I want to be a pilot. is it a nice career option? How can i convice my dad for the same?

Question

I am studying in 12th science and want to do the pilot course (for CPL) straight away after my 10+2. Is it a nice choice? My dad wants me to do my B.Tech first. What should i do?

Answer 1

Of course its a good option. With new and new airlines coming owing to open sky policy., there is a lot of demand for pilots in the present and in the near future too.

To opt for B. Tech after 10+2...spend 4 years on it., and then move on for a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) course, will be sheer wastage of time.

Finish off with your 10+2, straight away go ahead for CPL - side by side persuing a graduation course (through correspondence). This way u can complete ur CPL (a techincal course) alongwith your degree (an academic course). Moreover, B.Tech and CPL has no relation with each other. Just persue for a simple BA or B Com along with your CPL.

But before going ahead for CPL, keep one thing in mind that the course fee is very high.....goes up to Rs. 20 to 30 lacs. THE COURSE ALSO INVOLVES A LOT OF HARDWORK AND DEDICATION.....ITS NOT A CHILD'S PLAY.

Although, investment on the course fees is very high, but the returns are good. Average salary package for a co-pilot is anywhere between Rs. 1.5 lacs to Rs. 2 Lacs per month (in a reputed airline).

Answer 2

It's a good choice but it's very expensive unless you can qualify for military pilot training.

It never hurts to get your academic qualifications up to give yourself as many options as possible, and I agree with your dad.

Answer 3

OPTION(1)take your dad in plane just for 1 minutte.

(2) Make your dad's career as a pilot first.

Answer 4

Do both ! If you were in England you could join the Royal Air Force. It is a good career ,you are the only person who can decide.

Answer 5

ENGINEER, although pilots makes some good $$ ur gonna have to go for exams ever 6 months, and its a heck of alot of work

Answer 6

firstly my regards for ur courageous thought of being flight in air.go forward with ur opinion.make ur dad aware of the oppurtunities,pays & facilities they provide for u.
if ur dad not agrees never give it up coz u'll be satisfied only in the career u like.
bye and all the best for ur career

Answer 7

PILOT- a very nice career option.
Just go for it.

Answer 8

be a tech we need them more to keep the planes up in the air and fly part time

Answer 9

its a nice job.tellyour father about the benefits in piolet job.

Answer 10

Go through the following details and then jump into the conclusion: If you want more details you can contact @ [e-mail]
You need to be at least 16 years old to begin training as a pilot. After you complete your training and obtain your license, you can join as a pilot and work your way upwards.
A promotion to the position of captain/ commander can come after about eight to 10 years of service. In a private airline, you may take only half this time, since the flying hours that a pilot puts in here are much higher.
Air India is now trying to recruit pilots fresh from college to meet its growing demand. It is in the process of being merged with its domestic counterpart, Indian (formerly Indian Airlines). After the merger, the fleet size of the airline will be over 120 planes.
The new airline will need at least 500 pilots over the next three years, which is why the national carrier is picking up BSc students fresh out of college. Students who pass the airline's pilot aptitude test will be offered training abroad.
On successful completion of the course, they will then be required to join Air India. AI is also arranging bank loans to facilitate the cost of the training. These loans will later be paid off from their salary, which will be equivalent to the kind of salary you can get after an MBA.
Besides government airlines, India's largest private airline company, Jet Airways, is also planning to increase its pilot strength from the current 550. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, chief executive officer, Jet Airways, says, "To cater to our expanding fleet and operations, we are aggressively looking at having 1,400 pilots by the year 2008."
Jet Airways is already facing a shortage of around 10 per cent when it comes to the number of pilots they require to fly their planes.
Posts are advertised through newspapers. Alternately, you could visit the official Indian Air Force website for more information.
There are several flying training establishments where you can undergo training:
• Air Force Academy, Dundigal, near Hyderabad
• Bidar, Karnataka
• Hakimpet, Secunderabad
• Basic Flying Training School, Allahabad
• Transport Training Wing, Yelahanka, Bangalore
The highs and lows of being a pilot
A career as pilot appeals to many because it promises attractive salaries, the opportunity to travel around the globe, and other perks. In this article we explore the various employment options for pilots as well as the work profile of each, and give information on training options for pilots, how much it costs, eligibility etc.
Commercial pilot
The job of a commercial pilot may sound glamorous and exciting. However, it requires intensive training, because the pilot is responsible for the lives of passengers as well as the aircraft itself.
After getting a Commercial Pilot's Licence, one starts off as a trainee pilot. The training period is usually around six months. Then you become a pilot or first officer on board. The first officer refers to the actual designation given to the pilot, and is often referred to as the 'copilot'. First officers can upgrade to captain/commander depending on their seniority. This is determined by one's hours of flying experience and successful completion of various programmes. Then one becomes a senior commander.

