Commercial pilots are those who can fly and get paid for it. One has to acquire a commercial pilot license for the same which is validated in their country. In America the certification to various pilots is as per their qualification to fly at a specific privilege level, and in one or more specific categories of aircraft. Examples of privilege level are:
(i)Student: a pilot who is being trained by an instructor for their first full certificate, and is permitted to fly alone (solo) under specific, limited circumstances.
(ii)Sport pilot: used for Light-sport Aircraft, a category that was created in 2004. These aircraft are larger and faster than ultra-lights, and carry more fuel, and often two occupants.
(iii)Recreational: a pilot who is restricted to flying short distances.
(iv)Private: a pilot who flies for pleasure or personal business without accepting compensation for flying except in some very limited, specific circumstances.
(v)Commercial: a pilot that can, with some restrictions, fly for remuneration.
(vi)Airline Transport: a pilot that can be pilot-in-command for a scheduled airline
A career in aviation attracts many young men and women as it provides an opportunity to travel around the globe. The thrills of flying and adventure have pulled many to this profession. However the job of a commercial pilot makes him responsible for the aircraft he flies and the lives of his fellow passengers. The job of a commercial pilot is a specialized job which requires knowledge of air navigation, interpretation of meteorological reports, operations of sophisticated electronic and mechanical controls, as well as flying under adverse weather conditions.
In India there are a number of institutes under the recognition of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation which conducts training in this field. Most prominent among them is Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Academy at Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh). Other major training centers are flying clubs at Mumbai and Delhi.
Eligibility: To become a commercial pilot in India, one has to first possess a Student Pilot License (SPL). To get the SPL those with 10+2 with science and aged at least 16 years should register at a flying club which is recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India. These days attaining CPL (Commercial Pilot License) abroad and thereafter converting it into approval in India is also being done. The training is costly-upto 15-20 lakes.
Job prospects and Career options: Attractive salaries around 2lakhs pm help in overcoming the training cost. With the privatization, lots of avenues have opened for CPL holders. They can find employment opportunities
in both government (Indian Airlines, Air India) as well as private domestic and international (Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Go, Air-Sahara etc.) airlines.