Commercial Pilot
Commercial pilots fly scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo services and are licensed by the DGCA in India. Typical routes: direct CPL after 10+2 (PCM), or via engineering/aviation degrees followed by flying training at a DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisation (FTO). Medical fitness, flying hours and DGCA exams are mandatory for licensing and airline employment.
Actions for your grade
- Choose Science (Physics & Math) in Class 11/12
- Start reading about aviation, aircraft systems and basic navigation
- Work on English fluency and situational problem-solving
Your complete path from Grade 10 to Commercial Pilot
Every step you need — from now to your first job.
Requires 10+2 with Physics & Math, DGCA Class II (then Class I) medical, and minimum flying hours; funding can be significant.
- NowAny Stream Stream
- Exams—
- DegreeCommercial Pilot License (CPL) via DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisation (typically 1–2 years of flying + ground school)
- CollegesIndira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi · Bombay Flying Club · Indian Flying College
- CareerCommercial Pilot
Engineering gives deeper technical background and backup career options; CPL still required for commercial flying.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsJEE Main or BITSAT or MHT CET
- DegreeB.Tech/B.E. in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering (4 years) followed by CPL training (1–2 years)
- CollegesIndian Institute of Technology Kharagpur · Indian Institute of Technology Bombay · Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani
- CareerCommercial Pilot
Aviation degrees cover airline operations and management; CPL from an approved FTO remains mandatory for airline jobs.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsCUET UG
- DegreeBSc Aviation / BBA Aviation (3 years) plus CPL training at an FTO (1–2 years)
- CollegesChrist University Bengaluru · Symbiosis International University · Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi
- CareerCommercial Pilot
Entrance exams
| Exam | Eligibility | Difficulty | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
JEE Main NTA | Class 12 PCM | Very Hard | Jan & Apr |
BITSAT BITS Pilani | Class 12 PCM, 75%+ | Hard | May-Jun |
MHT CET Maharashtra State CET Cell | Class 12 PCM (Maharashtra domicile preferred) | Medium | Apr-May |
CUET UG NTA | Class 12 (any stream) | Medium | May-Jun |
Where to Study
Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.