Ways To Become A Pilot
As I mentioned in the above section, you may either become a pilot in the Civil Aviation sector or join as a pilot in the Armed Forces.
Thus, there are two entries for you- civil aviation or armed forces. In armed forces, pilots are part of the Indian AirForce or the Army Aviation Corps.
There are different procedures to become pilot using the above two entries. Ill describe the process in the following paragraphs-
These pilots are the ones flying commercial aircraft of airlines like- Indian Airlines, Virgin Airlines etc. Not only do they fly airplanes, but such pilots also may fly chartered airplanes, helicopter etc, according to their qualifications.
To become such a pilot, youll need to acquire a commercial pilot license. Ill tell you how to get one.
To get the above mentioned license, you must complete pilots training. This training is provided at Flying Schools.
At the time of enrolling, a candidate will be provided a Students License. Upon completing the training and clocking certain hours flying an airplane, the license is upgraded.
Upon the successful completion of the training, the candidate is given a commercial pilots license and is permitted to fly airplanes based on his experience, qualification and performance.
While choosing a Flying School in India, make sure that it is approved by Civil Aviation Ministry. Also make sure that the institute has ample amenities for ensuring good quality training.
Having A Criminal Record
The background check is mandatory for all prospective pilot license applicants. Having any offenses related to alcohol or drugs on your record is enough for immediate disqualification. And although not all types of crime will prevent you from getting a private pilot license, they are likely to prevent you from pursuing a career as an airline pilot.
Its important to note that having other criminal entries on your record may not result in immediate disqualification for other flying licenses. You may still be able to get a license, although it may be a challenge to find employment with your desired company in the position you seek.
Join The Flying School And Undergo Training
Once you join the flying school, you will be provided flight training as well as classroom lectures. To obtain a CPL, you must complete 200 hours of flying. Undergo the training, complete it and clear the tests held by DGCA. This will help you get CPL.
After completing flying training and clearing relevant tests, you will be awarded CPL. Now you may start applying for jobs. But it isnt easy to land decent jobs just after getting CPL.
It has become mandatory to get type rating. Type rating is a certification to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training.
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Can You Get A Medical Waiver For Asthma
So now lets answer your question is your journey over, or can you possibly join the military with asthma? The answer is: it depends.
The military normally does not allow individuals who currently have asthma to join. However, there can be waivers for those who had asthma in their youth, provided it is still not present when they apply to join the military.
Now your situation is unique. You mentioned you had asthma as a youth, but havent had any issues since then. However, the doctor who recently examined you stated you still have asthma, but that it shouldnt be a problem for military service.
Therein lies the problem: the doctor recommended you as fit for service, and MEPS sent your examination and waiver application to the Surgeon Generals office, where the Surgeon General denied the waiver application.
Obviously they saw something they didnt like, or something that went against military medical standards for applicants. You can familiarize yourself with the DODI, or Department of Defense Instruction for Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services for a better understanding of which medical conditions are excluded from entry to the military, and which are eligible for waivers . This makes for dense reading, but arming yourself with this knowledge is essential if you want to keep trying to join the Air Force.
How To Become A Commercial Pilot In India
Do you want to become a Commercial Pilot? If yes, this article will be of help to you. This career guide has been crafted keeping the needs of pilot training aspirants in mind. This guide covers details such as steps involved in becoming a pilot in India, eligibility criteria, training fees and training institutes .
It is not uncommon to see young kids nurturing the dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Do you know why this career is so appealing to Indian students? This career is exciting and glamorous. Experienced pilots are also paid well.
In short, it is an exciting and financially rewarding profession. Let us check out the steps involved in becoming a commercial pilot in India
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How Likely Is A Medical Waiver To Be Approved
Unfortunately, I cannot predict that outcome. I dont play a doctor on the Internet, and Im not involved in the recruiting process, MEPS processes, or any appeals boards. This is not my area of profession and I do not speak for the military. So I dont want to give any false impressions.
What I can tell you is that some medical conditions are simply ineligible for waivers. Other conditions may be waiverable, provided the member meets the medical standards for waivers as outlined in the DODI .
The best thing you can do is arm yourself with the applicable knowledge and have the willingness to do the legwork required to get the medical examinations, file the paperwork, etc.
Finally, dont lie when trying to join the military. It never ends well. In fact, it can end with a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and benefits, or even legal action. Its simply not worth the stain on your record.
