How to become a pilot in India

Many students dream of becoming a pilot but unenlightened of the process, drop their passion midway and pursue another career whose boundaries are very well defined.

Qualifications to Become a Pilot

The minimum qualifications to become a pilot is scoring at least 55% aggregate marks in 10+2 in Science Stream (Physics, Chemistry and Maths) .If you are a non-science student then you can study these subjects by enrolling in a course conducted by NIOS (National Institute of Open Sciences). As mentioned above the minimum qualifications to join a flying school, after joining a flying school one has to sail through many medical and physical tests to become eligible for the post of a pilot. The main subjects to study to become a pilot are high school level science (physics and chemistry) and maths. Another question that most of the students have is:

How to become a pilot after graduation?

Well, as mentioned earlier having studied 10+2 level science is the minimum requirement to be eligible to attend any flying school, so a grad level degree on top of that (if you were a science student) won’t change the path you’d have to follow to become a pilot.

But, if you were not a science student in your school years, then you’d have to write an exam conducted by the NIOS to become eligible for the later courses that the flying schools have to offer. Now that your aircraft has taken off, let’s kick off with the guide.

Commercial Pilot or an Army Pilot?

Many people who have a zeal for flying and really adore this job, are very reluctant to join this profession in the beginning just because of the cloud of scepticism that surrounds the curriculum of the aviation course. But if one tries to look closely, the aviation course is very nicely built and structured, so that only people with the suitable mindset and character are able to pursue it. Let’s try and decrypt the aviation course curriculum and look for the fine details. Firstly, pilots can be broadly divided into two categories namely- Commercial and Army.

Commercial Pilots

Commercial pilots are the ones who fly people to different destinations on a daily basis using some specific aircraft.Commercial pilots hold the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by various authorities throughout the world.

So, how to become a commercial pilot?

To become a commercial pilot, one has to complete his/her flying training at a flying school that is certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Flying schools generally conduct an entrance examination to select the required number of candidates. Aspirants who clear this entrance exam are then scrutinized through a physical and medical exam. After which the final candidates are hand-picked. At the training school, students get in flight training as well as theoretical lectures. By the time you leave the flying school, you’d have earned sufficient flying hours, so you can apply for the Commercial Pilot License as soon as you leave the flying school and test your hands at the craft you have been mastering since ages.

Army Pilots

Army pilots are the heroes who protect our nation from any danger in the sky. They serve the Indian Air Forces and fly one the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world. Army Pilots are trained by the government and are also paid a stipend during their training. So, if you want to be a pilot but you don’t have sufficient funds for the training you can think of joining the IAF as they still make the best pilots.

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How to become a pilot in the Air Force?

The Indian Defence Forces have one of the most rigorous, competitive and highly efficient recruitment processes. They test the candidates on various grounds again and again on various levels before handing him/her over a prestigious position in the army.

There are many routes via which you can join the Indian Armed Forces.

Route 1: Clearing the NDA exam

The first opportunity that the defence forces throw at you is just after class 12.  The National Defence Academy (NDA) is tri-service academy where recruits of all the three branches train together before they join their respective service stations.

After clearing the written examination and the SSB interview, which is considered to be one of the most versatile interviews, you are eligible to train under the Air Force Training Team (AFTT).

Route 2: Clearing the CDSE

Combined Defence Services Examinations (CDSE) is for people who wish to join the Air Force after graduation. The selected candidates are trained at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.

CDSE has written exam first followed by the SSB interview. The candidates are examined and checked for various Officer Like Qualities.

Only the best and most clinical aspirants are selected for a place in the Indian Air Force.

Route 3:  AFCAT

Interested candidates can also write the Air Force Common Admission Test if they wish to join the IAF only for a stipulated period of time.

One can only serve for 14 years under this entry scheme.

The selected candidates are trained at the Air Force Academy stationed at Dundigal.

Route 4: NCC

If you were an NCC volunteer during your college or school years and have an Air Wing ‘C’ division certificate in your pocket, then you can directly for the SSB interview provided you have a grade better than or equal to ‘B’ on the Air Wing ‘C’ certificate.

All these routes also require you to attempt and pass a pilot aptitude test (formally known as the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test), you can only write this test once in your lifetime. If you are not able to clear this exam, you cannot ever apply for the position of a pilot in the Indian Air Forces.

