| IT Perspective
Most planes now a days are flown on auto-pilot. This is a computerised
mechanism which switches or customises the
(auto-controlled) systems to suit the needs of the sphere the plane is
passing through while also taking care of the
temperature, oxygen level etc. in the passenger cabin.
The pilots in the making must be able to control
auto-systems instantly in case of failure or replace the systems if the need
arises. The techniques of controlling the machinery and overseeing
that functioning is smooth are an essential part of the
learning experience.
Your
Training
In order to be
classified as a commercial pilot you first have to obtain a Student Pilot Licence (SPL)
followed by a Private Pilot
Licence (PLL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). The examination for the
student Pilot Licence is conducted at the various
flying clubs sponsored by the government. The minimum age and qualifications
prescribed are 16 years and Class XII
respectively. The examination comprises papers on - Air Regulation, Aviation
Meteorology, Air navigation and Technical
Aspects. After passing the exam you have to get a medical fitness
certificate.On getting the SPL you are eligible for practical
flying training.
The Central Medical
Establishment, New Delhi has prescribed standards for physical fitness and one desirous of
becoming
pilot must meet the standards. The first step is to acquire a Student
Pilot Licence (SPL), which will be issued only to those
have passed the matriculation examination and have completed
sixteen years of age. An oral examination in the subjects
related to aviation is also conducted.
Before a student begins
flying, he has to acquire a Private Pilot Licence (PPL). This is pre-requisite. A
Commercial Pilot
Licence may be obtained only after a PPL has been acquired.
Eligibility for the PPL formalities is pass marks in the plus two
or equivalent examination and the candidate should have completed
seventeen years of age. Medical fitness declaration by
the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment (AFCME) is
essential.
Flying training for the PPL
includes an initial flying of fifteen hours on a dual flight, with a flying
instructor. An overall flying
time of sixty hours of flying has to be undertaken, with a minimum of
five hours of cross country flying and twenty hours of
solo flying. When the practical training is completed, a student
is subjected to theoretical sessions in subjects such as air
regulations, air navigation, aviation meteorology and aircraft
engines. Exams are conducted in these subjects.
All government sponsored flying
clubs, throughout the country, offer training for PPL at subsidised rates.
As mentioned earlier, the
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) may be acquired only after procuring the PPL. Flying
clubs are
equipped to provide the practical complement of the training for the
CPL. This includes a further flying time of one hundred
and ninety hours. It should have been done on a wide variety of
aircraft, with specified hours of solo flying, cross country
flying, instrument flying and night flying. To qualify for the
CPL, a candidate should have completed a total of two hundred
fifty hours of flying. This includes the sixty hours stipulated for
the PPL.
There are other stipulations
too. The Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stated that in the months
preceding the date
on which a person applies for a licence, he or she should have done a
minimum of ten hours of flying, including five hours of
night flying with not less than ten take offs and landings.
Among the well known
flying clubs are the Mumbai Flying Club, Delhi Flying Club and the Government Flying
Training School
in Bangalore, to name a few. However, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran
Akademi (IGRUA) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh) is
the country’s premier pilot school. Generally, a candidate is
assured of placement when he passes out of the IGRUA. The
duration for the CPL is usually eighteen months, although may
take up to thirty-six months to clear all the subjects.
Entry to the academy is
through a competitive examination, where a candidate’s knowledge of aviation
subjects, as per PPL
standards, and his general knowledge and intelligence levels are
tested. Successful candidates are called for an interview and
an aptitude test. For eligibility to join the IGRUA, a candidate
must be a plus two pass, possess a valid PPL and a current
AFCME medical certificate.
The cost for a CPL course
at the IGRUA is somewhere in the region of ten lakhs plus rupees. Residential
learning is
compulsory and hostel charges are extra. There are facilities for
paying the training fee in instalments. The DGCA conducts
the theoretical examination in subjects such as navigation,
flight planning, plotting, meteorology, aircraft technical expertise,
theory of flight and aero engines and so on.
Aircraft Pilots are
trained to frequently use the following skills and abilities:
Spatial Orientation -
Able to know one's location in relation to the environment, or to know where
objects are in relation to
one's self
Control Precision
- Able to quickly and repeatedly make precise adjustments to controls
Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
Operation Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Professional Courses
1. Student Pilot
Licence(SPL) This is an examination conducted by flying clubs in every State and
covers papers in Air
Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation Air Technical. It is
a theory exam.
Eligibility
- Age of 16 years minimum and pass in class X. A medical certificate of fitness, security
clearance and a bank
guarantee of Rs.10,000 is required.