For more information, you can read this Guide for Getting a Medical Waiver to Join the Military. This article and podcast explain the medical waiver process and the process for finding information, submitting documents, and much more. Its very helpful.
Relevant Resources:
Recommended Online Aviation Degrees
Contact schools for info on enrollment, tuition, aid, and more.
The FAA does require, however, that you complete two months of ground training and log at least 1500 hours in the air before you can receive a commercial pilots license. The path to becoming a pilot involves a lot of work, but if its your dream to fly above the clouds, a solid undergraduate degree from an accredited university is a great place to start.
There are lots of places to get the degrees in this list, and its even possible to study for some of these degrees online. Prospective employers will take a sharp look, however, at the higher education institution that you chose for your degree, and degrees from institutions like the United States Air Force Academy are viewed most favorably.
In this list, well cover the top 10 degrees you might want to consider as you embark on your path to becoming a pilot. The degrees toward the beginning of our list are the most suited for your career choice, but all of the undergraduate degrees weve listed will take you one step closer to soaring through the skies. Read on for a full overview of the 10 best degrees to get for becoming a pilot and why theyre useful for your career ambitions.
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How Strict Is It
The award of Class One Medical certifications seems to be more lenient as science and studies have evolved. For example, it is now permissible to hold a Class One Medical if you have either Type 1 or 2 diabetes as long as you demonstrate you can effectively manage your blood sugar levels. If there are any doubts as to your fitness to hold a medical, you may be required to demonstrate your competency in the simulator .
Some conditions , whilst not immediately disqualifying, my require a restriction to be placed on your authority to operate. This is referred to as an Operational Multi-crew Limitation or OML. This allows you to exercise your class one medical privileges only as part of a multi-crew environment. Crew who have an OML restriction may not fly together as part of a 2 crew flight, and an OML holder may not fly with another pilot over the age of 60.
First Steps To Getting A Class 1 Medical Certification
The very first recommendation to any aspiring pilot is to obtain a Class One Medical certificate. This is a mandatory requirement for all flight crew in order to operate a jet commercially. For a UK issue Medical, the initial assessment can take place with a specifically authorised CAA Aviation Medical Examiner listed on their website.
There have been people who have invested significant amounts of money in obtaining a Private Pilots Licence , with the view to continue training towards a commercial licence, only to find that they were ineligible for a class one medical, and therefore unable to pursue a commercial career. So make sure you can pass the medical requirements before commencing your pilot training.
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Desensitization Shots & Oral Immunotherapy
The FAA will approve pilots to fly when undergoing treatment with allergy desensitization shots. Pilots should be cautious flying after receiving higher strength/concentration serums to insure they do not have a delayed allergic reaction. The FAA requires a four hour wait after immunotherapy injections.
There is a newer form of immunotherapy using drops under the tongue called Sublingual Immunotherapy or SLIT. The FAA now allows SLIT and requires a 24 hour observation time after the first use each season, and then four hours after each subsequent administration. This is not allowed in airmen over 65 years old with significant asthma.
I Need My Glasses To Fly
I wouldn’t step onto an airplane without my contacts. Chances are I would have trouble getting up the stairs without them. I’m also rather allergic, especially in the summers.
Since I’ve started flying I’ve had to switch to approved allergy medicine, and I now always carry a spare set of glasses in my bag at all times. This is a legal requirement from the aviation authority in case my primary pair break.
Every year I have to visit an aviation doctor for an annual assessment. This includes a check-up and update of my general health status, a new vision test, blood test, and a urine sample. I also have to go visit an optician every other year, to evaluate my astigmatism. Apart from this, I work and fly without any changes to my life.
Questions?
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How To Become Commercial Pilot In India At Less Cost
First of all, let me tell you something about the career in aviation, as a pilot. It is a coveted career. Majority of us, in our childhood, dreamt of becoming pilots, flying fighter jets and fancy aircraft. It is a glamorous and much respected profession! In this article, Ill show you how you can become a pilot, in India.
Reasons Why It Is A Brilliant Profession
First of all, the pay scale is excellent, right from the start! Next, you may avail various travel benefits and perks. Then there is lot of glamour associated with this profession. Compared to other professionals, pilots are less, in number. So, the field is less saturated and job availability is not compromised.
These are some very obvious advantages of choosing the profession of a commercial pilot. Just like that, if you choose to be a pilot in the armed forces, you may avail various Government perks and amenities like housing and ration allowance, perks, travel allowance etc. Moreover, youll be able to earn the respect of society by doing the job!
