Ce parcours n’est pas encore traduit en français : son contenu s’affiche en anglais.
Commercial Airline Pilot in India (DGCA CPL to ATPL)
Check eligibility and your medical first, then work through the DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence toward First Officer and Captain
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Où cela mène
- Student Pilot (SPL stage)
- Commercial Pilot (CPL holder)
- Flight Instructor (with an instructor rating)
- Airline Cadet / Trainee Pilot
- First Officer (Co-pilot)
0 portes sur 15 franchies
Avant de dépenser de l’argent ou des années
Vérifiez d’abord ces points : ils peuvent arrêter le voyage avant qu’il ne vous coûte
Vérification : on y va ou pas
Feu rouge : vérifiez ces points avant de payer quoi que ce soit.
Pilot training is expensive (one government academy publishes a course cost of ₹45 lakh before living costs and DGCA fees), a licence does not guarantee an airline job, and type-rating or programme costs can add more. Check your medical before committing large sums.
C’est vous ?
Cochez celles qui sont vraies pour vous.
15 portes jusqu’au cockpit
15 portes en 4 étapes. Touchez une porte pour la lire ; notez la date quand vous la franchissez.
Understand what the job involves, how the two entry paths differ, and what has to be true before training makes sense.
The Aircraft Rules require Class 10+2 or an equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board or university for the CPL and the ATPL.
DGCA lists a Class 1 Medical Assessment as a requirement for a commercial licence. The initial Class 1 is taken after you hold a valid Class 2, at IAF boarding centres or DGCA-empanelled civil hospitals. Which medical class applies to the student and private pilot licences comes from an older, unofficial copy of the medical CAR — source requires current DGCA verification.
Compare training in India at a DGCA-approved flight training organisation, airline cadet programmes, and training abroad followed by conversion to a DGCA licence. Each route has different costs, timelines and risks.
For the CPL, DGCA examines Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology and Aircraft & Engines, plus a Signals (practical) examination. Exam credits for the CPL must fall within five years before you apply.
Start flying with an instructor, learn aircraft handling and procedures, and fly your first solo under supervision. Check with DGCA which medical class the student pilot licence currently requires (source requires current DGCA verification).
🛑 Étape payante : continuez quand votre vérification ci-dessus est au vert.
The CPL (Aeroplanes) requires at least 200 hours of flight time within five years, including 100 hours as pilot-in-command, 20 hours of cross-country PIC with a 300 nautical mile flight, 10 hours of instrument time and 5 hours of night flying, followed by day, night and cross-country skill tests.
Airline flying is done on multi-engine aircraft under instrument flight rules. The ATPL later requires a current Instrument Rating, and a multi-engine type skill test.
Prepare for airline selection: aptitude tests, technical questions, simulator assessments and interviews. Work in a crew rather than alone.
Airlines hire First Officers from cadet programmes and from licence holders who apply directly. A type rating qualifies you on a specific aircraft; whether the airline or the candidate pays for it differs between airlines and programmes.
As a First Officer you build the flight time, night and instrument experience that the ATPL requires, under the supervision of experienced captains.
The ATPL (Aeroplanes) requires age 21, 1,500 hours, written and oral examinations, a CPL, a current Instrument Rating and FRTOL, and a skill test on a multi-engine type. Becoming a Captain also depends on your airline's upgrade process and vacancies.
En savoir plus sur ce métier
Le métier, le salaire là où vous vivez, les questions fréquentes, et où ce métier peut vous mener ensuite.
Le métier
Ce que vous feriez
- Fly aeroplanes up to 5,700 kg as pilot-in-command, on the types rated on your licence
- Act as co-pilot on aeroplanes that must carry one, including large transport aeroplanes
- Fly under Instrument Flight Rules once you hold a current instrument rating
- Pass a proficiency check every six months to fly as co-pilot on transport aeroplanes over 5,700 kg
- Keep your medical, recent flying hours and radio licence current so you can renew your licence
Où vous travailleriez
- Operators of transport aeroplanes over 5,700 kg, such as airlines (as co-pilot)
- Flying instruction (with an instructor's rating)
Autorisation d’exercer
L’inscription se fait auprès de Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- Be at least 18 and have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics and Mathematics
- Get a certificate of medical fitness from an approved Medical Board
- Pass DGCA written exams in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology, and Aircraft and Engines, plus a signals test
- Log at least 200 hours of flight time, including 100 hours as pilot-in-command, and pass the skill tests
- Hold a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence
Orientations possibles
- Instrument Rating (flying under Instrument Flight Rules)
- Flight Instructor's Rating (teaching others to fly)
- Extra aircraft type ratings
Informations sourcées pour cette région
Conditions de licence, rémunérations et coûts de formation tirés des sources ci-dessous. Il s'agit des dernières informations consultées, pas de données en direct ; vérifiez auprès de l'autorité avant d'agir.