Selection -
Candidates taking the SPL test have to appear in an oral examination on a fixed day every
month, candidates go
through a medical test. Air Force Central Medical
Establishment(AFCME),Subroto Park,New Delhi and Institute of Aviation
Medicine (IAM), Vimanpura Bangalore, are the final authorities for
medical fitness.After medical clearance the candidate gets
the SPL.Candidates are also required to pass the Pilot Aptitude Test.
2. Private
pilot licence - Practical training After getting the SPL the candidate accompanied
by the flying instructor
proceeds for initial flying training.this is a dual flight, where the
instructor or trianer accompanies the learner to teach him the
practical aspect of flying. Then the candidate gets his first
independent flight normally after about 15 Hour of dual flying . This
includes cross country flying. A total of 60 Hours of flying is needed
of which 20 hour minimum should be solo and 5 hours
cross country.
Theory Exam - There is a thory
examination also, the subjects are: Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation,
Aircraft Engines, Seamanship.
Eligibility
: 10+2 and medical fitness certificate from AFCME OR IAM.The age requirement is 17 Years.
Fees :
Flying training is costly. Fees has increase over the years.Approximately Rs. 1000 are
charged per hour for flying.
Some states do subsidise the rates for the residents of the states.
This fees may be revised from time to time.
3. Commercial
pilot licence : A student can get the CPL by doing his flying training for 129
hours to complete 250 Hour of
flying. Training facilities are available with Flying Clubs in India,
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, Raibarelly, UP,
Private Academies or Flying School in USA or Europe, Australia, Gulf,
etc.
Education :
XII (physics and Maths), Non - Science students who started flying before jan1, 1994 were
eligible for 1996
admission. Current PPL Licence needed with flying experience in the
last 3 year.
Eligibility : 18 years to 30 years.
Medical fitness
- As granted by AFCME, New Delhi / IAM, Bangalore.
Written Exam
- A written exam in the following subjects is needed for getting the CPL:
Air Regulations, aviation Meteorology, Air
Navigation, Technical, Planning. These exams are conducted 6 times a year.
Actual flying experience required - 250 hours of total flying time
(150 hours of solo, 25 hours of cross country, 10 hours of
instrument flying, 5 hours of night flying).
Further Growth -
CPL licence and training as a particular aircraft leads to a co-pilot assignment.
Promotion depends as
flying experience and vacancies. Co-pilots must have the required
numbers of flying hours and licence. A pilot undergoes a
never process of training. Proficiency tests have to be cleared almost
thrice a year or more depending on the licence
category and age of the pilot. The highest among the category of
licences is the Air Transport Pilot Licence(ATPL) which
allows the pilot to fly any type of aircraft. Licence has to be
constantly renewed through passing medical and other tests
every six months.
4. Training of Helicopter
Pilots : Helicopter pilots need to have Commercial Helicopter Pilots
Licence(CHPL). This licence
can be aquired by two stages. The Private Helicopter Licence(PHPL) is
granted after 40 hours of flying training (15 hours
should be solo) and on clesring the written exams of aviation
subjects. 60 hours of flying training has to be completed and
a written exam has to cleared. Helicopter Pilots find employment with
the commercial organisations, Public Sector
organisation and other security / protective agencies.
IGRUA
* Licence : A valid PPL
* Medical fitness : From
Airforce Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), Subroto Park, New Delhi / IAM, Vimanpura,
Bangalore
* Qualification : Class 12th pass or an
equivalent examination with Physics and Maths
* Age : 17 to 23 years
* Flying Experience :
60 hrs of which 30 hrs should be solo and 5 hrs cross country
Selection :
A candidate must appear for an entrance in the following subjects :
* Air Regulation
* Aviation Meteorology
* Air Navigation
* Technical Subjects
Your
Personality Traits
Pilot is a profession of discipline, patience, responsibility,
punctuality, commitment and dedication. The job requires a lot of
hard work, stamina, alertness of mind, adaptability to follow
difficult time schedules, ability to think in crisis, good team spirit
etc. Apart from possessing these qualities, the persons willing to
take up this as profession, should be calm, pleasant,
compassionate, understanding and technically sound.
The basic requirement is
perfect health and mental and emotional stability. It calls for a person who is very
positive in his
approach and attitudes. Besides, the person should be very meticulous,
responsible, mature and have an aptitude for
technical scientific study. He should also be an adventurous person,
possessing the qualities of an exemplary leader.
Needless to say, he should be oozing oodles of self-confidence. And
again, it becomes redundant to say that he should have
excellent mental and physical co-ordination and communication skills.