It is important you mentally decide what sub-profession you want to choose as a pilot; do you want to be a pilot who serves the nation or a prime-time pilot who carries thousands of people every day? The decision is totally up to you but it is important to decide it beforehand so that you can easily steer your boat afterwards.

Pilot Training Timeline & Money Required

The timeline of pilot training is divided into many segments which are almost intertwined. After joining a flying school, you pursue a 3-year state of the art B. Sc in Aviation where you learn about aviation and aircraft in detail and also get to apply it then and there, in the in-flight training hours. You are tested regularly with quizzes and assignments all throughout the course. You must have at least 250 hours of flight hours, to be eligible for a commercial pilot license. You earn these 250 flight hours while you are at the flying school itself.

During your training, you can also become a part of the flying cadet program. These programs are carried out by airline companies in cooperation with an aviation school to train and hire new pilots and airline staff. Joining these flying cadet programs can ease the burden of finding an airline to work for.

After joining an airline, you need to spend another year or two as a trainee or a first officer to understand the machinery and the aircraft that particular airline uses. So, in all, it requires at least 4-5 good years of practice, commitment and hard work to get your hot seat in the cockpit as a flight captain.

How much does it cost to become a pilot?

Well, the cost incurred in becoming a pilot in India is a lethal uppercut to the pocket. It costs around 45-60 lakhs to become a pilot in India and this cost can go as high as 75 lakhs if you opt for a cadet program. The lump sum break up is 30-40 lakhs to obtain the commercial pilot license and 15-20 lakhs for the Type Rating.

 What is Type Rating?

Type Rating is the training or mentoring you get beyond the rudimentary flying school training. This training certifies that you are eligible to fly a particular aircraft.

Generally, the fees to be paid for Type Rating increases if the aircraft you want to train on is bigger and technically superior. So, the money involved is a huge speed bump on your road to becoming a pilot.

But just like big investments pay whopping dividends later, similarly if you become a flourishing pilot then the fees which appears to be gigantic now, would appear to be just a tiny yet cardinal investment in your life and education.

How to communicate with people

Good communication is about understanding instructions, acquiring new skills, making requests, asking questions and relaying information with ease. Good communication skills are perhaps the most basic skills that you can possess as an employee, yet they remain one of the most sought-after by employers.

Communication is a topic that can be hard to master. How do we communicate effectively so we can have good relationship with others, whether in the workplace or at home?

Communicating With Others: Effective Tips And Tricks

Here are 6 tips on communicating with others effectively, whether in the workplace or at home:

1. Really Listen

Most of us do more talking than listening. What is it that makes us more concerned about what we are going to say than what the other person is saying to us? Take the time to really listen to what people are saying, by their words, tone, and body language. If they know you are really listening to them, they will be more open and trust you with their real thoughts and feelings. Ask questions about what they are saying to encourage them to open up more. The more you really listen, the more they will open up, the more you really listen, the more they will open up… and the cycle goes on.

2. Come Alongside The Other Person

People don’t need friends who beat them up; they need friends who help them out. Being a friend means coming alongside the other person even if you don’t agree with them. It’s being there and showing support as they work through the problem. Don’t try to solve or judge their issues; just be there and let them know you care about and support them.

3. Don’t Give Unwanted Advice

Do you have one of those friends who love to give you advice even when you don’t ask for it? Most unwanted advice is just that – unwanted. Wait until your friend asks for advice and then give it to them. If they don’t ask for your advice, don’t give it to them. Giving unwanted advice makes you seem like a know-it-all and that doesn’t make for a good friendship or good communication. Sometimes the person just wants you to listen while you are trying to fix the issue instead. A good question to ask is “Do you want me to listen or help problem solve?”. This will give you the answer on if they want advice form you on this subject. If they say “just listen”, then do that. Close your mouth and just listen. That is the best way to be helpful at that time. If you are respectful of their needs, there might come a day when they actually ask for your advice.

4. Check Your Tone And Body Language

Body language is more telling than the actual words you say. Therefore, watch your tone and body language when you are speaking. Is your tone harsh? Does your face give away your disgust when someone else is talking? Do you smile and reassure the person who is talking? Your body language says more about your feelings and thoughts than your actual words so keep that in mind the next time you have a conversation with someone. Check your body language to ensure it is consistent with your words.

