themselves needing to take breaks between phases due to budget constraints, which can extend their overall training timeline. With CAA’s structured cadet program, proper financial planning and institutional support can help mitigate these interruptions and keep the dream alive without unnecessary delays.
Flight School Quality:	Not all flight schools are created equal. A well-structured institution with experienced instructors and a disciplined training environment can make a world of difference. Under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA, cadets receive structured, efficient training that minimizes downtime and maximizes skill development. Choosing the right training program, like this one, can be the defining factor between prolonged delays and a streamlined path to becoming a pilot.

Building a Successful Aviation Career

A pilot’s journey doesn’t stop after getting a license — in fact, it marks the beginning of a lifelong adventure. Every flight with the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program – CAA brings new lessons, every challenge tests your patience, and every moment in the sky reaffirms why you chose this incredible path.

Capt. Deval Soni always says,

“A good pilot isn’t just someone who flies well but someone who stays calm in a storm, adapts to the unknown, and never stops learning.”

So, are you ready to elevate your career to the next level? If yes, let’s begin your journey with CAA’s IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program!

Our comprehensive cadet program is tailored to help you become a top-tier pilot. Through our specialized curriculum, we’ll develop your communication, decision-making, and leadership skills — making you a valuable asset to any airline. Additionally, we offer dedicated career counseling, professional resume-building workshops, and mock interview training to ensure you land your dream job in the aviation industry.