How to Become a Commercial Pilot?

“It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.” This quote by Wilbur Wright, one of the inventors of Aeroplanes, very well explains the importance of skills for a career in Aviation. But how can someone interested in exploring the limitless sky attain these skills? The only way to do it is to sign up for Aviation courses and become a pilot. Do you know there are more than 6 types of Pilot licenses and the most popular one in the list is for Commercial pilots? Commercial pilots are trained professionals who are skilled in flying aircraft for purposes like transporting cargo or passengers.

It is one of the most designated jobs in the aviation industry, hence the majority of youth dream of becoming one. Are you thrilled while picturising yourself as a commercial pilot flying over those dense oceans and snowy mountains? If yes, then this blog aims to answer all your queries regarding how to become a commercial pilot. 

Who is a Commercial Pilot?

A Commercial Pilot has a licensing authority that ultimately allows him or her to fly a particular type of aircraft for an airline and get remunerated for it. Majorly commercial pilots fly for airlines which aim to transport either cargo or passengers. It is not mandatory for a commercial pilot to be associated with a specific airline, as they can also be legally hired to fly. Being a commercial pilot also gives you an opportunity to be hired for charter flights, firefighting, rescue operations, aerial photography etc. It is also regarded as one of the most reputable pilot jobs and is very distinct in its nature with respect to other job profiles like Fighter Pilot, Charter Pilot etc.

How to Become a Pilot After 12th

Roles and Responsibilities

If you are wondering about how to become a Commercial Pilot, you must begin by exploring what their actual job responsibilities are. Generally, common aircraft have two pilots as part of the cockpit crew. The senior pilot or the airline pilot is assisted by a commercial pilot. Both pilots together share different duties like monitoring instruments, interacting with the air traffic controllers, steering the plane etc. while flying the aircraft. Apart from these, here are some of the other major responsibilities of a commercial pilot:

• Ensuring that the weight of the aircraft is appropriate after the loading of cargoes 
• Having a check on flight schedules, weather conditions as well as the fuel of the aircraft
• Prior to flying, cross-check the engine hydraulics and other significant systems of the aircraft
• Managing the control of the aircraft while takeoff and landing
• Handling the controls, starting the engines and taking control of the steering of the aircraft to fly it along the planned routes  

Skills Required  

For any career you choose, it is essential to have the required skill set as demanded by the course or training. Once you align with the required set of skills, you are all set to excel in the field. Here are some of the core requirements for being a commercial pilot: 

• Advanced technical skills 
• Scepticism and quick decision-making abilities 
• A disciplined personality 
• Physical and mental fitness 
• Good communication skills 

Also Read: Commercial Pilot Courses

How to Become a Commercial Pilot? 

The first step towards building a career as a commercial pilot would be gaining adequate educational qualifications. There are scores of options available for commercial pilot courses both in India and abroad that aim to carve the passion of flying into a reputable profession. Tabulated below are some of the popular courses enrolling in which you can find an answer to the question – how to become a commercial pilot? 

Commercial Pilot Courses  Abroad	Commercial Pilot Courses in India
Diploma of Aviation Commercial Pilot Licence Aeroplane Commercial Pilot Licence Diploma in Pilot Training in the Commercial Pilot Licence  B.S. in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Integrated CPL Aviation Engineering with Pilot MEng CAE Woman in Flight Scholarship Program	Pilot Training Commercial Pilot Licence Training CPL Commercial Pilot Licence Private Pilot Licence Training The Professional Indian Airline Program Commercial Pilots Licence Ground Training

Aviation Courses After Graduation

For those aspiring to enter the above-mentioned courses, it is necessary to meet up with the eligibility criteria. Students must know that the requirements for becoming a commercial pilot are different in India and abroad. Let us take a detailed look at what it takes to enrol on a commercial pilot course in countries abroad:

• It is necessary for candidates to have a class 1 medical certificate 
• Eyesight or vision as per demand or vision that is correctable up to 20/20 
• Must match the minimum age criteria (at least 18) required and have all the medical documents approved by the aeromedical centre of the chosen country
• A good score in IELTS or TOEFL or any other accepted English test proving your proficiency in the English language along with a LOR and SOP 

If you wish to pursue this course in India, you may keep in mind the following requirements: 

• Candidates must have qualified class 12th with at least 50% marks in aggregate and have studied the relevant subjects like Mathematics, Physics etc. as their core subjects
• Candidates must be of at least 18 years of age 
• It is mandatory to qualify for the required entrance exam conducted by the particular universities
• Applicants must meet up with the standards set in the DGCA medical examination 

Are you all set to apply for the above-mentioned courses and end all your queries regarding how to become a commercial pilot? Then, here are some of the universities offering them: 

Universities Abroad	Universities in India
University of Central Missouri  CAE Oxford Aviation Academy  New Zealand Aviation Bruce Hartwig Flying School Ardmore Flying School Flight Safety Academy Liberty University Miami Dade College Singapore Flying College HM Aerospace Pan AM International Flying Academy Southeastern Oklahoma State University	Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology  Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy  Bombay Flying Club National Flying Training Institute Madhya Pradesh Flying Club Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Limited Indigo Cadet Training Program  CAE Oxford Aviation Academy

Note: The requirements regarding physical fitness as well as eyesight may differ from one flying school to another. Thus, candidates are required to contact Leverage Edu experts to know the exact details. 

Obtaining Authorised License 

Whether you attain the required education to become a commercial pilot in India or abroad, it is essential to earn a certified licence before you get associated with any airline or private organisation to fly an aircraft. If you have pursued the course or training from India then you can get your licence if you satisfy the following criteria:

• Qualified for the oral as well as written test conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
• It is mandatory for candidates to have at least 250 flying hours

For the students who have pursued their course abroad, the required criteria for getting a license include the following:

• Candidates must qualify for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) practical test
• It is compulsory to have at least 250 hours of flying

FAQs

Thus, we hope that through this blog on how to become a commercial pilot, we have resolved all your queries regarding the same. Are you all prepared to fly high? If yes, then reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu and they will guide you in selecting the best flying school. Sign up for a free counselling session with us!