Les détails des sources sont affichés en anglais, tels que publiés.
Autorité de délivrance des licences
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiaDernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
Conditions de licence
- Class 10+2 or an equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board/university, for the CPL (Aeroplanes) and the ATPL (Aeroplanes). Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
- CPL (Aeroplanes): at least 18 years on the date of application. ATPL (Aeroplanes): at least 21 years. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
- A Class 1 Medical Assessment is required for a commercial licence. The initial Class 1 is taken by a person who already holds a valid Class 2 medical, at IAF boarding centres or DGCA-empanelled civil hospitals. DGCA identifies CAR Section 7, Series C, Part I, Issue II, Revision 7 (1 Oct 2025) as the current medical CAR. DGCAMedical standards themselves are not summarised here — read the current CAR and consult a DGCA-approved examiner.
- Class 2 Medical Assessment for student and private pilot licences; Class 1 for ATPL applicants and holders. DGCA (copy hosted by a third party)Source à vérifier auprès de la DGCA (version actuelle).Taken from an unofficial copy of Revision 6 of the medical CAR. The current Revision 7 could not be retrieved from DGCA, so this may have changed.
- CPL: written examinations in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology and Aircraft & Engines, plus a Signals (practical) examination, per the DGCA syllabus. Exam credits for CPL/ATPL must fall within five years before applying. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
- CPL (Aeroplanes): at least 200 hours of flight time within five years before applying, including at least 100 hours as pilot-in-command (15 of them in the preceding six months), 20 hours of cross-country PIC including a 300 nm cross-country with full-stop landings at two different aerodromes, 10 hours of instrument time (no more than 5 on an approved simulator), and 5 hours of night flying including 10 take-offs and landings as PIC. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of IndiaReduced requirements apply to helicopter licence holders with 1,000+ hours as PIC.
- CPL and ATPL applicants must hold a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence issued by the Director-General. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
- CPL competency is demonstrated to an examiner within six months before applying: general flying tests by day and by night, a day cross-country test of at least 250 nm with a landing at another aerodrome, and a night cross-country test of at least 120 nm. Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
- ATPL (Aeroplanes): at least 21 years old; at least 1,500 hours of flight time (150 in the preceding 12 months), including at least 500 hours as pilot-in-command or as co-pilot performing PIC duties under supervision, 100 hours of night flying and 100 hours of instrument time (at least 50 in actual flight); written and oral examinations; a CPL, a current Instrument Rating and a current FRTOL; and a skill test on a multi-engine type (which DGCA may allow on a Level D simulator). Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of IndiaDGCASome ATPL sub-requirements in the scanned rules text were illegible and are not reproduced here.
- Indian airlines including IndiGo and Air India have run cadet pilot programmes with training partners. IndiGoAir IndiaEligibility, cost, any service bond and programme structure could not be retrieved from the airlines’ pages; check each programme’s current notice directly.
Dernières informations salariales disponibles
Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
| Poste | Fourchette | Type de donnée | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First OfficerIndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation) · 1–2 years | ₹29,40,000 – ₹37,80,000par an | Déclaré par des salariés | AmbitionBoxAmbitionBox "typical salary range". The page does not state whether figures are base pay or include flying allowances. |
| First OfficerAir India · 0–3 years | ₹27,70,000 – ₹37,00,000par an | Déclaré par des salariés | AmbitionBoxAmbitionBox "typical salary range". Base vs. total pay not stated. |
| CaptainIndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation) · 3–10 years (as shown on the source) | ₹80,10,000 – ₹93,20,000par an | Déclaré par des salariés | AmbitionBoxAmbitionBox "typical salary range". Base vs. total pay not stated. |
| CaptainAir India · 8–15 years | ₹75,60,000 – ₹98,80,000par an | Déclaré par des salariés | AmbitionBoxAmbitionBox "typical salary range", shown as medium confidence. Base vs. total pay not stated. |
La rémunération dépend de l'employeur, du poste, de l'appareil, de l'ancienneté et des heures. Ces chiffres ne sont pas une promesse de revenus, et les chiffres de types différents ne sont pas combinés.