A pilot can get a job flying passenger and cargo flights for a domestic or international airline, or with organisations that maintain their own aircraft. With the sudden spurt in demand for pilots, on an average four to 10 pilots are required per aircraft. Private airlines are offering huge salaries for experienced pilots who have the endorsements required, often poaching on other carriers.
You could also be a helicopter pilot with a public or private sector corporate or work for a security agency. Helicopter pilots are absorbed in Pawan Hans (a Government of India enterprise) and by organisations such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation that use helicopters.
Essentially, a pilot's job is to fly an airliner, for long or short hauls. But besides this, they also have additional duties as follows:
•Preparatory duties, like checking pre-flight plans before takeoff.
•Checking the route that the aircraft has to fly along with meteorological information.
•Plotting flight pattern and filing the flight plan with appropriate officials.
•Obtaining and reviewing data, such as load weight, fuel supply, weather conditions, and flight schedule.
•Ordering changes in fuel supply, load, route, or schedule to ensure flight safety.
•Conducting preflight checks and reading gauges to verify that fluids and pressure are at prescribed levels.
•Operating radio equipment and contacts control tower for takeoff, clearance, arrival instructions, and other information.
•Coordinating flight activities with ground crew and air-traffic control, and informing crew members of flight and test procedures.
•Conducting in-flight tests and evaluations, at specified altitudes, in all types of weather to determine receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
•Logging information, such as flight time, altitude flown and fuel consumption.
•Drawing up flight reports post-flight, which mention any equipment problems or general difficulties.
Salary scope: Commercial pilots get attractive remuneration and incentives, such as getting free/concessional tickets for the family. Once confirmed with the necessary endorsement, commercial pilots are paid handsomely. Entry-level pilots can earn up to Rs 1.5 lakh per month with domestic airlines and even higher on international routes. Senior pilots can earn in the vicinity of Rs 5 lakh upwards per month.

Pilots are also entitled to a range of benefits and allowances in addition to housing, medical and out-station allowances, as well as free/concessional air passages for their immediate family and dependents. This remuneration, to some extent, compensates for the high cost of training. Moreover, for those who like it, travel itself can be a rewarding experience.
Air Force pilot
Alternatively, you can look for a career in the Indian Air Force where you not only get your training paid for, but fly some of the most sophisticated aircraft available.
As a military pilot, you can work with the IAF and the aviation branches of Indian Army and Indian Navy. Being a military pilot is much more dangerous than being a commercial pilot, since your job is essentially to defend the country from enemy attack.

If you are stationed in a 'tense' area, you may be called on duty anytime. A pilot who has flown some 300-odd hours over the Drass-Kargil-Batalik axis during India-Pakistan tensions, says he had evacuated numerous casualties and been shot at many times.
You need to keep your exposure time (to enemy fire) to the minimum and get out fast. Many times you have to land under enemy fire.

