Length and cost of commercial pilot training in India

How long it will take to become a commercial pilot in India and how much it costs? This is a regular question enthusiasts ask to pilots. They consider pilot training as some graduation or post graduation with fixed time frame. But what is it and how is it in the real scenario? Let us find out the answers one by one, starting with the duration first.

Pilot training is not an academic course like your graduation

And so, it has no fixed time frame, no quarterly or yearly exams, no reservation quotas for admission based on caste & community, no ranks based on the marks you score, no selection procedures (though some colleges conduct their own private selection tests), no attendance issues, no fabricated lies for leaves,

Then, Minimum qualification to become a pilot?

Yeah, there is something like that. You should pass your higher secondary education (HSE/10+2) with 3 compulsory subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and must pass each exam individually. You should also be medically and physically fit. There is no bar based on caste, religion, gender, race etc. Vision, hearing etc. should be perfect (glasses can be used with some restrictions) and should not have any serious diseases. You should be financially sound too, or sponsored by some financially sound authority because pilot training costs a good sum of money.

There might be some time frame, right?

No, but yes. You will get a Student Pilot License (SPL)when you join the training program. It has got a validity of 5 years. Ideally, you must finish your flying and all exams within that time. However, you can extend it by getting a new SPL if you failed to finish exams and flying within the 5 years time.

So, exams are valid forever?

Nope. Each exam is valid for 5 years from the date of passing. To get your final Commercial Pilot License issued, you must have all exams passed and in validity. If the validity of an exam expires before issue of CPL, you must appear for that exam again. Exams are conducted once every 3 months (4 sessions a year- January, April, July, October)  Apart from these exams, there is a Radio Telephony (RT) license exam. That license is valid forever.

What about classes?

For ground classes, you have to attend classes of approved training academy for 350 hours and get certified of that. Apart from that, there is no need of attending classes like you did at your school.

OK, What about the costs?

As a fact, 90% of cost for commercial pilot training goes to the cost of flying. You must have a total 200 hours of flying experience within 5 years from the date of SPL issue. If you failed to finish 200 hours within 5 years, the hours you flown first will be lapsed as they get matured. So here is a cut down analysis of costs incurred, in INR. (1$ = 67 INR at the time of writing)

1. Admission = 20,000 INR (differ slightly according to the academy)
2. SPL issue = 5000 INR
3. Uniform = 10,000 INR
4. Study materials = 10,000 INR (may increase if flight computer is provided)
5. Class II medical = 6000 INR
6. FRTOL issue = 5000 INR
7. Exam fees = 2500 INR per paper
8. Class 1 medical renewals every year = 4000 INR (including regular tests & fees)
9. RT exam fees = 500 INR
10. RT license issue = 10,000 INR (lifetime validity)
11. Flying charges = 15,000 x 170 hours on single engine
12. Multi flying charges = 35,000 x 10 hours
13. Flight simulator charges = 3000 x 10 hours
14. Flying checks charges = 5000  per check
15. CPL issue = 5000 INR
16. Hostel/accommodation = 3000 to 5000 per month
17. Food  = 3000-5000 per month
18. Other expenses = 2000 per month (for stationery, travels etc.)
19. Extra tuition for exams = 25,000 per paper on average

This is a rough calculation and costs usually come BELOW this estimate. Trainees and parents are requested to double check these with actual costs as mentioned by the authorities.