Part I -- How I became a pilot
My hunt for a job as a pilot started in earnest in the year 2002, after having obtained my Commercial Pilot License (CPL). To say that back then, procuring a place for yourself in an airline was difficult, is an understatement. I applied in all the airlines as and when possible, but tried to keep myself grounded in reality as well -- I kept myself busy in the meanwhile with a job in a call centre.
Then in 2003, Jet Airways summoned me to appear for a written exam -- approximately 460 pilots were appearing for it. There were thousands of jobless pilots back then, some with valid licenses, others having crossed the age threshold. I knew it was now or never. Burning the midnight oil and studying as if there was no tomorrow, I prepared for the entrance exam, and appeared for it in Bangalore. I passed with flying colours, but it didn't end there -- I had to take a simulator test (this time it was a real simulator, not the gaming kind, of course!), and appeared for a personal interview. On being selected, Jet Airways initially made me an offer to fly the ATR turboprop aircraft, but then the company revised my offer to join their Boeing fleet. This was the icing on my cake!
To train on Boeing aircraft and receive a Boeing 737 NG endorsement, I had to pay fees of Rs 15,00,000 upfront to the airline, which later refunded Rs 7,50,000 in installments to all its trainee pilots, once we received our endorsements and were inducted into the fleet as Line First Officers. Today, after logging over 1900 hours flying this type of aircraft, I have been upgraded to the Boeing 777-300 ER fleet, to fly on Jet Airways' international routes.
Career growth prospects
The learning and studying process is continuous in this choice of career. It never ends. Typically, once you get a job in an airline, you start off as a Trainee Pilot on the lowest category of aircraft in the company's fleet. If you successfully complete your training, you move on to become First Officer on Probation, for a period of six months at a minimum. Then you become a Junior Line First Officer, and after a couple of years, a Senior Line First Officer. If the company you work for considers you fit for it, you may be considered for upgradation onto a wide-body/bigger aircraft as a First Officer, directly after passing your endorsement training on it.
Next you take the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) exam. An ATPL is the highest internationally recognised commercial flying license a pilot can get, provided you have logged a minimum of 1500 hrs of flying experience. After you recieve this license, you are eligible to become Commander. The next promotion is that of Senior Commander. Then you can qualify as a Check Pilot, further as an Instructor, and finally as an Examiner. The timeframe between all of these promotions and upgrades is changeable, depending upon airline regulations and the vacancies available.
To come all this way career-wise, it would take an ambitious pilot nearly 15 years, depending upon vacancies, the drive to excel, and qualifying factors for all the positions, determined through rigorous tests. Each time you upgrade to a new aircraft, or aspire to become Commander, a Flight Instructor, or an Examiner, there are exams to clear. Every six months there are different flight and simulator checks taken to measure your proficiency, besides a periodical medical exam that validates your flying license -- being physically fit is also of prime importance.
Salary structure
Depending upon which airline you work for, and which aircraft you operate, the salary structure for pilots differs. I have, however, provided approximate salary structures below, depending upon a pilot's seniority (tax cuts have not been accounted for):
Trainee Pilot: Rs 15,000 to 25,000.
Junior First Officer: Rs 80,000 to 1,00,000.
First Officer: Rs 1,20,000 to 1,50,000
Senior First Officer: Rs 1,80,000 to 2,20,000
Commander: Rs 2,50,000 to 3,00,000
Senior Commander: Rs 4,00,000 to 5,00,000
Training Instructors and Training Examiners: Rs 5,00,000 upwards
Pros and cons of a career as a pilot
Many consider a career in aviation, especially that of a pilot, to be a dream job. It is a dream job for me, because it's all I've ever wanted to be since I was a child, but what many fail to understand is that at the end of the day, it is very hard work. I even struggled through my training, because the industry was in the worst slump it's ever seen, and training expenses were sky high.
While it is still expensive to train as a pilot, it is far easier for today's youngsters to do so. This is primarily because the aviation industry is now booming, new airlines are sprouting by the dozen, and there is an acute need for pilots. This in turn has opened up avenues of finance to aspiring aviators.
And yes, it is a glamorous job -- you get a great pay package, you get to travel the world, you stay in the best of hotels, and your family gets free air tickets. When you're in uniform, you command respect. But -- and many starry-eyed youngsters seem to overlook this part -- everything comes at a price. Your family life is disturbed when you're constantly flying away from home. The odd hours can take a toll on your health and raise your stress levels, as does jet lag, when you're crossing timezones four times a week. And most importantly, the lives of hundreds of other people is your responsibility, from the moment you step into that cockpit, to the time you step out.
So you see, to become an aviator you need focus, a lot of hard work, discipline, guts, determination against all odds, tons of patience, and a passion for what you do. Yes, the ultimate rewards are worth it, but any individual whose sole motivation is money or glamour should simply give up on the idea of becoming an airline pilot.