5. Be Real

The best way to communicate is by being open and honest. If you are frustrated, say “I’m frustrated”. Being able to label your feelings and work through them can help you when communicating with others. If you don’t want to talk about a subject, say “I don’t want to talk about that” to let the other person know where you stand. Being able to articulate your thought s and feelings can be a big step in getting good communication with others. Little kids are great at this as they have not learned all the social nuances of how to hid their feelings and be deceptive in their communication. We could all use a trip back to being a child when understanding how to communicate more honestly.

6. It’s Not About You

I hate to say it, but communicating isn’t all about you. Communication is a two-way street and we need to remember that the other person’s thoughts and feelings are as important as our own. I know that it hard to comprehend, but we need to have that give and take when communicating with others. To have a truly good communication, there needs to be honest going both ways and a good understanding of what is being said. Asking clarifying questions and letting the other person know you are listening are great ways to enhance communication.

Try these tips to see if they enhance your communication with your co-workers and family. You might be surprised at how simple it really is to communicate with others.

Most people think about speech when they think about communication but there are many other ways we can also use to communicate with each other.

1. Facial expressions.
2. Gestures.
3. Pointing / Using hands.
4. Writing.
5. Drawing.
6. Using equipment e.g. Text message or computer.
7. Touch.
8. Eye contact.

Communication has come a long way since Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone call in 1876. Today, because of cellular phones, your phone can go with you, which allows for constant communication in ways that Bell probably never considered in his wildest dreams.

What is Computer Science

Computer science is the study of processes that interact with data and that can be represented as data in the form of programs. It enables the use of algorithms to manipulate, store, and communicate digital information. A computer scientist studies the theory of computation and the design of software systems.

The history of computer science began long before our modern discipline of computer science, usually appearing in forms like mathematics or physics. Developments in previous centuries alluded to the discipline that we now know as computer science. This progression, from mechanical inventions and mathematical theories towards modern computer concepts and machines, led to the development of a major academic field, massive technological advancement across the Western world, and the basis of a massive worldwide trade and culture.Computer science is the study of processes that interact with data and that can be represented as data in the form of programs. It enables the use of algorithms to manipulate, store, and communicate digital information. A computer scientist studies the theory of computation and the design of software systems. Its fields can be divided into theoretical and practical disciplines. Computational complexity theory is highly abstract, while computer graphics emphasizes real-world applications. Programming language theory considers approaches to the description of computational processes, while software engineering involves the use of programming languages and complex systems. Human–computer interaction considers the challenges in making computers useful, usable, and accessible.The earliest foundations of what would become computer science predate the invention of the modern digital computer. Machines for calculating fixed numerical tasks such as the abacus have existed since antiquity, aiding in computations such as multiplication and division. Algorithms for performing computations have existed since antiquity, even before the development of sophisticated computing equipment.

Computer science is considered by some to have a much closer relationship with mathematics than many scientific disciplines, with some observers saying that computing is a mathematical science. Early computer science was strongly influenced by the work of mathematicians such as Kurt Gödel, Alan Turing, Rózsa Péter and Alonzo Church and there continues to be a useful interchange of ideas between the two fields in areas such as mathematical logic, category theory, domain theory, and algebra.The relationship between Computer Science and Software Engineering is a contentious issue, which is further muddied by disputes over what the term "Software Engineering" means, and how computer science is defined. David Parnas, taking a cue from the relationship between other engineering and science disciplines, has claimed that the principal focus of computer science is studying the properties of computation in general, while the principal focus of software engineering is the design of specific computations to achieve practical goals, making the two separate but complementary disciplines.The academic, political, and funding aspects of computer science tend to depend on whether a department formed with a mathematical emphasis or with an engineering emphasis. Computer science departments with a mathematics emphasis and with a numerical orientation consider alignment with computational science. Both types of departments tend to make efforts to bridge the field educationally if not across all research.

A number of computer scientists have argued for the distinction of three separate paradigms in computer science. Peter Wegner argued that those paradigms are science, technology, and mathematics.Peter Denning's working group argued that they are theory, abstraction (modeling), and design. Amnon H. Eden described them as the "rationalist paradigm" (which treats computer science as a branch of mathematics, which is prevalent in theoretical computer science, and mainly employs deductive reasoning), the "technocratic paradigm" (which might be found in engineering approaches, most prominently in software engineering), and the "scientific paradigm" (which approaches computer-related artifacts from the empirical perspective of natural sciences, identifiable in some branches of artificial intelligence). Computer science focuses on methods involved in design, specification, programming, verification, implementation and testing of human-made computing systems.

