How to Become a Pilot After 12th in India.

Hey TCA Family! Today we will look at how you can become a Pilot in India after your 12th. We have received this same question daily on our YouTube channel and our Whatsapp groups for a while now and we have brought you an all-inclusive and well-researched guide that we have been able to write thanks to the 16 years of experience in the aviation field and the 7500+ students we have helped and guided along the way. This Ultimate Guide should solve all your questions and help you on your journey to give wings to your dreams. 

Table of Contents : 

1.  Requirements before you get started
2. Apply The Class 2 Medical Exam:
3.  How to clear DGCA exams
4.  Flying Training
5.  Getting a Typerating
6.  How to Apply for an Airline/Pilot Job
7.  Salaries of Pilots in India (UPDATED!!)
8.  Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
9.  Links to Useful Websites

Requirements before you get started : 

 Many people tend to jump head-first into things without formulating a game plan. Like famous boxer Mike Tyson once said –                                        

                                              “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the Face”

                                                                                                                                 – Mike Tyson

The very first thing is to make sure you have at least 60% aggregate for Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in your 12th grade this can be from any recognized board, DGCA has a requirement of at least 50% and airlines like Air India and Vistara require 60%. If you have taken Commerce or Arts for your 12th then you will have to appear for exams on PCM through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

You have to be at least 17 years of age before you begin to ensure you can finish all the steps without having to go on an unnecessary hiatus in between. The major requirement is Passion and Determination as pursuing a career in Aviation is both challenging and demanding.

Apply for The Class 2 Medical Exam:

 Getting your Class 2 Medical done is a major milestone in your journey and it should be done as soon as possible after your 12th, Class 2 Medical Examination stands as an important measure in safeguarding the well-being and physical readiness of individuals striving to enter the field of civil aviation, if completed successfully it enables you to move forward with your training worry-free. The first step is to get yourself registered on the eGCA portal ( all links to websites are provided at the end of the article ) and contact a DGCA-certified Doctor who will guide you through the process. Always make sure you are getting your tests done in a NABH-certified Hospital or NABL-certified Lab.

For those who are squeamish about the doctor’s office, the tests are simple and can take a day or two to finish. Here is a list of all the tests done – 

1. Chest X-Ray
2. Blood Test
3. Electrocardiogram Test
4. Urine Test
5. BMI Calculation
6. Blood Pressure Test
7. Eye Test (Visual Acuity, Color Vision, Refraction Test)
8. Ear test (Audiometry Test & Ear Exam)
9. Basic Medical Interview 

The total cost of Class 2 Medical can be from Rs 6000 to Rs 10000. Make sure you answer all questions about previous medical records and reports.  After completion of Class 2 Medical, you can go and complete Class 1 which is much more thorough and stringent.

Clear your DGCA Exams :

To appear for the DGCA exam you will need a Computer Number. What is a Computer Number? It is a unique identification number that is a requirement to register for DGCA exams. To register for a computer number you will have to visit the DGCA Pariksha Portal. Many people joke that the most difficult part of becoming a Commercial Pilot in India is getting your Computer Number, this assumption exists because DGCA rejects applications if even the smallest thing is not as per their mentioned guidelines. These guidelines are mentioned in the USER MANUAL page in the DGCA Pariksha Portal.

If you are still unsure after reading the guidelines or have already had your application rejected we recommend contacting us as we have helped many students get their Computer Numbers.

While you are in the process of getting your Computer Number we recommend starting your preparation for your exams as after submission of your application, it can take anywhere from 15 days to 1.5 months for a confirmation. You will have to take a total of  6 exams and they are –

Pilot Training Subjects

1. Aviation Meteorology
2. Air Regulation
3. Air Navigation
4. Technical General
5. Technical Specific
6. Radio Telephony Restricted(RTR [A])  – held by the WPC

Out of all the exams Meteorology, Technical Specific are considered the easiest followed by Air Regulation. Navigation, Technical General, and RTR are of hard difficulty due to their vastness and overall larger curve of understanding. While these exams can be cleared through self-study we have found that the time required to do so can take a year or more. If you are adamant about self-studying these are the books we recommend – 

1. Aviation Meteorology – IC JOSHI + TCA Metrology Notes & Practice Papers
2. Air Regulation – RK Bali + TCA Regulation Notes & Practice Papers
3. Air Navigation – Oxford  + TCA Air Navigation Notes & Practice Papers
4. Technical General – Oxford + TCA Technical General Notes & Practice Papers
5. Technical Specific – C152/C172/DA40 POH + TCA Tech. Specific Notes & Practice Papers
6.  RTR(A) – RK Bali + TCA RTR Notes & Practice Papers

If you think you need guidance to clear exams we recommend joining a Ground School can be the best option as you get concepts taught by instructors who have flying experience which should make the learning process quicker and more efficient. With assistance from a Ground School clearing your exams can take 6-8 months as long as you are consistent with your studying.

Technical Specific Exam will depend on which aircraft you are planning to fly on during your training. The most common single-engine aircraft in India are the Cessna 152, Cessna 172, and Diamond 40.  Make sure you contact your flying school of choice and ask them about their fleet composition before attempting this exam.

Read More;- How to Become a Cabin Crew in India- Eligibility, Course, Selection, Details, Cost

Pilot Training Exam Pattern

All exams conducted by DGCA are 100 mark objective bases ie. MCQ-based exams, You need to score at least 70/100 to PASS. RTR(A) is the sole exam that is conducted by the WPC and is a mix of written and viva-based questions that are split into Part 1 and Part 2. The first Part consists of 5 written questions that simulate a scenario in an imaginary airspace and require you to navigate through it using correct ICAO radio communication phraseology, while you are writing your transmissions down you will be required to transmit vocally on the headset too. After clearing the first one you can move on to Part 2 which is a hybrid of an interview and an oral viva where the examiners will ask you sorts of questions on Aviation Regulation and Radio Navigation Knowledge.

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