So this whole thing started because my cousin Raj decided one day at dinner that he wanted to be a pilot. My mom thought he was joking. I thought he was going through a phase. But he was dead serious. Fast forward a year, and I’ve basically become an expert on commercial pilot training in India just by helping him through the entire process and listening to him complain constantly about every aspect of his commercial pilot training in India. Let me tell you what actually happens when someone decides to pursue commercial pilot training in India.
Understanding What Commercial Pilot Training Actually Is
It’s Not Just Flying a Plane
Okay so when Raj started this, I assumed it was like learning to drive but in the air. Wrong. Dead wrong. When he came home after his first week, he had stacks of notebooks filled with notes about weather systems, air pressure, wind patterns. I was like, “Bro, you’re supposed to be learning to fly, not studying for a geography exam.”
He explained that before you even touch a plane, you need to understand how it actually works. The hydraulics, the electrical systems, fuel management. What happens if an engine fails? How do you recover from a spin? What’s the maximum speed you can fly in certain weather? It’s like, you need to know everything about the machine before you’re trusted to fly it with passengers.
And then there’s the whole psychological thing. He used to come home stressed about decision-making scenarios. Like, if one engine fails and you’re over mountains, what do you do? If your instruments stop working, how do you navigate? If weather suddenly gets worse mid-flight, do you push through or turn back? They drill this into you until you can make these decisions without panicking.
Why India Though?
I asked him why he wasn’t going to America or somewhere to train. He looked at me like I was stupid and showed me the costs. Training in America would’ve been nearly double what he paid in India. But here’s the thing – the quality is the same. The instructors here have real experience. They’ve actually flown commercial routes. They know what it’s really like out there. The planes are maintained properly. The system is recognized internationally.
Plus, and this is huge, India desperately needs pilots right now. Airlines are expanding constantly. New routes every month. They need people. So when Raj finished training, companies were literally calling him, asking him to join. He wasn’t sitting around begging for interviews. It was the other way around.
What Raj Actually Went Through During Training
The Timeline and What It Looked Like
Raj’s whole program took about 20 months. That’s basically two years of his life. During that time, he wasn’t hanging out with friends on weekends or going on vacations. He was either in a classroom learning theory or in a cockpit practicing procedures. Some days he’d be dead tired from flying, other days his brain was fried from classroom sessions.
The first few months were the worst because everything was new and overwhelming. He’d come home with headaches because he was absorbing so much information. He’d quiz me on random aviation stuff. “Hey, what’s angle of attack?” I’d be like, “Dude, I’m just trying to eat my dinner.” But eventually it started clicking for him.
The Classroom Grind
The ground school part nearly broke him. He was learning meteorology – actual scientific meteorology, not just “oh it looks cloudy today.” He was studying charts, understanding pressure systems, learning why weather patterns form the way they do. He needed to know this stuff inside out because weather is literally the enemy of safe flying.
Then there was aerodynamics. This sounds simple but it’s not. He was learning about lift, drag, thrust, weight. How different speeds affect how the plane behaves. What happens when you try to make a turn at different speeds. Why certain planes can do certain things and others can’t.
Navigation was another beast. He learned to read aviation charts, plot routes, calculate fuel needs, figure out timing. There’s no GPS in the cockpit like in your car. Well, there is, but pilots need to know how to navigate using traditional methods too. What if the GPS fails? You need to be able to get from point A to point B using instruments and calculations.
And the radio stuff was intense. He practiced radio calls over and over. “Bangalore Approach, this is November Seven Seven Charlie, requesting descent to 3,000 feet, over.” The language is very specific and formal. There’s a proper way to say everything. Miscommunication could literally cause an accident, so they make sure you get it right.
Actually Flying the Plane
Then came the part he was actually excited about – flying. His first few flights, he was in the back seat basically just watching the instructor. Then gradually he got more control. First just holding altitude, then doing turns, then landing.
His first solo flight was wild. He called me right after. His voice was shaking. He’d gone up alone, done some procedures, landed without any instructor on board. He kept saying “I can’t believe I did that.” Like, the plane was all his responsibility. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
As he progressed, he flew in rain, fog, different times of day, different routes. He practiced emergency procedures until they were muscle memory. What if the engine fails? What if instruments stop working? What if you lose hydraulic pressure? By the end of it, he could handle most situations without freaking out.
