One of the highest-paying professions in the country presently is that of an airline pilot. As per the latest survey by the IBEF, the civil aviation industry has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. With total domestic traffic of 69%, which contributes to the total traffic of the entire South East Asia, India’s airport traffic is expected to cross 1 billion trips annually by 2023.

IBEF also states that India is likely to overtake China and the United States as the world’s 3rd largest air passenger market by 2030. With a total investment of INR 10,667 crore by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the scope for pilots is expected to make a colossal jump offering jobs with an impressive pay package across various ranks and designations.

Becoming a Pilot is not only a matter of prestige but the fact that thousands of passengers daily entrust their lives to their knowledge, it is a highly regarded profession globally. It's a job that comes with accountability, allure, self-assurance, power, and wealth. Pilots are required to fly for a commercial airline or a private or chartered trip. There are various types of Pilots based on their area of expertise as well as on the basis of their ranks or designations. Some of the most common bifurcations in the field of aviation are commercial pilots, fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, corporate pilots, etc.

A commercial pilot carries passengers and cargo across lesser distances whereas an airline pilot takes them to far-off locations around the world. Most people begin their careers as commercial pilots before moving on to become flight captains for major airlines.

Smaller aircraft, typically owned by individuals or businesses, are flown by corporate pilots. Fighter pilots are employed by the Army or Air Force. They move military personnel and supplies. They should also receive training in aerial combat because it might be necessary for actual combat. Pilot trainees must get on-the-job training from flight instructors. They obviously need to have piloting experience.

In India, in order to become a Pilot, a candidate's primary academic prerequisite is to clear their class 12 board exams preferably in the science stream. They must have a minimum aggregate score of 55% and above. Additionally, candidates should have the minimum age of 17 years in order to become a Pilot. Apart from this candidates are also required to clear their graduation in relevant Aviation Courses followed by acquiring The Private Pilot License.

Possessing a Private Pilot License allows candidates to,

• Fly smaller, private aircraft, a commercial pilot's license allows you to fly larger, commercial aircraft, and a certified flight instructor's license allows you to educate aspiring pilots on the job;
• There are other requirements related to medical fitness and flying experience in addition to the pilot's license.
• If you wish to fly low-orbit spacecraft and explore areas above the Earth's atmosphere, getting a job as a pilot is also the first requirement.

How Much Do Pilots Make

The salary of a Pilot is determined by a variety of factors. Some of them being, designation, the aircraft they generally fly, years of experience, the number of hours they've flown, and their employer. As a result, the typical salary for pilots varies depending on the type of work they do. As per Ambition Box, the average Salary of a Pilot in India ranges from INR 14.93 LPA to INR 18.71 LPA.

Pilots with the same designation, level of experience, and company may effectively have different pay packages if one has logged more flight hours as compared to their peers. There are restrictions on the working hours of a Pilot, but in certain cases they may take on more trips provided they have sufficient.prior permission. In general, airline pilots fly for 200 hours a month, 100 hours of Pilot In Command time, 50 hours of Pilot In Command cross-country time, and 40 hours of instrument time on average.

Pilots spend additional segregated hours on various work-related tasks, such as checking the weather and making flight plans. When you think of the job, airline pilots are probably the first people that come to mind. They work mostly for airlines that transport both people and goods. The captain, the pilot with the most expertise, is usually in command of the flight and oversees the other crew members. The co-pilot, also referred to as the first officer, is in second-in-command of the aircraft. Some older aircraft require a flight engineer, or third pilot, to monitor instruments and handle controls, even if this is not necessary on newer aircraft.

Working as a Pilot

As discussed, Pilots are entrusted with different types of aircraft as per their work schedule and job role. For instance, a Helicopter Pilot who operates majorly on emergency and VIP transports, will probably work in a nearby location and follow a predetermined timetable. An airline pilot, on the other hand, might spend extended periods of time away from home. The ability to influence their flight assignments increases as airline pilots gain experience in their profession.

• Pilots who have been employed by an airline for a long time can obtain the routes and schedules they want based on seniority.
• However, unlike many other professions, pilots must retire at a certain age.
• By federal law, retirement must begin at age 65. Being a pilot is challenging and demands intense concentration.
• There is no space for error when it comes to passengers, who entrust the pilots with their lives.

Despite the stress of the work, individuals who truly enjoy flying wouldn't ever consider a career in anything else. All of their training and flying hours are merely prerequisites for getting the job that will make them truly happy. The initial pay packages for Pilots are usually low as compared to the ones with relevant years of experience. In some circumstances, the first-year compensation for first offers is comparatively less than the yearly mean wage. Naturally, more seasoned pilots can earn six figures, proving that experience truly does pay off.

Despite the high salaries frequently associated with working for more than ten years, this is a vocation motivated by a love of flying. It's safe to assume that a pilot's enthusiasm for flying is what motivated them to pursue this career path, even though money is probably a motive for many pilots in the kind of jobs they seek. Those who can make a comfortable living doing what they love can simply have the best of both worlds.