Pilot Podcast Q&A Session #4 EP64

By Winged Engineer & Nilay

► Can One Become an Airline Pilot at the Age of 36 in India?
► Is ₹1.5 Crore Enough for the Air India Cadet Pilot Program?
► Is the Emirates Cadet Pilot Program Better Than Those in India?
► Is Loss of Medical Covered Under Insurance?
► How to Handle Rejections During Your Pilot Journey?
► Do Pilots Get Emergency Leave?
► How Many Pilots Apply for an Airline Interview and How Many Get Selected?
► When to Start Preparing for DGCA Exams?
► Best Way to Clear DGCA Exams on the First Attempt
► Best FTO and Cost for Cadet Pilot Program
► How to Prepare for Airline GD and PI?
► How to Start Pilot Training at the Age of 17
► Do You Need to Know Swimming to Become a Pilot?
► Can Pilots Fly Overtime to Build Hours and Earn More?
► What Are the Requirements to Work as an Airline Pilot Abroad?
► Difference Between On-Demand and Regular DGCA Exam Attempts
► Is It Advisable to Do IR Check on Single Engine Instead of Multi-Engine During Conversion?
► When Will Airlines Receive Delivery of New Aircraft?
► Will There Be Enough Opportunities for Conventional Pilots?
► Conclusion
Watch Full Podcast EP 64

Key Points

  • Age and pathway choices

    Starting at 34–36 can be viable for CPL, but airline entry in India is tight past ~35; at 34, cadet programs before the cutoff are the practical route, while FI pathways remain open at higher ages.

  • Budgeting cadet vs abroad

    ~₹1.5Cr is adequate for Indian cadet tracks; foreign schools like EFTA don’t guarantee Emirates jobs and conversion back to DGCA can be harder than India‑first cadet paths with LOI.

  • Insurance and medicals

    Permanent loss of medical is insurable; temporary grounding often carries partial pay cover via airline policies; honesty and documentation are essential during emergency leave requests.

  • Rejection mindset

    Normalize rejection by separating shame and guilt; diagnose under‑preparation vs innate ability, then fix what’s controllable—reps, chair‑flying, mock tests, and re‑attempts on a schedule.

  • DGCA prep sequencing

    Do Class‑2 first, then DGCA Computer Number; for students juggling college, clear Met and Regs early, leave Nav and TechG closer to training; RTR and GD/PI prep run in parallel.

  • Bidding, overtime, hours

    Indian airlines support bidding and premium trips depending on base and staffing; hours can be optimized but are constrained by FDTL, with safety and currency prioritized over raw hour‑chasing.

Podcast Summary

This Q&A tackles the most practical forks for aspirants: starting in the mid‑30s favors cadet pathways (before age cutoffs) or a robust flight‑instructor route, while conventional CPL‑to‑airline pipelines compress best at younger ages with tight interview preparation and current hours. Budgets around ₹1.5Cr suit Indian cadet programs that pair supervised training with LOIs; in contrast, prestigious foreign academies don’t imply overseas recruitment for fresh CPLs, and DGCA conversion can be a hurdle—India remains the best first airline cockpit for most Indian citizens. The session also demystifies medical insurance and emergency leave documentation, reframes rejection as a correctable preparation gap, and maps DGCA sequencing for students running degrees in parallel; finally, it clarifies how Indian bidding and premium trips work within FDTL and safety limits rather than overtime hour‑chasing.


Conclusion

Focus on a route that matches age, finances, and eligibility cutoffs; use Class‑2, computer number, and modular DGCA prep to keep momentum while studying or waiting on intakes; treat rejection as a training variable, not identity, and optimize rosters within FDTL for safety and steady progress toward the right airline seat at the right time.

FAQ

  • Can I start at 36 and reach an airline in India?

    CPL is feasible, but airline entry is unlikely; consider cadet before 35, or pivot to the flight‑instructor pathway where age limits are looser.​

  • Is ₹1.5Cr enough for Air India cadet?

    Yes for training and type rating; selection still depends on aptitude, psychometry, GD/PI, and medicals.​

  • Is EFTA a shortcut to Emirates?

    No; it’s a strong school but not a hiring guarantee; India‑first cadet or conventional, then apply abroad later with 3k+ hours.​

  • How to handle rejections?

    Identify preparation gaps, schedule re‑attempts, increase chair‑flying and mock testing, and detach from shame; iterate until checks and interviews pass.

  • When to start DGCA while in college?

    Get Class‑2 and Computer Number, clear Met and Regs early in breaks, then Nav and TechG nearer to training; add RTR and GD/PI prep in parallel.

  • Can pilots earn more by flying extra?

    Yes via bidding/premium trips where available, but capped by FDTL; safety and recency trump pure hour accumulation.