Career As A Transport Pilot

What's It About

A transport pilot is a flying officer in the Indian Air force (IAF) who carries cargo, arms, food supplies and people from one Air Force station to another. These pilots play a very crucial role in peace as well as war. They are the lifeline of air force logistics.

Clock Work

7.30 am: Briefing of the mission

8.30 am: Breakfast

9 am: Follow meteorological forecasts with the ATC (Air Traffic Control)

9.30 am: Check the aircraft and fulfill administrative and operational requirements of the mission

11 am: Fly for the mission

11.30 am: Follow up with colleagues on radio for a status check

Noon: Landing at the mission venue which involves dropping supplies/ arms or to carry out an operation

3 pm: Fulfil remaining post-landing formalities

5 pm: Fly back to the station

6 pm: Get ready for party at the mess

The Payoff

• During the last year of training, officers are paid around Rs 21,000 a month

• After they become commissioned officers, a flying officer draws Rs 50,000 (including flying pay and transport allowance for major cities) as gross monthly emoluments, and after he gets promoted to flight lieutenant he earns Rs 54,000

• At the rank of wing commander, he earns somewhere around Rs 87,000 which jumps to around Rs 93,000 as an air commodore. The top bosses in the IAF earn a little more than Rs 1 lakh per month

• Besides monetary compensation, pilots are also entitled to a whole lot of perks, including accommodation, insurance cover, medical facilities and loans to buy a house, car and computer

Skills

• Profound passion to fly

• Tech savvy

• Daredevilry is imperative and one must always be ready to take up new challenges

• Leadership qualities are important. These come in handy when one rises up to command a squadron.

Besides the right aptitude, you have to meet the physical criteria. For details, visit http://careerairforce.nic.in /career_opp/caropp_officer_phystd.html

How Do I Get There?

There are overall four entry points to become a pilot in the IAF: three in permanent commission and one in temporary commission. They are as follows:

National Defence Academy (NDA): It is meant for 10+2-pass candidates who have studied physics and maths in Class 12.

Combined Defence Services Exam (CDSE): It is meant for graduates who studied physics and maths at the 10+2 level.

NCC entry: It is open only for first-class graduates who studied physics and maths at the 10+2 level and who possess senior division air wing NCC ‘C' certificates.

Short Service Commission Entry: It is open for first-class graduates who studied physics and maths at 10+2 level.

Note: Women can enter through the short service commission only. The maximum age to apply is 23 in all the above categories, except in the NDA where the upper limit is 19 years

Institutes & URLs

• Transport Training Wing, Yelahanka (Bangalore)

Pros & Cons

• Good lifestyle, thanks to clubs and numerous sports facilities available at Air Force bases

• Even after joining the IAF as an officer, you might not become a pilot if you don't qualify some exams which can change the entire course of your career

You may also like to read: Career As A Transport Pilot and Life of a Pilot at Indian Air Force vs Private Airlines

 

Author: Vimal Chander Joshi (HT Horizons)

Date: 22nd January, 2011

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