Coût de formation (exemples publiés)
Ab-initio to CPL at IGRUA (government-run academy)
₹47,50,000 – estimation haute non établie
Inclut
- Course cost as published by IGRUA (₹45 lakh)
- Uniform, training material, navigation computer, headphones (about ₹2 lakh)
- Non-refundable admission charges (₹50,000)
Non inclus
- Boarding and lodging (about ₹15,000 per month; course length not stated on the page)
- DGCA and radio telephony examination and licence fees
- Medical examination fees
- Type rating
- Extra training if exams or tests must be repeated
One academy’s published figures. IGRUA states that candidates arrange bank loans themselves and offers an optional type-rating package with a DGCA-approved FTO, without a published price. A range across other DGCA-approved schools or training abroad could not be established from the sources reviewed, so no upper estimate is given. Confirm the current fee in IGRUA’s latest admission notice. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), Ministry of Civil AviationIGRUA
Limites de ces informations
- Licence requirements were taken from a scanned consolidated copy of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 hosted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation; check DGCA for later amendments.
- DGCA’s current medical CAR (Revision 7, 1 Oct 2025) could not be retrieved from DGCA. Which medical class applies to student and private licences comes from an older, unofficial copy (Revision 6) and requires current DGCA verification.
- DGCA’s current English language proficiency requirement for flight crew could not be confirmed from DGCA sources reviewed.
- Salary figures are employee-reported for two airlines only, with no breakdown of base pay and allowances. No reliable figures were found for trainees, cadets, Senior First Officers or wide-body Captains.
- Cadet programme terms (eligibility, cost, bonds) could not be retrieved from the airlines’ pages.
- No source reviewed gives a reliable overall timeline; durations vary with training capacity, weather, exams, medicals, finances and airline hiring.
Sources (12)
- Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India — The Aircraft Rules, 1937 (consolidated text) — Schedule II, Section J (CPL Aeroplanes) and Section M (ATPL Aeroplanes)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Scanned consolidated copy hosted by the Ministry; the "updated" year on its cover is illegible. Later amendments may change requirements — confirm with DGCA before acting.
- DGCA — List of DGCA approved aeromedical evaluation centres, IAF boarding centres and empanelled Class 1 examiners (updated 27 Aug 2026)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Official DGCA document. States that Class 1 is a requirement for a commercial licence, that the initial Class 1 medical is taken by a person holding a valid Class 2 medical, and that CAR Section 7 Series C Part I, Issue II, Revision 7 (1 Oct 2025) is the current medical CAR.
- DGCA (copy hosted by a third party) — CAR Section 7, Series C, Part I — Medical requirements (Issue II, Rev. 6, 18 Oct 2022)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Unofficial third-party copy of an older revision (Revision 6). DGCA cites Revision 7 (1 Oct 2025) as current, but no official copy of Revision 7 could be retrieved from DGCA on the date checked. Used only for the claim marked as requiring current DGCA verification.
- DGCA — CAR Section 7, Series B, Part VI — Syllabus for ATPL (Aeroplanes) examinations (Issue III, 16 Jun 2011)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Syllabus document; licence requirements themselves are in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules.
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), Ministry of Civil Aviation — Selection Procedure (page last updated 11 May 2026)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · One government-run training academy; other DGCA-approved flight training organisations charge different amounts.
- IGRUA — Financial Assistance (page last updated 19 Dec 2025)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Mentions bank loans arranged by candidates themselves and an optional type-rating package with a DGCA-approved FTO; no type-rating price is published there.
- AmbitionBox — InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) First Officer salaries — based on 45 salaries, updated 4 Jan 2026Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
- AmbitionBox — InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) Captain salaries — based on 53 salaries, updated 8 Aug 2026Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
- AmbitionBox — Air India First Officer salaries — based on 27 salaries, updated 9 May 2026Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
- AmbitionBox — Air India Captain salaries — based on 22 salaries (shown as medium confidence), updated 25 Jul 2026Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026
- IndiGo — IndiGo press releases about its Cadet Pilot Programme partnershipsDernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Establishes only that IndiGo runs a cadet pilot programme with training partners. The programme pages could not be retrieved, so eligibility, cost, bond and structure are not stated here.
- Air India — Air India Cadet Pilot Program (official programme site)Dernière vérification : 8 oct. 2026 · Establishes only that the programme site exists; its content could not be retrieved (connection timed out).
Toutes les étapes en détail
Le texte complet de chaque étape, à lire ou à imprimer. Avancez étape par étape dans le parcours ci-dessus.
