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.
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): 16 years
Private Pilot License (PPL): 17 years
Commercial Pilot License (CPL): 18 years
Medical Requirements:
A Class 2 medical certificate from a DGCA-certified examiner is required for initial training. Before obtaining a CPL, you must pass a Class 1 medical examination, also conducted by a DGCA-certified examiner. Good vision, normal hearing, and overall physical fitness are essential.
At Garuda Aviation, under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program, we guide each aspiring cadet through these early decisions—helping you evaluate your goals, meet eligibility criteria, and prepare mentally and physically for a professional aviation career.
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. At Garuda Aviation, we support our female cadets with a safe, respectful, and inclusive training environment throughout their journey.
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.
Garuda Aviation, as a trusted training partner under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program, offers cutting-edge infrastructure, highly experienced flight instructors, and personalized training paths to ensure your progress remains steady, efficient, and future-ready.
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. At Garuda Aviation, our ground school training is designed to build a solid theoretical foundation, delivered by experienced instructors using modern tools, mock tests, and personalized learning support to help you succeed.
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.
At Garuda Aviation, your flight training under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program is delivered through structured modules with professional instructors, modern aircraft, and simulator-based multi-engine experience. We ensure every cadet logs their hours with precision, safety, and confidence.
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.
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.
At Garuda Aviation, we help cadets prepare for DGCA exams with structured mock tests, oral prep, and one-on-one guidance. Once licensed, we also assist in choosing the right Type Rating partner to help you transition smoothly into airline operations.
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
At Garuda Aviation, we provide in-depth training and preparation modules tailored to airline assessments. From aptitude test simulations to mock interviews and group discussion strategies, we prepare every cadet to face airline selections with confidence and competence.
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)
At Garuda Aviation, our structured scheduling and focused mentorship allow cadets to move efficiently through each phase of training while maintaining high safety and proficiency standards.
Aviation is a high-investment career, and training costs vary based on the institute and aircraft used. Approximate costs:
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)
Garuda Aviation ensures value at every step—offering transparent pricing, financing assistance, and payment flexibility to make your aviation journey smoother and more accessible.
Step | Description |
Training Frequency – Garuda Aviation | The pace at which a pilot progresses is directly tied to how often they train. Those 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 – Garuda Aviation | Aviation is at the mercy of nature. Flight training 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 – Garuda Aviation | 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. Proper financial planning and selecting the right training institute can help mitigate these interruptions and keep the dream alive without unnecessary delays. |
Flight School Quality – Garuda Aviation | 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. Renowned academies ensure students receive structured, efficient training that minimizes downtime and maximizes skill development. Choosing the right training program can be the defining factor between prolonged delays and a streamlined path to becoming a pilot. |
A pilot’s journey doesn’t stop after getting a license—in fact, it’s just the beginning of a lifelong adventure. Every flight brings new lessons, every challenge tests your patience, and every moment in the sky reminds you why you chose this 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 take your career to the next level? If yes, let’s get started on your journey to becoming a professional pilot with Garuda Aviation.
Our comprehensive program is designed to help you become a top-notch pilot. We’ll equip you with essential communication, decision-making, and leadership skills that will make you an asset to any aviation team. We also offer career counseling, resume-building workshops, and interview preparation to ensure you land your dream job in the aviation industry.
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