Are you aiming for the stars and want to reach out for the skies? Do heights thrill you and get your spirit excited? Has flying always been your zeal? Then, aviation is your forte and becoming a pilot could be your ambition. What is so glossy about the aviation sector?
Here is why you should become a pilot:
Class and Mass
Being a pilot is attractive and commands respect. It takes a lot of sensibility and knowledge to be a successful pilot. So, being what you are means a lot to the on-lookers. This will give you motivation to face the challenges in your work and help you stay boosted throughout your career.
Stand Tall and High
Being on air is something not everyone does everyday. Being elsewhere than land most of the time means you are exposed to something newer and are more knowledgeable than others. You gain expertise in something niche and rewarding. Your knowledge speaks for yourself.
Global Citizenship
You get to travel around the world and keep meeting different people. Your travel is free and your exposure is widened.
Health is Wealth
Just because you are a pilot, you will be under the compulsion to stay healthy and fit. This will encourage you to lead a healthy life, a basic requirement for life otherwise showed apathy by humans.
Panorama in the Canopy
As you glide through the canopy of sky, the wide, uninterrupted panorama will give you goosebumps and teach you to appreciate nature when you discover the awe above the clouds.
But do you have it in you to become a pilot? What is the basic requirement to become a pilot?
- You should have completed minimum age of 18 years to be able to complete a degree
- Complete your Secondary School education to understand the flight concepts
- Be proficient in English to be able to communicate with international passengers
- Being in good health and good medical fitness matters to have a happy journey not just for you but for the passengers too!
- Acquire a certificate in pilot training program, to be legally eligible
Fitness First
Having ticked the entry criteria, your fitness also matters for a successful career as a pilot. So make sure you are in the pink of your health before you start applying for a course and begin pursuing your dream career.
The medical examination for pilots comprises the following parameters:
- Clean medical history, to be vigilant about future hazards
- Good hearing and vision to fly
- Good functioning of lungs and heart to stay active and healthy during the session
- Analysis of blood and urine for any possible infections, because you can't afford to spread it to passengers.
The medical certificate will be provided in the academy that you enrol itself. After a thorough assessment, the college will admit the candidates. However, it is recommended that the candidates make a self assessment of their health to understand if their ambition to become a pilot matches with their fitness criteria.
Steps to become a pilot:
Are you all set for the entry level? Here is what you need to do for a full fledged pilot career:
- Procure a bachelor's degree in aircraft operations, aviation, aeronautical engineering, or a related field
- Get trained and gain experience in flying for around 1500 hours
- Complete the flying test to earn a pilot's license in the following order:
- Student Pilot License (SPL)
- Private Pilot License (PPL)
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
- Complete Additional Tests and Training
- Work as a pilot to attain what you have wanted
- Advance in the Field by studying more and gaining more experience
Hang on, be clear of what your job would be like before you are impressed with the status of a pilot. Here are the responsibilities that you need to manoeuvre once you take up the job:
- Fly the aircraft with clear idea of the journey
- Making a plan about the route taken and estimate the flight's technical fitness
- Stay updated on weather and attend the met meets regularly
- Plan and calculate landing and take offs according to the angles and spaces available
- Understanding fuel requirements and keeping it in check. The flight cannot stop mid-way for lack of fuel!
- Guide the crew and delegate their roles as a leader
- Supervise loading such that it should not exceed the minimum limit
- Staying connected with air traffic control and be aware of the disturbances in the air
- Interpret the data presented to them on instruments and controls
- Checking the condition of instruments when aircraft is on automatic
- Keep passengers informed about the journey and weather
- Prepare a a flight report after landing
Where should you head for courses in flying? Here is a list of colleges based on their ranking in the recent news releases:
Rank | Name of Training Institute | Website | City |
1 | A. J. Aviation academy | www.ajinstitutions.com/ | Bengaluru |
2 | Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy | rajivgandhiacademyforaviationtechnology.org/ | Hyderabad |
3 | Indian Aviation Academy | www.iaa.edu.in/ | Mumbai |
4 | Wingsss College of Aviation Technology | www.wcat.in/ | Pune |
5 | Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics | www.aaa.co.in/ | Ahemadabad |
6 | Indian Institute of Aeronautics | www.iagroup.co.in/ | New Delhi |
7 | Hindustan Aviation Academy | www.hindustanacademy.edu.in/ | Bengaluru |
8 | Indian institute of aeronautical science | www.iias-kolkata.tripod.com/ | Kolkata |
9 | National College of Aviation | www.ncaindia.in/ | Patna |
10 | Kompass Aviation | www.kompassaviation.com/ | Mumbai |
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