Computer Science is mathematical and abstract in spirit, but it derives its motivation from the practical and everyday computation. Its aim is to understand the nature of computation and, as a consequence of this understanding, provide more efficient methodologies. All studies related to mathematical, logic and formal concepts and methods could be considered as theoretical computer science, provided that the motivation is clearly drawn from the field of computing.

The fundamental question underlying computer science is, "What can be (efficiently) automated?" Theory of computation is focused on answering fundamental questions about what can be computed and what amount of resources are required to perform those computations. In an effort to answer the first question, computability theory examines which computational problems are solvable on various theoretical models of computation. The second question is addressed by computational complexity theory, which studies the time and space costs associated with different approaches to solving a multitude of computational problems.

Information theory is related to the quantification of information. This was developed by Claude Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and communicating data.^[53] Coding theory is the study of the properties of codes (systems for converting information from one form to another) and their fitness for a specific application. Codes are used for data compression, cryptography, error detection and correction, and more recently also for network coding. Codes are studied for the purpose of designing efficient and reliable data transmission methods.

Programming language theory is a branch of computer science that deals with the design, implementation, analysis, characterization, and classification of programming languages and their individual features. It falls within the discipline of computer science, both depending on and affecting mathematics, software engineering, and linguistics. It is an active research area, with numerous dedicated academic journals.

The Importance of Breathing

Every system in the body relies on oxygen. From cognition to digestion, effective breathing can not only provide you with a greater sense of mental clarity, it can also help you sleep better, digest food more efficiently, improve your body's immune response, and reduce stress levels.

It is not called “The Breath of Life” for nothing. One of the most basic functions of the human body, breathing not only fuels the body with oxygen, it can also clear a foggy mind and help strengthen the muscles. Yet few people learn how to breathe in a way that allows the body to function the way it should.

Before you can understand proper breathing techniques, it is important to know a little about how your body breathes. When you breathe in, or inhale, the muscle on the bottom of your ribcage, called your diaphragm, contracts and moves downward. This allows the lungs to have ample room to expand. The muscles between your ribs, called the intercostal muscles, contract to pull your ribcage upward and outward. As your lungs expand, air is sucked in through your nose and mouth and travels down your trachea to your lungs. After passing through your bronchial tubes, the air finally reaches the air sacs where oxygen is passed into the blood stream. At the same time, carbon dioxide travels into the air sacs from the blood stream and is expelled from the body as you exhale. On average, this process is repeated between 17,000-30,000 a day, every day, as long as a person is alive.

Deep breathing sends a message to your brain that has a calming effect. It can lower your heart rate and breathing rate, decrease your blood pressure, reduce muscle tension and help you feel less stressed overall – all essential for your health and well-being.

Since the are so many systems at play with each and every  breath, it is important to allow all of these coordinating processes to work they way they should.

• This begins, first and foremost, with great posture. Sitting up straight allows the lungs to expand quickly and efficiently with every breath. Likewise, sitting up straight helps air to travel into the lungs and carbon dioxide to travel out of the lungs unimpeded. If you are sitting at your desk and feel foggy or otherwise uninspired, take a moment to reposition your body with a straight back to notice an immediate improvement at how well oxygen is reaching your bloodstream and thereby your brain.
• While many people focus on completely inhaling in order to improve their breathing, most people only exhale 70 percent of the carbon dioxide in their lungs. Try, instead to push all of the air out of your lungs as though you are blowing bubbles. Not only will your body reward you with instant energy, you will notice how much more efficient you are in filling your lungs.

There are two main types of breathing : costal (meaning “of the ribs”) or chest breathing, and diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing. Only when we take a maximum breath is a third variety used, known as clavicular breathing. This type of breathing is characterised by an outward, upward movement of the chest wall.

We get oxygen by breathing in fresh air, and we remove carbon dioxide from the body by breathing out stale air. But how does the breathing mechanism work? Air flows in via our mouth or nose. The air then follows the windpipe, which splits first into two bronchi: one for each lung.

Here's how to do it: Sit up tall, and relax your shoulders. Keep your mouth closed and inhale rapidly through your nose with quick, short breaths (exhale quickly as well). Try doing that for about 10 seconds. Take a 15-30 second break and breathe normally. Repeat several times.