The Requirements to Actually Get In
You need to be 17 minimum. You need to have finished your school education. English needs to be decent enough to understand instructions and communicate. There’s a medical exam where they check your eyesight, hearing, reflexes, overall health. Nothing crazy, just making sure you’re physically capable.
Honestly, the biggest requirement is mental. You need willing to put in the work, handle frustration, and not give up when things get hard. Raj wanted to quit about three months in. He was exhausted, felt like he wasn’t progressing, had a rough flight where things didn’t go well. But he pushed through, and by month six it clicked.
70 Knots Aviation – Where Raj Actually Trained
Real Talk About Them
Raj trained at 70 Knots Aviation. I’m telling you about them because that’s where he went, not because they paid me or anything. You can check them out at https://70knotsaviation.com/ if you want more details.
What I Saw When I Visited
I went to visit him there one time during a break. The place wasn’t fancy or anything. It’s not like a five-star resort setup. It’s functional. The classrooms are basic – whiteboards, chairs, desks. Nothing fancy but it works.
The aircraft though, those looked solid. They were clean, maintained properly, not beat up. The simulators looked realistic. Not like video game stuff. Raj said practicing in the simulator was almost identical to actually flying, which is the whole point.
The Instructors and Staff
The people teaching were actually competent. One of his main instructors was a retired airline captain. Like, this guy had flown for 30 years for a major airline before he started teaching. He knew what he was talking about. He wasn’t just following a textbook.
But he was also strict. If Raj made a mistake, this guy would call him out. Not in a mean way, but like “No, you did that wrong, let’s do it again.” He didn’t take shortcuts or go easy on anyone. That’s actually good because you want to be trained by someone who takes it seriously.
What Happened After Raj Finished
When Raj got his license, 70 Knots Aviation actually helped him figure out the next steps. They knew which airlines were hiring. They helped with resume stuff. They gave him interview tips. That part was genuinely valuable because finishing training is one thing, but getting a job is another thing. Having someone who knows the industry help you navigate that is huge.
Where Raj Actually Works Now
The Job Situation
Raj works as a first officer for a regional airline. He’s flying actual commercial routes, carrying actual passengers, and getting paid for it. He’s not making captain money yet – that’ll come in a few years as he gains experience – but he’s doing well for himself.
I know other people who went through similar training. One guy works for a cargo airline. Another is doing charter flights. Someone else became a flight instructor. The point is, there are options. You’re not locked into one career path.
The Money
Raj’s salary as a first officer is decent. Not making six figures, but solid middle-class income. He can pay his rent, go out with friends, buy stuff he wants. As he gets more experience and eventually becomes a captain, that’ll go up significantly. Over a career, it’s a pretty good income trajectory.
Questions I Get Asked All the Time
What’s the Actual Cost?
Raj paid around 20 lakhs total for his training. Some places charge 15, some charge 25, depends on various factors. That includes ground school, flight hours, simulators, materials, exams, all of it. It’s not cheap but it’s also not unreasonable when you think about it as an investment in your career.
A lot of places offer installment plans so you don’t have to pay it all at once. That made it easier for Raj’s family to manage.
How Many Hours Will You Actually Fly?
The minimum is 200 flight hours according to Indian aviation rules. That’s the bare minimum to get your license. Some people do more if they want to be more competitive when applying for jobs. Raj did about 210 hours total.
Are There Seriously Jobs Available?
Yeah, actually yes. Raj had job offers before he even finished. Three different airlines wanted him. That’s not exaggeration, that’s what actually happened. The demand for pilots in India right now is crazy. Airlines are expanding, new routes opening up, they need people. If you’re trained and certified, you have options.
Does Your English Have to Be Perfect?
Nope, doesn’t have to be perfect. But you need to communicate clearly in aviation English. This is important because pilots from everywhere communicate in English when flying. But you don’t need to sound like a BBC announcer. Just clear, understandable communication. Every training program focuses on this.
The Bottom Line on Commercial Pilot Training in India
Honestly, watching Raj go through this whole process has made me a believer. It’s real training that actually works. He went from some guy dreaming about being a pilot to actually being a working commercial pilot. Commercial pilot training in India isn’t some scam or shortcut. It’s legitimate, challenging, and it prepares you for an actual career. If you actually want to do this and you’re willing to put in two years of hard work, it’s absolutely doable. Raj calls me from the cockpit sometimes and tells me how insane it is that he’s actually up there flying a plane full of people. That’s when I know it was all worth it.
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