Ability to be alert all
time,mental agility,high standard of physical fitness,self-confidence,leadership qualities
and an ability to
make instant decisions.
Are
You Eligible?
To become a pilot, you need to complete your HSC in science and
acquire at least 50 percent marks in Physics, Math and
Chemistry combined.You need to complete the requisite number of hours, clear
written papers and the medical examination.
You need 70 percent marks to
pass in each of these papers. You can keep appearing until you clear them. The application
form is available at all flying clubs. You can also write to the DGCA,
send a self-addressed envelope and ask them to send it
to you. The address of
DGCA is: Director of Airworthiness (CEO), C/O Director General of Civil Aviation, East
Block III, R.K.
Puram, New Delhi-110 066.
Medical Examination:
As we said, a pilot must
undergo and clear a medical examination. It is extremely thorough and apart from a general
check
up, the candidate is checked for accurate eyesight and hearing, proper
weight in accordance with height, ECG, EEG, blood
tests etc.
A pilot must clear this
examination to get a CPL and once he gets his license, he needs to go for an examination
every year.
After he has crossed 40, he needs to go in for an examination every
six months. What you need to know here is that a pilot
is expected to adhere to the highest degree of fitness at all times
and the slightest flaw can put an end to his high-flying
career. Of course the qualifying norms
are relaxed for older pilots but then again, they are very strict and particular about the
medical.
Student's Pilot
License:
The first license you get
is a Student's Pilot License or an SPL. To be eligible for this license, you need to pass
your SSC
or an examination equivalent to that, be at least 16 years of age and
have a medical certificate from an approved medical
practitioner. On clearing an oral exam
based on air regulations, navigation, meteorology, aircraft and engines (better known
as the technical paper) conducted by the chief flying instructor of a
flying club, you will be given an SPL.
The oral exam is quite
elementary and based on basic facts about airplane signals, specifications about the
aircraft you
intend to fly and directional orientation. An SPL allows you to fly a
plane with an instructor on board at all times. However,
this license is like a learner's license and does not allow you to fly
solo.
Private Pilot's
License:
To acquire the Private
Pilot's License or PPL you are required to complete 40 hours of flying that includes 15
solo hours. You
also need to clear three papers, viz. the Composite paper (a
combination of Navigation, Meteorology, Air Regulations),
Aircraft and Engines paper (Aerodynamics, theory of flight and
engines) and the Specific paper, which is based on a
particular aircraft, for example, Piper
or Cessna-152. This license allows you to take your friends up for joyrides and it is a
requirement for all those people who wish to take up flying as a
hobby. After this, you get the commercial pilot's license.
Commercial Pilot's
License :
A Commercial Pilot's
License is what you get after completing 250 hours of flying. It includes 150 hours of
solo flying, 25
hours of cross-country flying, 10 hours of instrument flying and 5
hours of solo night flying. You need to clear six papers,
namely Navigation, Meteorology, Aircraft & Engines (technical
paper), Specific (based on a particular aircraft) and Air
Regulations. Clearance at the medical
examination conducted by the Air force at their medical centers in Dhaula Kuan, New
Delhi and Institute of Aeronautical Medicine (IAM), is also a must.
This is the minimum requirement for someone who wants
to become a commercial pilot with an airline company.
After a CPL, you can build
up on more flying hours, login 750 hours of flight time, clear the requisite papers and
acquire a
Senior Commercial Pilot's License (SCPL).
After an SCPL, you can
login 1500 hours of flight time and acquire an All Transports Pilot's License or ATPL. The
ATPL
allows you to fly any kind of aircraft and no doubt, is the most
difficult license to acquire. A pilot receives these licenses only
after approval of the DGCA.
Your
Preparation
To start out the pilot must be familiar with the functioning of all
instruments and controls in the aircraft. Entry is at the level of
a trainee pilot and after a year of working under the supervision of
an experienced pilot, the first job is that of a co-pilot.
Promotion to the post of captain can come after a long eight years in
service. At all times, the pilot has to be attentive and
responsible for all people on the aircraft.
PILOT APTITUDE TEST
Before undertaking professional training of a
pilot, it is advisable to undergo the Pilot Aptitude Test. This is conducted by the
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy at a cost of Rs.1000.00.
WOMBAT PILOT APTITUDE
TEST
A unique opportunity avails at this Academy to
asses the aptitude for flying before embarking on a career in Aviation. Pilot
Aptitude Test is conducted on a sophisticated Computer based
Australian WOMBAT Equipment, one of the best in South
Asia. No written test, no fuss. Printout on assessment will be
provided immediately on completion of the test.
