Commercial Pilot: India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly and with it the number of youth dreaming of becoming commercial pilots is also increasing. Figures released in the Rajya Sabha by the Civil Aviation Ministry show that the participation of women commercial pilots is continuously increasing in the country. Out of every four commercial pilot licenses issued till June 30, 2026, almost one license was given to a female candidate. In such a situation, many other students also want to become commercial pilots, but there is often confusion among them regarding the studies related to it. In such a situation, let us tell you today what qualification is required to become a commercial pilot, how is the training done and how much is the starting salary.

Every fourth commercial pilot in India is a woman

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a total of 1331 commercial pilot licenses were issued till June 30, 2026. Of these, 348 licenses were given to women, i.e. the total share was 26.14 percent. Whereas in 2021, 862 CPLs were issued, out of which 166 women got licenses. India is among the leading countries in the world in terms of share of women pilots.

Candidates taking training from India and abroad

The government said that in the licenses issued this year, 791 candidates took training from the Flying Training Organization of India, while 540 candidates completed their training abroad. That means, about 41 percent of licensed pilots received training from foreign institutions. At present, 41 flying training institutes approved by DGCA are operating at 63 testing centers in the country. More than 400 training aircraft are available with these institutions.

Qualification to become a commercial pilot

To become a commercial pilot, a candidate must have passed 12th with Physics and Maths subjects. After this, one has to complete the training by taking admission in a flying school recognized by DGCA. If a student has not studied Physics or Maths in 12th, then he can also get eligibility by passing the examination of these subjects through a recognized open schooling medium. Apart from this, the minimum age of the candidate should be 17 years, whereas to obtain a commercial pilot license, it is necessary to be 18 years old. Before starting training, one has to pass the medical fitness test of DGCA.

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How to get Commercial Pilot License?

To become a commercial pilot, first of all one has to apply for DGCA computer number. After this, during ground training, air regulation, air navigation, aviation meteorology and other subjects are studied. Flight training has to be completed after securing the prescribed marks in the written examination of DGCA. A minimum of 200 hours of flying training is mandatory for CPL. This includes training in solo flying, cross country flying, night flying, instrument flying and multi-engine aircraft. After completing all the steps and passing the skill test, DGCA issues the Commercial Pilot License.

How much salary do you get?

After getting the license, initially the candidate gets appointment as a training pilot or first officer. During this period, a package ranging from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 25 lakh is available annually. With increasing experience, this salary can reach Rs 25 to 50 lakh per year. After becoming captain, the annual package in many airlines can be Rs 1 crore or more. Senior pilots working in international airlines earn even more.

Apart from salary, you get these benefits

Apart from salary, commercial pilots also get travel allowance, hotel accommodation, foreign layover, free air tickets and other allowances. However, the cost of pilot training is also quite high. CPL training in India can usually cost between Rs 40 to 80 lakh, whereas if training is taken from abroad, this cost can go up to more than Rs 1 crore.

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