How I Became a Commercial Pilot in India (And Why You Can Too)

The Day Everything Changed

Three years ago, I was sitting in my cubicle at a marketing agency in Gurgaon, watching the clock tick toward 6 PM. The work wasn’t bad. The people were nice enough. But every single day felt like I was waiting for my real life to start. I had no idea that becoming a commercial pilot in India would completely transform everything.

Then one random evening, I ended up watching this video of a plane landing in heavy rain. The pilots were so calm, so in control, navigating through something that looked absolutely terrifying. I must have replayed it fifteen times. And suddenly I thought—that’s what I want to do. That’s the person I want to become.

I told my parents the next week. Dad raised his eyebrows and asked about fifty practical questions. Mom immediately started googling "pilot training costs" on her phone. But you know what? They didn’t say no. They said, "If you’re serious about this, let’s figure it out."

Two months later, I handed in my resignation. Some friends thought I was crazy. My girlfriend (she’s my wife now) was worried but supportive. And I was terrified and excited in equal measure.

Best decision I ever made.

What Getting Started Actually Looks LikeDoing Your Homework First

When I first looked into commercial pilot training in India, I had no clue what I was getting into. So I did what anyone would do—I researched like my life depended on it.

I called different institutes. Watched hours of YouTube videos from actual pilots. Talked to three people who’d already gone through the training. And slowly, the picture became clear.

The cost sits somewhere between 40-60 lakhs. That’s a lot of money, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. But here’s how I made it work: I got an education loan for 15 lakhs, my parents helped with 10 lakhs from their savings, and I used my own savings plus borrowed a bit from family for the rest.

Looking back, I wish I’d known earlier that banks actually have special education loan programs for pilot training. The process was way smoother than I expected.

I visited three training schools before choosing mine. First one had great reviews online. Second one had really modern facilities. The third one—the one I picked—just felt right. The instructors actually sat down and talked with me. They showed me around without any sales pressure. The students I met there seemed genuinely happy.

Trust your gut on this. You’ll be spending two years of your life there.

Getting Your Medical Clearance

The Class 1 Medical Certificate is your first real checkpoint. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous about this. You hear stories about people who get all excited about pilot training and then can’t get past the medical.

The exam is comprehensive. Vision test, hearing test, ECG, blood work, the whole nine yards. I went to a center in South Delhi on a Tuesday morning. The doctor was professional and thorough—asked me about everything from childhood illnesses to whether anyone in my family had heart problems.

Here’s the thing though: the medical standards exist for good reasons. Flying requires you to be in solid health. If you take care of yourself, eat reasonably well, don’t smoke, and don’t have any major underlying conditions, you’ll most likely be fine.

And if something does come up? At least you know early. Several people I trained with discovered manageable health issues during this process and were able to address them.

The English and Education Stuff

You need your 12th standard certificate. My grades were average, nothing spectacular. What matters more is English—not just being able to chat with friends, but understanding technical documents and communicating clearly over radio.

I grew up speaking mostly Hindi at home. My English was okay for everyday stuff but not aviation-level. So I spent two months in an aviation English program. We practiced reading approach plates, listening to ATC recordings, using standard phraseology.

It was actually pretty interesting. One exercise had us transcribing live ATC communications. First time I tried, I maybe caught 40% of what was said. By the end of the course, I could follow every word. That confidence boost was huge.

Ground School—Where You Build Your FoundationThe Classroom Phase

Ground school runs about 4-6 months. You’re learning with 15-20 other people who all share the same dream. Some are 18, fresh out of school. Others are in their late twenties like I was. Everyone’s on their own journey.

The instructors are mostly airline pilots or career aviation professionals. And honestly, most of them are fantastic. They’ve got decades of experience and they genuinely want you to succeed. They tell stories from their flying careers that make the textbook stuff come alive.

The subjects cover everything: meteorology, navigation, aircraft systems, regulations, principles of flight. Some days you’re learning why clouds form at certain altitudes. Other days you’re studying electrical systems or calculating fuel requirements.

I’ll be honest—some of it feels dry when you’re sitting in a classroom. But then you remember: this knowledge will literally keep you and a hundred passengers safe one day. That makes even the boring parts feel important.

The exams before your DGCA certification are no joke. We formed study groups. Stayed up late quizzing each other. Made flashcards. Some people had to retake certain exams, but the institute provided extra support and everyone eventually got through.

What I loved most was the camaraderie. We were all in it together. When someone was struggling with meteorology, three people would volunteer to help them study. When I was having trouble with navigation calculations, my classmates sat with me until I got it.

Flight Training—The Real DealFirst Time in the Cockpit

After ground school comes the moment you’ve been waiting for—actually flying.

Your first flight is in a Cessna 172, the most common training aircraft in the world. You sit in the right seat, instructor in the left. You go through every single checklist item. Pre-flight inspection. Systems check. Radio check.

Then you taxi to the runway.

My first takeoff was surreal. The engine roars, you release the brakes, the plane accelerates, and suddenly you’re climbing. The ground is falling away and you’re actually flying. I kept thinking, "This is real. I’m doing this."

