Hello,
Here are some insights

• In India the cost of CPL training is between 25 to 40 lakh. In US also it costs around 30 to 40 lakh all included.
• For Airline Job, you have to further do a type rating which costs an additional 16-24 lakh. ( I did TR after getting the job, but i had to pay for it)
• So, yeah it is expensive. Job opportunities come up with time but are very limited and highly competitive. There are about 200300 airline openings for freshers a year in India and there are already 6000+ CPL holders with around 500+ Type rated guys who are in the race. And every year about 1000 CPL licences are being issued who join the race for an airline job. The starting salary varies from 1 lakh to 2.5 lakh per month in airlines and captains command a salary of 6-8 lakhs a month.
• Indigo being the largest by market share hired 800 Cpl holders from Jan 2015 - Jan 2018. Each written exam is attempted by 5000 Cpl holders, out of which 400500 are shortlisted for interviews. Finally only about 200300 will get past the interview and have a joining letter on their hands. This entire selection process from written exam to final joining can easily drag on from 1year to 2years on average!
• But, getting that opportunity takes time, a lot of patience and a bit of luck. Depending upon the market ups and downs there were years where each airline conducted multiple entrances in one year or none in multiple years. Its impossible to predict these and its better to be prepared for a wait than to gamble away by taking a loan.
• Even if you do all the right things, you might still have to bear brutal consequences because of the market dynamics at play (airline industrys ups and downs ).. For example, jet airways conducted an exam for all CPL holders in 2011 feb, then group discussions and interviews in 2013 . There was no communication to successfull candidates even for 2years after that (had to stop fleet expansion because of losses). They finally were inducted in 2016!
• These are beyond anyone's control and waiting for an airline job even after years of clearing the entrance exam exacts a heavy toll financially.. The banks don't have that much patience and you have to start to repay those high EMI's. I have seen people who have taken mortgage on their house for CPL and couldnt start repaying. The bank put up the house for auction after 2years of non payment of EMI.
• Corporates hire only experienced people or those with military flying background. Regional aviation is still in its nascent stages in India.
• That leaves flying clubs, where the starting salaries can be abysmally low. Ground instructors being paid 5000per month.
• For becoming a flying instructor, you have to do additional training after CPL which costs additional time (6-9months) and money -12lakhs+ . Even after which flying clubs offer a salary starting at only 25000 - 35000 per month. It is all demand and supply in the market, leading to these low wages.
• Another option would be to join the indigo cadet pilot program. You have a selection process after which selected cadets get a job contract with indigo. An airline job assurance before you even start flying. But, it is expensive at 4050lakhs for CPL and 30 lakhs for Type rating. The indigo international cadet program costs over 1 crore now.
• If money is an issue, then pursue Bachelors with maths and physics and you can then attempt to join the indian coast guard or the Indian airforce where you get to fly at govt expense. After completing 20yrs in the service forces, many come out and are now flying with the airlines.

My advice.. Before doing CPL, be financially prepared for the eventuality of a few years wait for an airline job because you never know when the airlines can start going into losses again and freeze hiring. But, with time and effort you can definitely make it to an airline
I hope this would help you. For further queries please feel free to write me down in the comment box.

Amity Law School, Gwalior

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