Is Aviation Right for You? Path A (after 10+2) and Path B (after graduation) 1 étapes
Compare Path A (after 10+2) with Path B (after graduation)
Path A: students with 10+2 in Physics and Mathematics can start licence training directly; the CPL can be issued from age 18. Path B: graduates follow the same licensing steps — a degree does not replace any DGCA licence, medical, exam or flight-hour requirement. A degree can still make sense as a backup qualification, or if a specific airline programme asks for it.
Tâche concrète: Write a one-page decision note: your entry path, why you want to fly, your backup qualification, and the questions you still need answered before paying any fees.
Pourquoi c’est important: Both paths lead to the same DGCA licences, so the real decision is about timing, money and a fallback — not about which path is faster.
Liste de contrôle
- Write down which path applies to you (10+2 student, graduate, or working professional changing career)
- Confirm you studied Physics and Mathematics in 10+2 (or plan an equivalent examination)
- List your reasons for choosing aviation and the backup plan you would follow if training stops
Check Academic Eligibility 1 étapes
Verify your 10+2 subjects and documents
If you did not take Physics and Mathematics in 10+2, check whether an equivalent examination route exists for you before enrolling anywhere. Graduates still need the 10+2 (or equivalent) requirement — the degree does not substitute for it.
Tâche concrète: Check whether your 10+2 subjects meet the DGCA education requirement and record the documents you will need for registration.
Pourquoi c’est important: An education gap discovered after training has started can stop a licence application.
Liste de contrôle
- Check your 10+2 marksheet for Physics and Mathematics
- If either subject is missing, research equivalent examination options with a recognised board
- Collect identity and education documents you will need for DGCA registration and school admission
- Note the age rules: CPL from 18, ATPL from 21
Complete Your Aviation Medical First 1 étapes
Obtain a Class 2 medical, then an initial Class 1 medical
Locate a DGCA-approved examiner for the Class 2, then book the initial Class 1 at an approved centre. Medical standards follow the DGCA medical CAR (CAR Section 7, Series C, Part I); read the current revision before your appointment.
Tâche concrète: Complete your Class 2 medical and then your initial Class 1 medical, and record the dates of both assessments.
Pourquoi c’est important: Without a valid Class 1 assessment you cannot hold a CPL, so finding a medical issue early protects you from spending on training you cannot use.
Liste de contrôle
- Locate a DGCA-approved medical examiner for the Class 2 assessment
- Complete the Class 2 medical and keep the assessment safely
- Book the initial Class 1 at an IAF boarding centre or DGCA-empanelled civil hospital
- Read the current medical CAR and any DGCA medical circulars that apply to you
Understand Licence Options and Choose a Training Route 2 étapes
Compare DGCA-approved schools, cadet programmes and training abroad
Cadet programmes are run by some airlines (IndiGo and Air India have run them); their eligibility, cost, bonds and structure change between intakes, so read the current notice. Training abroad leads to a foreign licence that must be converted to a DGCA licence — check the conversion requirements before choosing it.
Tâche concrète: Compare three approved training options in a table (approval status, fleet, instructor availability, total quoted cost, what is excluded) and choose one with written reasons.
Pourquoi c’est important: The route decides most of your cost and timeline, and a school with too few aircraft or instructors can delay training by months.
Liste de contrôle
- Shortlist three DGCA-approved flight training organisations and confirm their approval is current
- Compare aircraft fleet size and availability, and ask how many students share each aircraft and instructor
- Read any airline cadet programme notice for eligibility, total cost, bonds and what happens if you do not pass
- If considering training abroad, list what DGCA requires to convert a foreign licence
Build a complete training budget
As one example, IGRUA (a government-run academy) publishes a course cost of ₹45 lakh, plus about ₹2 lakh for uniform and materials, boarding at about ₹15,000 a month, and non-refundable admission charges. DGCA and radio telephony exam and licence fees, medicals and any type rating are extra. Other schools charge different amounts.
Tâche concrète: Create a training budget with a low and a high case, listing every excluded cost and how each one will be paid.
Pourquoi c’est important: Financing can create significant debt, and employment is not guaranteed after the licence — the budget has to survive delays and hiring slowdowns.