A military pilot leads a military life, following orders, risking bodily harm and using lethal weapons. These aren't things to take lightly, so if you are considering the military, then explore it thoroughly and see if this is really what you want. It is an excellent option for many people.
For more information, visit the official web site of the Indian Air Force.
Salary scope: Fresh military pilots start at about Rs 20,000 per month. Get more details on the pay and perks and additional benefits of an IAF officer.
Private jet pilot
With the increase in salary packages of those working for corporate India, there is one manifestation of this trend -- the tremendous growth in money available to charter aircraft to avoid commercial airlines and airports.
Charters are the segment of private aviation that allows one to pick up the phone to book a fancy private jet to fly oneself and one's colleagues, relatives or friends in comfort and style from Destination A to B.
You could work as a pilot for a corporate entity or a high networth individual with their own aircraft.
There are generally no fixed travel routes and timings. One has to be ready to adjust to the irregularity in these areas.
Salary scope: Big money is now pouring into the private aviation market, and new players are setting up shop. There's a saying in the private-jet business: If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. This should give some indication about the salary scope of a private-jet pilot where, figuratively speaking, sky is the limit.
Bizjet owners often pay the same salaries to pilots and engineers as the large airlines. According to a recent report in a national daily, the cost to company for an experienced pilot is now about Rs 50 lakh per annum, and Flight Commanders are difficult to find even at these salaries.


Perks of the profession
The aviation industry is in the process of massive expansion.
Foreign direct investment in the sector is increasing and new players are announcing new low cost carriers. A career in aviation may be your key to a bright future.
While entry-level pilots can earn up to Rs 1.5 lakh per month (and even higher on international routes), senior pilots take in about Rs 5 lakh per month.
Add to this the charm of touring the world, staying in good hotels and free/ concessional tickets for your family.
You need to be at least 16 years old to begin training as a pilot. After you complete your training and obtain your license, you can join as a pilot and work your way upwards.
A promotion to the position of captain/ commander can come after about eight to 10 years of service. In a private airline, you may take only half this time, since the flying hours that a pilot puts in here are much higher.
The captain is responsible for the aircraft, crew and passengers.
The various licenses that you require for as you spend more years in the profession will be discussed in subsequent parts of this series.
Companies that recruit
Listed below are the various types of companies that employ pilots:
~ Government carriers like Indian Airlines, Air India or their subsidiaries like Alliance Air.
~ Domestic private airlines like Kingfisher, Sahara India, Jet Airways, Go Air, Indigo, Air Deccan, Spicejet, etc.
~ Corporate houses that own private jets -- for example, TISCO, Kirloskar, Reliance, Tata, Mahindra & Mahindra, etc.
~ Cargo companies that own fleets like DHL, UPS, etc.
~ You could also acquire a Commercial Pilot License and apply to the Air Force as a pilot.
International opportunities
Besides Indian airlines, foreign airlines such as Gulf Air, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Air Lanka are also facing a shortage of trained pilots. Indian pilots can grab this chance to fly with bigger and more modern aircrafts with a foreign airline.
These five airlines, for instance, are looking for pilots:
• Qantas Airways
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• United Airlines

Job scope
Before the appearance of domestic airlines on the scene, Air India and Indian Airlines monopolised the skies, so there were enough pilots to meet the demand.
But, with the appearance of private domestic airlines, the demand for trained pilots has increased in leaps and bounds.
According to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a leading specialist consulting and research organisation focusing on Asian aviation, India currently needs about 500 pilots a year; only 200 are being produced.
Air India is now trying to recruit pilots fresh from college to meet its growing demand. It is in the process of being merged with its domestic counterpart, Indian (formerly Indian Airlines). After the merger, the fleet size of the airline will be over 120 planes.
The new airline will need at least 500 pilots over the next three years, which is why the national carrier is picking up BSc students fresh out of college. Students who pass the airline's pilot aptitude test will be offered training abroad.
On successful completion of the course, they will then be required to join Air India. AI is also arranging bank loans to facilitate the cost of the training. These loans will later be paid off from their salary, which will be equivalent to the kind of salary you can get after an MBA.
Besides government airlines, India's largest private airline company, Jet Airways, is also planning to increase its pilot strength from the current 550. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, chief executive officer, Jet Airways, says, "To cater to our expanding fleet and operations, we are aggressively looking at having 1,400 pilots by the year 2008."
Jet Airways is already facing a shortage of around 10 per cent when it comes to the number of pilots they require to fly their planes.