How To Become a Helicopter Pilot in India

• Helicopter pilot as a career is gaining another career option for the young and adventurous students. Though the scope of helicopter pilot in India has limited career option, mostly in the defense organization, it was not an attractive option for the students. But, over the period of time, different types of job opportunities have created in this sector which requires professionals with Helicopter flying license. 
• They get jobs in various fields like firefighting, aerial surveying, helicopter flight instructor, etc.  They have to do several challenging activities like rescue operations, taking oil workers to an oil rig to some remote areas, etc. 
• It is a challenging field, as helicopter flying is more difficult than flying an aircraft. Due to its smaller size, there are differences in its technicalities and operations than a normal aircraft.
   

• To become a Professional Pilot in India, the candidate must have a Student Pilot License (SPL). They must clear their 10+2 examination in Science subjects. The candidate must register themselves at a flying club which should be recognized by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of
• India. They must clear their oral examination in the subjects like Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Engine (technical and specific). Besides, this, they also need to have a medical certificate, security clearance and a bank guarantee. After successful completion of the above, the candidate gets his/her Student Pilot License (SPL).
• After Student Pilot License (SPL), another step is the Private Pilot License (PPL).The candidate has to undergo rigorous training of 60 hours of flying. This enables the candidate to be eligible for the Private Pilot License (PPL)examination which comprises of Air Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Aircraft Engines and Seamanship. Besides this, the candidate must have a medical Fitness Certificate issued by the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment (AFCME).
• After Private Pilot License (PPL), a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) can be obtained. The candidate has to undergo 250 hours of flying.  The candidate has to appear for an examination which comprises of Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical, Planning, and communications in the form of Radio & Wireless Transmission. They also have to undergo Medical Fitness Test which is held at New Delhi.  After getting a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), the candidate is eligible to take up professional assignments.

The course mainly content:

1. Flight Planning
2. Air Navigation
3. Aviation Meteorology
4. Air frames and engines
5. Air regulations
6. Cockpit resource management

There are several courses available for an interested candidate who wants to pursue a career as a Helicopter Pilot. They are as follows:

1. Advance Diploma in Aviation Management 
2. Air Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL)
3. BTEC [HNC] in Aviation, Hospitality and Travel Management
4. Certificate Course in Aviation and Hospitality Management
5. Certificate Course in Aviation Studies
6. Commercial Pilots License (CPL) 
7. Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality Management
8. Diploma in Aviation Management
9. Diploma in Aviation, Hospitality and Travel Management
10. Diploma in Fast Track Aviation and Hospitality Management
11. Diploma in Global Aviation and Hospitality Management
12. International Aviation Management

Some of the Flying Clubs which conducts training for the Helicopter Pilot are as follows:

1. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi, Rae Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
2. Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
3. Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai, Maharashtra
4. Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
5. Bihar Flying Institute, Patna, Bihar
6. Amritsar Aviation Club, Amritsar, Punjab
7. Gujarat Flying Club, Vadodara, Gujarat
8. Government. Flying Training Institute, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
9. Government Flying Training Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
10. Government. Flying Training School, Bangalore, Karnataka
11. Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Karnal, Haryana
12. Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Hissar, Haryana
13. Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Pinjore, Haryana
14. Ludhiana Aviation Club, Ludhiana, Punjab
15. Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
16. Madras Flying Club, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
17. Northern India Flying Club, Jalandhar, Punjab
18. Patiala Aviation Club, Patiala, Punjab
19. Rajasthan State Flying School, Jaipur, Rajasthan
20. UP State Flying Training Institute, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
21. Andaman & Nicobar Flying Training Institute, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
22. Assam Flying Club, Guwahati, Assam
23. BanasthaliVidyapith Gliding and Flying Club, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
24. Aviation Training Academy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
25. Delhi Flying Club, New Delhi
26. Kerala Aviation Training Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
27. Nagpur Flying Club, Nagpur, Maharashtra
28. Jamshedpur Cooperative Flying Club, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

With the privatization of the airlines industry, there are several job opportunities has been opened up for the candidate who have the Commercial Pilot License. They can be employed in both government and private domestic and international airlines. The services of the pilots are in demand in the corporate houses that have their own aircrafts. 

Once the candidate gains the license of a Commercial Pilot, he can fly helicopters, commercial aircraft, biplanes, bombers, rescue planes, jets and cargo planes.