Liste de contrôle
- Ask each school for a written total cost, including what is excluded
- Add living costs for the whole training period
- Add DGCA exam, licence and medical fees, plus a contingency for repeated tests
- If you need a loan, compare the repayment you would face before you earn an airline salary
Ground School & DGCA Theory Examinations 2 étapes
Study for and pass the DGCA CPL subjects
Follow the DGCA syllabus for each subject: Air Regulations, Air Navigation (including flight planning), Meteorology, and Aircraft & Engines (technical knowledge).
Tâche concrète: Complete your DGCA theory examinations and record each subject result and date.
Pourquoi c’est important: Passing the theory papers is a licence requirement, and the five-year window means exam timing affects when you can apply.
Liste de contrôle
- Download the current DGCA syllabus and recommended reading list
- Prepare an aviation theory study schedule for Air Regulations and Air Navigation
- Study Meteorology and Aircraft & Engines with past-paper style practice
- Book each examination and track results against the five-year validity window
Prepare for the radio telephony licence
CPL and ATPL applicants must hold a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence (FRTOL). Practise standard phraseology and procedures for communication failure.
Tâche concrète: Pass the radio telephony examination and record the date your Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence was issued.
Pourquoi c’est important: Clear radio communication is part of every flight, and the licence is a legal requirement for the CPL.
Liste de contrôle
- Learn standard RT phraseology and read-back rules
- Practise procedures for communication failure
- Apply for the radio telephony examination and licence
Initial Flight Training (Student Pilot Stage) 1 étapes
Fly your first solo and start your pilot logbook
Learn pre-flight checks, circuits, stalls and emergencies with your instructor, then complete your first supervised solo.
Tâche concrète: Complete your first supervised solo flight and record the logbook entry for it.
Pourquoi c’est important: Every later licence depends on accurate logged hours and safe basic handling.
Liste de contrôle
- Start a pilot logbook and record every flight accurately
- Learn pre-flight inspection, circuits and stall recovery
- Practise emergency procedures with your instructor
- Complete your first supervised solo flight
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Flight Experience and Skill Tests 2 étapes
Build the 200 hours and cross-country experience
Track every category of time against the Aircraft Rules minimums so nothing is missing when you apply.
Tâche concrète: Plan and fly the 300 nautical mile cross-country flight with full-stop landings at two different aerodromes, and record it in your logbook.
Pourquoi c’est important: The long cross-country tests navigation, flight planning, weather judgement and decision making together.
Liste de contrôle
- Track total time against the 200-hour minimum
- Log 100 hours as pilot-in-command, including 15 in the six months before applying
- Complete 20 hours of cross-country PIC, including a 300 nautical mile flight with full-stop landings at two different aerodromes
- Log 10 hours of instrument time (no more than 5 on an approved simulator)
- Log 5 hours of night flying with 10 take-offs and landings as PIC
Pass the CPL skill tests and apply for the licence
Demonstrate general flying by day and by night, a day cross-country of at least 250 nautical miles with a landing elsewhere, and a night cross-country of at least 120 nautical miles, within six months before applying.
Tâche concrète: Pass your CPL skill tests and record the date your Commercial Pilot Licence was issued.
Pourquoi c’est important: The CPL is the licence that allows you to be paid to fly; airlines also expect further ratings.
Liste de contrôle
- Prepare for the general flying tests by day and night
- Prepare for the day and night cross-country tests
- Check your Class 1 medical and radio licence are current
- Submit the CPL application with logbook evidence
Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine Training 1 étapes
Earn your instrument and multi-engine qualifications
Train to fly accurately by reference to instruments, including precision approaches, and learn multi-engine handling with one engine inoperative.
Tâche concrète: Pass your instrument rating test and record the rating and multi-engine training milestones.
Pourquoi c’est important: Instrument and multi-engine skills are core to airline operations and are required again for the ATPL.
Liste de contrôle
- Complete instrument flying training, including precision and non-precision approaches
- Learn multi-engine systems and asymmetric flight
- Practise engine failure after take-off and single-engine go-arounds
- Pass the instrument rating test
Airline Preparation 1 étapes
Prepare for airline assessments and multi-crew work
Airlines assess teamwork, communication and decision making as well as flying. Practise working as part of a crew using standard procedures.
Tâche concrète: Complete an airline assessment or a simulator assessment and record the result.
Pourquoi c ’est important: Selection tests crew skills, not only flying skill — preparing for them is part of becoming employable.
Liste de contrôle
- Prepare an aviation CV with licence, ratings and logbook totals
- Practise aptitude tests and technical interview questions
- Practise crew communication and standard operating procedures in a simulator if available
- Track airline recruitment notices and their stated minimum requirements
Airline Entry and Type Rating 1 étapes
Apply to airlines and complete type rating training
Apply when your licence, ratings and medical meet the airline's published minimums, then complete the airline's type rating and line training.
