How to Become a Pilot in Indian Air Force

How to become a pilot in Indian Air Force: To become a Pilot in the Indian Air Force, candidates should be an Indian by nationality. Here, in this article we are going to discuss How to become a pilot in Indian Air Force. 

To become a pilot in the Indian Air Force, the applicant must either be appearing or have passed 12th with Physics and Mathematics to appear for NDA exam.

How to join in Indian Air Force as a Pilot

To become a pilot in the Indian Air Force, it is necessary to be admitted to the flying branch. Air Force Flying Branch has the opportunity to serve the country as a fighter pilot helicopter pilot or transport pilot.

The 12th class pass can appear in the NDA exam of UPSC, which gives entry in the flying branch of the Air Force.

Indian Air Force Pilot Recruitment process

Recruitment procedures are conducted from time to time according to the different qualifications for entry to the Air Force Flying Branch. 

These are recruitment processes - entry as a graduate and National Defense Academy (NDA) entry. Where the Flying Branch through the Combined Defense Services Examination (CDSE), National Cadet Corps (NCC) entry and Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT or Fcat) is conducted twice every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at the undergraduate level.  

Whereas, at the Senior Secondary / Higher Secondary / Intermediate level, admission is given by UPSC only through the National Defense Academy (NDA) examination conducted twice a year. 

Let us know the qualification and selection process required for both these levels of entry.

How to become a pilot after 12th (10+2) 

10 + 2 Passed youth with Physics and Mathematics subjects at Higher Secondary level can join UPSC's NDA Exam for getting entry in Air Force Flying Branch to become fighter pilot in Air Force.  

How to become a pilot after Graduation

Talk about graduating youth, then graduate candidates can get entry in Flying Branch through UPSC's CDS Exam, NCC Special Entry and AFCAT Exam. Advertisement is carried out twice a year by the UPSC for the CDS exam in the months of August and November. 

To appear in the CDS exam, candidates must have studied Physics and Mathematics at 10 + 2 level, as well as graduated in any discipline or passed BE / B.Tech. 

Indian Air Force pilot Age limit

The age limit for NDA examination has been fixed from 16.5 years to 19.5 years. Candidates declared successful in the UPSC NDA examination have to attend the interview round and medical conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB). Successful candidates in SSB are admitted for training in NDA Kharagwasla as per their merit and air force preference.  

After this, special training is given at the training base of the Air Force. Cadets who have successfully completed training are given a permanent commission as a flying officer in the Air Force, where they have the opportunity to work as pilots at Air Force stations.

The age of the candidates should be between 20 years to 24 years. Candidates declared successful in the CDS exam are required to undergo SSA interview and medical similar to NDA and then be admitted to the training academy as per merit and air force preference.  

After successful training, a permanent commission is given as a flying officer, where he gets an opportunity to work as a pilot at Air Force stations.

Similarly, under NCC Entry, candidates should have passed C Certificate in Air Wing of NCC with at least B grade and must have passed Bachelor's or BE / B.Tech degree in any discipline with minimum 60 per cent marks.  

The age of the candidates should be between 20 years to 24 years. The Indian Air Force advertises in the Employment News twice a year during the months of June and December for NCC entry. Selected male or female cadets from NCC entry are trained as flying officers in the Flying Branch after training.

Indian Air Force Pilot Qualification

The third option for graduates to become a flying officer in the Air Force Flying Branch is the Air Force Common Admission Test ie AFCAT.  

Short Service Commission (SACC) is given for a maximum period of 14 years in the Air Force to candidates from AFCAT entry. 

Advertisement for the AFCAT exam is released by the Air Force in the employment news in June and December. The qualification for flying branch is a Bachelor's or BE / B.Tech degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60 per cent marks. The age of the candidates should be between 20 years to 24 years.