Your Institutes
FLYING CLUBS IN INDIA
Some of the flying
clubs imparting training in flying from where SPL, PPL, and CPL, training can be completed
are :
Flying Training Institute,
Behala, Calcutta
Government aviation
Training Institute, Civil aerodrome, Bhubaneswar
Karnal Aviation Club,
Kunjpura Road, Karnal, Haryana
Government Flying
Club,Aerodrome, Lucknow
School of Aviation
Science and Technology, Delhi Flying Club Ltd, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi
State Civil Aviation,
UP Govt. Flying Training Center Kanpur and Varanasi
Mumbai Flying Club,
Juhu Aerodrome, Santa Cruz West, Mumbai
Rajasthan State Flying
School, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur
Govt. Flying Training
School Jakkur Aerodrome, Bangalore
Andra Pradesh Flying
Club Hydrabad Airport, Hydrabad
Assam Flying Club, Guwahati
Airport, Guwahati - 781007 (Assam)
Bihar Flying Institute,
Civil Aerodrome, Patna, Bihar
Gujarat Flying Club, Civil
Aerodrome, Hasni Road, Baroda - 390006 (Gujarat)
Nagpur Flying Club,
Sonegaon Aerodrome, Nagpur (M.P.)
Pinjore Aviation Club, Civil
Aerodrome, Ambala - 134102 (Haryana)
Bombay Flying Club, Juhu
Aerodrome, Santa Cruz West, Mumbai - 400049
Government Flying Club,
Amausi Aerodrome, Lucknow
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran
Academy (Igrua), Fursatganj, Rae Bareli (U.P.)
SOME FLYING CLUBS ABROAD
Scan American Flight
Training, Vero Beach, Florida 32961 - 2851 (USA)
Country Airport, Santa Ana,
California 92707 (USA)
Helistream, Inc, 19300 Lake
Jones Road, John Wayne/Orange
Aviation Training Inc, 21593
Sky West Drive, Hayward,
ACME School of Aeronautics,
Meacham Airport, Fort Worth, Texas 76106 (USA) ,California (USA)
Australian Civil Air
Academy, P.O. Box. 207, Cessnock NSW 2325, Australia
Your
Responsibilities
The job of a pilot comes under the airlines operation division.
This profession, comprising of Captain and Co-pilots
constitutes the highly rated and one of the most adventurous career.
It is a specialised job and requires intensive training.
This profession demands a lot of time, dedication, patience,
sacrifice.
As a pilot you are
responsible for the passengers,the crew and the aircraft. The pilot should be familiar
with the functioning
and control of the aircraft and must be prepared for the worst in case
of an emergency.
Pilots navigate
airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight or for other commercial purposes. When
in command of
aircraft and crew, the pilot is designated as Airplane Captain; when
second in command to the pilot, designation is Airplane
First-officer or Co-pilot. There are also Helicopter Pilots and Flight
Engineers. Other designations are Check Pilot and Duster
Pilot .
Flying as a career has
everything going for it- glamour, travel and very good money. Besides, the idea of defying
gravity and
streaking across the blue skies is definitely appealing. But there is
more to flying than that. As a pilot, you are responsible
for the airplane and the numerous lives that are entrusted in your
hands. If you think you are capable of holding a job that
comes with such grave responsibility, read on and if not, read on
anyway... you could consider flying as a hobby.
Your
Working Conditions
Piloting a plane rarely requires much physical effort. However, the
stress of being constantly alert and ready to handle
emergencies can be very tiring. Irregular eating and sleeping patterns
due to frequent schedule changes also may contribute
to mental and physical fatigue.
Your Future Prospects
Possibilities of better prospects are bright with emeging tie ups
between foregn carriers and private airlines . The existing
airlines are also concentrating on increasing the fleet strength.
Hence, the pilots have the advantage of being in short supply
against the sudden increase in demand.
Your
Remuneration
A trainee pilot is taken on a monthly pay scale which ranges between
Rs 2,500 to 3,500. On confirmation as first officers,
they get around Rs 12,000. Besides this, they are entitled to benefits
such as allowances and housing, free concessional air
passages for family. In private aircraft, pilots draw anywhere between
Rs 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 a month.
Related
Occupations
Staff in Airport Authority of India
Suggested
Readings
ABC Civil Airliner Recognition, 6th Ed. by
Peter R. March
Airmen Without Portfolio
by John Carver Edwards
Airport Planning and
Development Handbook : A Global Survey (McGrawhill Engineering Handbook) by Paul Stephen
Dempsey
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