About twenty minutes in, my instructor said, "Okay, you have the controls." My heart jumped. I was actually flying the plane.

Those first few flights are humbling. You think you’ll be a natural, and then you realize there’s so much to learn. Coordinating the stick, rudder pedals, throttle, watching instruments, maintaining altitude—your brain is working overtime.

But here’s the beautiful part: you improve fast. Every single flight, you get better. By flight 10, things start clicking. By flight 30, you’re actually enjoying it instead of just surviving it. By flight 50, you’re doing proper circuits and feeling like a real pilot.

You need 200 flight hours minimum for commercial pilot training in India. That includes dual flights with an instructor, solo flights, and cross-country navigation flights.

My first solo flight was magical. Just me and the aircraft. No instructor to catch my mistakes. I did eight touch-and-goes that morning, and when I climbed out of that plane, I was grinning like an idiot. I called my dad from the tarmac. He could hear the excitement in my voice.

Weather and Training Timeline

One thing nobody tells you: weather runs the show in aviation. Especially in India.

I trained partly through monsoon season. Some weeks you’d have perfect flying weather. Other weeks, thunderstorms would cancel half your flights. Initially, I found this frustrating. But I learned to use those days productively—simulator practice, studying, reviewing procedures.

My training took 22 months start to finish. Some classmates finished in 18 months. Others took 26. It varies based on weather, personal pace, and life circumstances. The important thing is finishing, not racing.

Simulator training is incredibly valuable. You practice engine failures, bad weather approaches, system malfunctions—all the scary scenarios. You do them again and again until your responses become automatic. If anything ever goes wrong in a real aircraft, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Life as a Commercial PilotLanding Your First Job

Two months after getting my Commercial Pilot License, I got hired by IndiGo as a First Officer. The interview process was straightforward—they tested technical knowledge, checked your communication skills, reviewed your training records.

Starting salary was 1.1 lakhs per month. It goes up as you gain experience and eventually become a captain. Yeah, it takes a while to recover your 50 lakh investment, but you’re also doing something you love every single day.

As a First Officer, you’re the right-seat pilot. The captain is flying, you’re managing systems, handling communications, running checklists. Every flight is different. Every captain teaches you something new. You’re constantly learning and improving.

The roster comes out 45 days ahead. Some months you fly 80 hours, some months 50. You’re going to different cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, everywhere. You see the country from a perspective most people never will.

What the Lifestyle Is Really Like

I’m not going to tell you it’s all glamorous because that would be dishonest. The schedule is irregular. You work when others are on holiday. You miss some family gatherings. You’re away from home regularly.

But you know what? I get to fly planes for a living.

I’ve seen sunrises from 35,000 feet that made me want to cry they were so beautiful. I’ve landed at tiny airports in the mountains and busy international hubs. I’ve safely transported thousands of passengers to visit their families, close business deals, start their vacations.

My wife and I figured out how to make it work. My friends understand when I can’t make every birthday party. My parents are proud every time they see me in uniform.

The sleep schedule took some adjustment. I use blackout curtains, maintain good sleep hygiene, and I’m careful about my health. After the first six months, your body adapts.

Most days, I wake up excited to go to work. How many people can say that?

The Questions Everyone Asks Me

What’s the total cost?

Plan for 40-60 lakhs depending on the institute. This covers everything—ground school, flight hours, simulator time, exams, medicals. Most banks offer education loans for pilot training. Some institutes have payment plans. It’s manageable if you plan properly.

How long does it take?

Realistically, 18-24 months. Weather can add time, especially if you train during monsoon season. I took 22 months. Don’t rush it—focus on learning everything properly.

Will I get a job?

The Indian aviation industry is growing. Airlines are hiring. I got hired within two months. Most of my classmates got jobs within three to six months. If you train at a reputable institute and put in the work, the opportunities are there.

What about international students?

Absolutely possible. You need the right visa and English proficiency, many institutes regularly train international students. India offers excellent training at competitive costs compared to Western countries.

Why I’d do It All over Again

Becoming a commercial pilot in India changed my life. I went from feeling stuck to feeling purposeful. From watching the clock to losing track of time because I love what I’m doing.

Was it easy? No. Did it require sacrifice? Yes. Was it worth every rupee and every hour? Absolutely.

If you’re reading this and thinking about pilot training, here’s my advice: stop just thinking about it. Do your research, visit institutes, talk to pilots, understand the investment. But if this is genuinely what you want, go for it.

The institute I trained at, 70knotsaviation.com, has excellent programs and experienced instructors. They know how to take someone who’s never touched an aircraft and turn them into a confident, skilled pilot.

Two years from now, you could be in a cockpit, climbing through the clouds, doing what you were meant to do. Or you could still be thinking about it.

Your choice.

But I promise you—the view from up here is incredible.

Two years from now, you could be in a cockpit, climbing through the clouds, doing what you were meant to do. Or you could still be thinking about it.