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Bachelor Of Science In Air Traffic Management
Receiving a BS in air traffic management is a necessary prerequisite if you want to be an air traffic controller. This specialized career path requires significant aptitude and experience, but most air traffic management degrees only take four years to secure.
The primary purpose of air traffic controllers is to observe the motion of aircraft in the skies above the country and ensure that aircraft congestion does not occur. As a result, prospective air traffic controllers need to learn the basics of aviation and how planes work, and air traffic management programs also focus extensively on aviation meteorology.
Becoming A Pilot In Armed Forces Of India
You may also become a pilot in Indian AirForce or Army Aviation Corps, if you meet the standards set by them. Read this article about how to join Indian AirForce.
The advantage of this method is that you can become a pilot without spending much money. But, you must compensate for it by serving the country. But hey, it is a matter of pride, isnt it?
You may join IAF by appearing for NDA exam, if you are below 19 years of age. Else, if you are a graduate, having completed 3 years or 4 years graduation course, you may appear for CDS exam and join IAF as a flying officer.
After serving the country and retiring from the armed forces, a pilot may jump into the commercial airline bandwagon easily! Yes, upon passing a few tests, a former armed forces pilot can easily become a pilot in big commercial airline companies! This is an added advantage!
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What Can Disqualify You From Becoming A Commercial Pilot
Becoming a commercial pilot is an exciting opportunity for many people who find joy in flying. While nearly anyone can get a drivers license, a commercial pilot license definitely has some strict stipulations. Below, weve compiled a list of some things that might prevent you from becoming a commercial pilot. Keep in mind that regulations change often and many of the issues below, with the exception of a few, are at the discretion of a human being just like you, and may not be as black-and-white as it seems. Additionally, regulations vary from country to country, so those looking to become international pilots or pilots outside of the United States may encounter different stipulations.
Can You Join The Military With Asthma
This is a great question, and somewhat common. Many people experience asthma in their youth, and eventually grow out of it. The military makes concessions for applicants who had asthma in their youth, and will often grant waivers if the asthmatic conditions ceased or no longer required medication after a certain age.
But the military is less forgiving when the applicant still has asthma or requires any asthma medications. Why? To put it in simple terms: asthma can place the individual and others in harms way if the individual is deployed to certain environments or is exposed to certain chemicals or conditions.
Military members frequently work around austere environments, in hot, dry, and dusty conditions around various solvents, chemicals, and exhaust in hot and humid conditions and in other environments that can cause an asthma episode to flare up. Having an asthma attack at the wrong time can place the individual, and in some cases, the entire unit in danger.
Think, for a moment, about someone having an asthma attack when they are the only qualified individual for a certain job. Not only does that unit lose the qualified person, but someone else is pulled from their job to assist the other person. This can become magnified if the unit is out in the field, in the line of fire, if there are no medical facilities nearby, etc. I think you get the point.
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Can I Still Be A Commercial Pilot With Asthma
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Bachelor Of Science In Aviation Maintenance
If you like the idea of becoming a pilot but want to keep your options open, a degree in aviation maintenance could be a good choice. Becoming a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Management is an alternative degree path in the same basic discipline that involves managing aircraft maintenance operations, and this degree is more suited for people who want to get into management or operations positions.
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What Might Prevent You From Becoming A Commercial Airline Pilot
Age
In the USA, according to the FAA, you must be at least 23 years of age before obtaining your commercial pilot license. If you are under 23, you may still obtain a private pilots license and start logging your hours, studying, and developing your skills so you can become a commercial pilot as soon as possible.
Flight Hours
Speaking of hours, to become a commercial pilot, you must have logged a certain number of flight hours. According to FAA requirements, you must have at least 1,500 hours of flight time to captain a commercial airplane with your ATP certification. To become a long-haul pilot, you often need 5,000 hours of flight time, which will take years to achieve. The specific requirements may vary from airline to airline, so keep in mind that you might not land the perfect job after completing your 1,500th hour. Do research on the requirements of the airlines you would like to work with, or reach out to our pilot training school for guidance.
Medical Problems
Color Blindness
Mental Health
Criminal Background
FAA regulations require a pilot to have good moral standings, and they take this pretty seriously. Airlines looking for pilots to hire take it even more seriously. Unfortunately, those with criminal records will have a tough time obtaining their ATP license, but it might not be impossible. Often, it will depend on the number of marks on your record, the nature of the crime, and the amount of time that has passed.
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