Tâche concrète: Complete your type rating and record the aircraft type and completion date.
Pourquoi c’est important: The type rating is the step that qualifies you to fly a specific airliner as a First Officer.
Liste de contrôle
- Check each airline's minimum requirements before applying
- Clarify who pays for the type rating and whether a bond applies
- Complete type rating ground school and simulator training
- Complete line training under supervision
First Officer: Build Airline Experience 1 étapes
Track progress toward ATPL experience
Log time carefully: the ATPL needs 1,500 hours, 150 in the preceding 12 months, 500 as pilot-in-command or co-pilot performing PIC duties under supervision, 100 hours at night and 100 instrument hours (50 in actual flight).
Tâche concrète: Reach a logbook milestone toward the ATPL (for example 1,000 hours) and record your totals by category.
Pourquoi c’est important: Command eligibility depends on both the ATPL experience minimums and your airline's own upgrade requirements.
Liste de contrôle
- Track total, PIC/under-supervision, night and instrument hours against the ATPL minimums
- Practise crew resource management on every flight
- Keep your Class 1 medical, licence and ratings current
- Ask your training department how command upgrades are scheduled
ATPL, Command Upgrade and Long-Term Career 1 étapes
Obtain the ATPL and prepare for command
Pass the ATPL examinations, complete the skill test, and prepare for your airline's command upgrade assessment. Later roles can include Training Captain or Examiner, depending on the airline.
Tâche concrète: Obtain your ATPL and record the licence issue date; later, record your command upgrade.
Pourquoi c’est important: The ATPL and an airline's command upgrade are what move a First Officer into the Captain's seat.
Liste de contrôle
- Pass the ATPL written and oral examinations
- Complete the ATPL skill test on a multi-engine type
- Prepare for your airline's command upgrade assessment
- Keep developing decision making and leadership as pilot-in-command
Questions fréquentes : Commercial Airline Pilot in India (DGCA CPL to ATPL)
Des réponses claires sur la durée, les prérequis, les salaires et les méthodes d’étude.
Can I become a commercial airline pilot after 10+2?
Yes, if your 10+2 (or equivalent) included Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board. You can start training, take the Class 2 and Class 1 medicals and the DGCA examinations, and the CPL can be issued from age 18 once all requirements are met.
Can I become a commercial airline pilot after graduation?
Yes. Graduates follow the same DGCA steps: the 10+2 Physics and Mathematics requirement, medicals, examinations, at least 200 hours of flight experience and skill tests. A degree does not replace any of these; it can be useful as a backup qualification or where a particular programme asks for it.
What subjects should I study?
The DGCA CPL and ATPL require 10+2 or an equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics. In training you will study Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Meteorology and Aircraft & Engines, plus radio telephony.
Do I need a degree to become a pilot in India?
The CPL and ATPL requirements in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules ask for 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, not a degree. Individual airline programmes set their own conditions, so check each notice.
How much does pilot training cost in India?
It depends on the school and route. As one published example, IGRUA lists a course cost of ₹45 lakh plus about ₹2 lakh for materials, boarding at about ₹15,000 a month and admission charges; DGCA fees, medicals and any type rating are extra. Ask every school for a written total that lists exclusions.
How long does it usually take?
There is no fixed duration. Training time depends on weather, aircraft and instructor availability, exam attempts, medicals, finances and airline hiring cycles. Plan for delays rather than a promised number of months.
How much can pilots earn in India?
Employee-reported figures (AmbitionBox) show typical First Officer pay of about ₹27.7–37.8 lakh a year and Captain pay of about ₹75.6–98.8 lakh a year at IndiGo and Air India. These are self-reported, do not separate base pay from allowances, and are not a promise of earnings.
What happens after the CPL?
Most pilots add instrument and multi-engine qualifications, prepare for airline selection, and then join an airline (directly or via a cadet programme) where they complete a type rating and line training as a First Officer.
How do I become a First Officer?
Hold a CPL with the ratings an airline requires and a valid Class 1 medical, pass the airline's selection, and complete its type rating and line training. Some airlines also recruit through cadet programmes.
How does a First Officer become a Captain?
By building experience toward the ATPL (1,500 hours including night, instrument and pilot-in-command time under supervision), obtaining the ATPL, and passing the airline's command upgrade process when a vacancy and seniority allow.