Why are there so many unemployed pilots in India? What is the probability of staying unemployed after completing a CPL?

That's true, even I was one of them. It is challenging to get a job as a pilot. But those who remain in good touch with their books are always the lucky once to get a job. Your fleet wise preparation also matters. Nowadays airlines have started looking for candidates who are already type rated on airliners. You need to decide wisely about which aircraft to opt for Airbus 320 or Boeing 737 or ATR or Q400. They are the most common aircraft that dominate Indian skies. The aviation industry is growing at a very fast pace in India. Almost all the airlines have ordered airplanes and are planning to expand big time. So, prospects are good provided you keep yourself updated. Updated in terms of Instrument Ratings, English Language Proficiency, Medicals and Ratings. Patience might be tested to its limit but trust me the rewards are wonderful once you achieve your target position.

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Hello, You stated rightly that despite the Aviation sectors in India is at the rising stage, still there are many people who have obtained their pilot degree and unfortunately didn't get the job. Following may be the reasons: (#) Understand this from the economic point of view. The rate at which the number of airlines are increasing (or the rate at which the aviation sector is ascending) is much slower and shorter than the rate at which the academy are producing pilots. Hence, extra pilots were unemployed. (#) Pilot’s students generally think that after obtaining CPL license, the work is done. But, it’s not true. Real job start afterwards. Different airlines industries have different set of criteria. If you don't fit according to them, you may fail. Hence, pilots may get unemployed. (#) We cannot fully blame of the government policies, but yes it’s true that Government of India is spending a relative less budget on Aerospace and Aviation sectors, but Academies are consistently producing pilot. Hence, extra pilots may remain unemployed.

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Hello, Unemployed pilots with Commercial Pilot's Liscence? Are we wearing correctly? But yes, every profession has it's ups and downs. In the market, it is simply a question of demand and supply. The cycle gets repeated in almost every sphere of human activity. Pilots not available - more flying schools -more pilots -employability -flying schools close - less pilots -flying schools again. However, presently in India, more than 500 foreign pilots are working. So Indians can definitely replace these up to these numbers. Then keeping in view, almost 15% growth in passenger traffic, almost all airlines have placed orders for many aero planes. Each aero plane require three sets of crew for optimal utilization. Hence, at least in near foreseeable future it looks that shortage would continue and there will be no unemployment.

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Like any other industry, the Aviation sector as well is very tough and challenging. There used to be a time where one could become a pilot for as low as 8 lakh INR., and get a job straight out of flying school. But, in the late 2000s, the aviation sector in India was on a boom and the number of aspirants joining flying schools in India and abroad quadrupled. There was an influx of several consulting services and agents who would scout for students to send to flying schools and they would only show them the bright side of the airline industry and how one would get an job as soon as they are out of flying school. Along with this, the new Private airlines that were emerging in India started poaching for experienced pilots from other existing airlines in the country. When an Airline selects a candidate for a job as a first officer, they spend lakhs of rupees and months to train them with their SOPs. But, when their employees are poached, they have to find new pilots and train them all over again. Due to all this poaching, many airlines decided to stop getting the pilots trained on their expense and started looking for pilots who could self-sponsor their type rating. As a result, many of the pilots who already were undergoing training for CPL in flying schools were in a fix as they already had taken loans for their flying course and now they would again have to shell out more for the type rating. There were many such pilots between 2008-2012 who could not get a job with an airline as they could not afford it. Also, many private airlines in India are now having their own Cadet Pilot programmes as a result of which the speed of hiring has slowed down a bit. Nowadays, newer candidates going for an aviation career are aware of the total expenses and usually are ready to spend upwards of 55 lakh INR. for their flying course. So, as long as a pilot is close to his books and well off financially, he/she would eventually get a job as the Indian Aviation sector is bound to grow tenfold in the coming decade.

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Every industry goes through phases involving sudden & rapid expansions followed by temporary periods of recession or comparative inactivity. The Aviation industry is passing through one such phase where all the pilots who earlier completed their flying training are finding it difficult to get a job. But, better times are forecasted as India has been projected as one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world.

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