Introduction to the Pilot Podcast

➤ Flight Diversions
➤ Captain Neha’s Journey to the Cockpit
➤ What to Do After Getting Your CPL (Commercial Pilot License)
➤ Aircraft Delivery Delays Explained
➤ What Aspiring Pilots Should Do While Waiting for Cadet Pilot Programs to Open
➤ DGCA Medical Update for Pilots
➤ Cadet vs Conventional Path: Which is the Fastest Way to Get a CPL?
➤ Is Becoming a Flight Instructor a Good Career Move?
➤ The Hard Work Involved in Pilot Training
➤ Conclusion
Watch Full Podcast EP 70

Key Points

  • Post‑CPL strategy in slow markets

    Stay inside aviation through FI, ground instructor, airline ground staff, or cabin crew roles to preserve recency, networks, and access to internal pilot vacancies rather than drifting into unrelated jobs that get harder to leave.

  • Flight instructor track advantages

    FI roles pay while building PIC hours toward 1,500 for ATPL, reinforce procedures daily, and often improve hand‑flying; some schools bond or co‑sponsor patter/type rating, and airlines may sponsor type ratings for experienced, ATPL‑ready candidates.

  • Cadet vs conventional timing


    Cadet pipelines slow when aircraft deliveries slip; use pauses to complete Class‑2, initial Class‑1, Computer Number, DGCA papers (3 abroad/5 India), and RTR, so applications launch immediately when intakes reopen.

  • DGCA medical process explained

    After Class‑2 CA‑35, you can apply for initial Class‑1 without waiting for assessment; initial still needs DGCA assessment, with subsequent civil renewals valid on CA‑35 per the cadence outlined, shortening overall timelines to “airline‑ready” status.

  • Diversion case study and line reality

    Real diversion narrative covers holds, fuel gates (e.g., “10 minutes to divert”), runway closure, alternate selection, FDTL, and passenger briefings—showing safety primacy over schedule and the communication standard expected on line ops.​

  • Consistency beats detours


    The hosts stress focusing on one pathway and compounding small daily gains—study rhythm, currency, and relevant jobs—rather than scattering effort across multiple non‑aviation opportunities that stall cockpit goals.

Podcast Summary

This episode lays out a tactical plan for the gap between CPL and airline hiring: avoid non‑aviation detours that create inertia, and instead take roles that keep you in the ecosystem—flight instruction, ground teaching, airline ground staff, or cabin crew—so your knowledge, references, and internal vacancy access grow while you wait for intakes. The FI route is highlighted as the most compounding: paid flying, PIC time toward ATPL thresholds, constant practice of checklists and maneuvers, and exposure that has, in some cycles, led to sponsored patter and type ratings; meanwhile, cadet intakes often reflect delivery schedules, so a smart six‑month plan is to wrap Class‑2, initial Class‑1, Computer Number, DGCA papers, and RTR to be deploy‑ready the moment windows open. A detailed DGCA medical walkthrough clarifies how Class‑2 feeds faster into initial Class‑1 and how renewals work at civil centers, cutting administrative delays; the diversion story grounds all of this in airline reality, showing how holds, fuel minima, runway closures, alternates, FDTL, and proactive passenger comms converge under the single rule that safety outranks schedule every time.


Conclusion


If hiring pauses after your CPL, treat time as equity: invest it only in steps that compound toward the right seat—FI hours, DGCA/RTR/medical completions, and airline‑adjacent roles that keep you visible and current—while resisting comfort in unrelated jobs that erode momentum. The candidates who keep a weekly study routine, finish paperwork early, and stay in cockpits or ops desks transition fastest once cadet or FO gates open, and they arrive better prepared for type rating intensity, diversions, and line checks where judgment, communication, and procedure discipline are the daily standard.

FAQ

  • What’s the smartest job right after CPL?

    Flight instructor is the highest‑leverage option: paid flying, PIC time toward ATPL, constant practice, and potential pathways to sponsored patter/type ratings in some cycles.

  • Should I wait for cadet programs to reopen?

    Don’t wait idle—finish DGCA papers, RTR, and medicals, and prepare documents so you can apply the day intakes reopen; use the lull to raise competitiveness.

  • How does the updated Class‑1 flow help me?

    After Class‑2 CA‑35, apply for initial Class‑1 directly; initial needs DGCA assessment, while subsequent civil renewals can ride CA‑35 on the episode’s cadence, reducing downtime.

  • Why is staying in aviation roles so important?

    It preserves currency, builds networks, unlocks internal pilot postings, and avoids the inertia that develops with promotions/pay in unrelated jobs.

  • What did the diversion story teach?

    Fuel gates, alternates, FDTL, and clear PA updates all converge under safety primacy; delays are acceptable, compromises on safety are not.

  • Is there still opportunity despite delivery delays?

    Yes; grounded fleets are returning with engine fixes, new deliveries continue (though slower), and readiness now positions you for the next intake cycle.