There are several types of Helicopter Pilots, like :

1. Aerial Survey Pilot - They have the ability to go to remote areas through air operations where no other means of transport go. 
2. Air Ambulance Pilot – An Air Ambulance Pilot carries paramedic help where it is needed. They give fast transport for the patient to the hospital. There are many hospitals where helipads are there on the hospital rooftops.
3. Police Services – They assist the police force in locating the criminals, as well as their transportation.
4. Search & Rescue Pilot – They help in locating and recovering the injured or missing person on land or at sea.
5. Charter Pilot–They fly passengers and cargo as services demand. Here the flights are of short durations.
6. Flight Instructor–They give flight and ground instructions as per regulations and procedures with Flight Schools. They also have to prepare schedules, track records, training requirements and objective of the course are met by each student.
7. Test Pilot – They fly new or modified helicopters to check whether they are safe for flying. 
8. Corporate Pilot–Corporate Pilots fly the aircraft owned by any business man or industrial firms, transporting company executives to branch plants or business conferences. 
9. Private Helicopter Pilot – A Private Helicopter Pilot means who have learned to fly as a hobby, which is planning to purchase their own aircraft. A Private Helicopter Pilot cannot be employed on a flying job by any company.
    

There are few skills that are required to become a Helicopter Pilot. They are as follows:

• The person needs to be disciplined, patience in their work.
• He must be able to take responsibility for the helicopter, crew and passengers.
• He should be punctual and meet commitment.
• He should have confidence in himself.
• The person should be hard working and have good stamina.
• The person must have good presence of mind.
• The person must possess the ability to work as a team or alone. 
• The must have a positive attitude towards their work.
• The person must be technically sound and understand all the nitty-gritties of the aircraft.
• He must have an excellent hand-to-eye coordination.
• He must have good written and communication skills. 
   

• There are several Distance learning Diploma courses available for Aviation programme in IATA.

There are scope and opportunities for the Helicopter Pilot. They are as follows:

• A pilot can be employed in the private or government sector in the aviation department.
• They can also make a career as military pilots. Military pilots transport soldiers, goods, equipment for the government.
• A helicopter pilot can also be employed as a flight instructor and test pilot in several flying institutes.
• Helicopter pilot can also get employed in the sp

  To pursue a career in Helicopter Pilot, the candidate must have the following eligibility criteria:

  • The candidate must clear their 10+2 examination in science subjects with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
  • The age of the candidate should be at least17 years of age.
  • The candidate must register themselves to a flying club recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India.  After successful completion of formalities like clearance of oral examination and other formalities, the candidate is entitled for a Student Pilot License or SPL.
  • For the Private Pilot License or PPL the age of the candidate must be 17 years. 
  • The candidate must clear their 10+2 examination in science subjects and must have a medical Fitness Certificate issued by the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment (AFCME). The candidate has to undergo rigorous training of sixty hours of flying. 
  • A candidate can obtain their Commercial Pilot License or CPL after acquiring their Private Pilot License or PPL. The candidate has to fly for 250 hours to get this. Besides this, they have to undergo a Medical Fitness Test. 

  The candidate is eligible for taking up professional assignment after having their Commercial Pilot License or CPL.
   

  Helicopter Pilot Jobs In India

  The job responsibilities of a Helicopter Pilot are as follows:

  • They need to check the equipment and other parts of the helicopter before flying.
  • They need to check the weather condition and the air pressure before flying.
  • They must have good knowledge of the air routes.
  • They must make plans and check-list before flying.
  • They must take the safest route while flying.
  • They check the engines of the aircraft, fuel consumption. They report or respond to any changes to the control room for change in weather condition or other actions like engine failures.
  • They must check the engines of the helicopter, fuel consumption. They report or respond to any changes to the control room for change in weather condition or other actions like engine failures while flying.
  • They must give a brief to the passengers on the safety rules and precautions if any emergency arises while flying. 
  • While flying they need to communicate with air traffic control over the radio system on the helicopter. 
  • They must be trained to make a safe landing and take-off.
  • The helicopter pilot must estimate the performance of the helicopter and take actions on the areas which need improvement.
  • They must track their schedule of further assignments.
  • They must be trained well enough during rescue or military operations. 
  • They have to prepare report on the flight status, total number of flights they managed and there performance.
  • They must fly the helicopter as per the government’s rules and regulation act.
     

  Salary Of Helicopter Pilot In India

  • The salary structure of a Helicopter Pilot depends upon the company or organization and flying experience of the individual in different Private or Government owned aviation companies. 
  • Approximately a Helicopter Pilot earns a salary of Rs. 40,000/- to Rs. 1,50,000/- per month. The salary package of helicopter pilots in the public sector depends upon their grades and positions. 
  • They get attractive pay packages and other perks like contributory provident fund, gratuity, medical facilities, free/concessional air package for family or dependents, housing facilities, out-station allowances, etc.