Your Selection of Flight Training Determines your Pilot Career

You have several ways through which you can fulfil your dream of becoming a pilot, right from learning at university to doing a private course. You need to undergo several years of training to acquire a license for becoming a pilots, specifically for becoming an airline pilot. Majority of the flight schools in India demand a university degree, though this isn’t an essential one if you decide to take the military route. Also, the college degree doesn’t necessarily have to be focused on aviation as several pilots educate in different fields such as engineering and law. Several different factors determine the pay of a pilot, which includes his rank, seniority and the flown aircraft’s body type. Working hours varies as per the norms of different airlines. Also, being a pilots of a popular airline, he has to take up several roles such as training, flight testing and handling and supervising the operations of pilot.

It’s a common belief that a pilot career is quite rewarding which is why it’s not surprising that many aspirants undergo pilot training in Mumbai. However, at the same time, pilot jobs can be one of the toughest jobs to get and the expense to cover your flight training for getting the pilot’s license is extremely high.

What Type of Pilot Can I Become?

There are several types of aviation pilot jobs and each has its own set of benefits, challenges and hiring requirements. The size and type of the company determines the compensation and benefits that an individual will get. To acquire any pilots job, one needs to undergo a substantial amount of flight training. Some get their training in military while others get it through civilian training. For majority of the pilot jobs, you need to have a minimum commercial pilot certificate, instrument along with multi engine ratings. The hiring requirement will differ according to each airline as well as the company.

Regardless of any company or airline, there are two to three kinds of pilot positions. They are: First Officer, Captain and Flight Engineer. It’s the seniority most of the companies or airlines that decides the compensation and benefits and it’s the pilots joining date that determines the seniority. A pilot is given a seniority number at the bottom of the list when he/she is hired as a flight Engineer or First Officer. As time passes, the pilot moves up on the list of seniority due to various reasons such as resignations, retirements or if some pilots are removed from the seniority list. If one advances on the list of seniority, he/she gets to select better aircraft, work schedule, route assignments, job promotion, preferences for vacation and other privileges.

Many aspirants who aspire to become pilot come from the institutes offering courses related to aircraft maintenance engineering in Mumbai along with pilot training. The programs there are designed as per the demand set by airline industry from future commercial pilots. The training that you get from such institutes is one of the most challenging and intensive that helps you certify as a pilot without much hassle.

Priyesh Mishra is the Head of Admin at Indian Aerospace & Engineering, a leading institute for Aeronautical Engineering in Mumbai, approved by Director General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation (Govt. of India).