How to Become a Pilot in the Indian Army?

Become a Pilot in the Indian Army, without PCM in 12th Class

If you ask a child in India, what do you want to become? There is a 90% chance that he will say “I want to become a pilot”. Even most of us wanted to become a pilot in our childhood because flying airplanes used to fascinate all of us. But, everyone is aware of how tough it is to become a pilot. But, there are some passionate people who want to become a pilot at all costs. Most people think that you can become a pilot in the Indian Air Force only. But to your surprise, you can become a pilot in the Indian Army also that too without having PCM as your subject in your 12th Class. There is a separate operational arm called Army Aviation Corps.

 

In this article, we are going to tell you everything about the Indian Army’s Army Aviation Corps and How you can become a pilot in the Indian Army. We will tell you about the detailed procedure, eligibility, and benefits of joining the Indian Army Aviation Corps.

 

Army Aviation Corps

Army Aviation Corps is an operational arm of the Indian Army. It is responsible for providing air support to the Indian Army during combat operations, as well as carrying out various other aviation-related tasks. The AAC was officially formed on 1 November 1986, although its roots can be traced back to the establishment of the Army Aviation Wing in 1984. the motto Suveg and Sudridh (Swift and Sure).

 

Indian Army Aviation Corps is the only Army Unit in the World that operates on the highest battlefield i.e. Siachen Glacier. The corps operates a wide range of helicopters for various purposes, including reconnaissance, troop transport, casualty evacuation, and close air support. Indian Army Aviation Corps currently operates HAL Prachand (Attack Helicopter), HAL Dhruv, HAL Chetak, HAL Cheetah, HAL Rudra, and Army Aviation Corps is soon going to receive AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter.

 

HAL Prachanda

                     

 

HAL Rudra

 

Recently, the Indian Army has decided to allow female officers to become pilots in the Indian Army. Captain Abhilasha Barak became the first female army Aviator of the Indian Army.

 

How can you join the Indian Army Aviation Corps?

There are two ways to join the Indian Army Aviation Corps as a Pilot. The first way to become a pilot in the Army Aviation Corps is to give the first preference to the Army Aviation Corps before commissioning. Another way of joining the Indian Army Aviation Corps is to volunteer for the Army Aviation Corps. Indian Army Aviation Corps releases vacancies from time to time and all officers of the Indian Army can join after fulfilling the required criteria and passing CPSS Test.

 

There are two ways of joining the Indian Army Aviation Corps

Ways of joining the Indian Army Aviation Corps
Pre-Commissioning	Post-Commissioning
You can join Army Aviation Corps as a Pilot before your commissioning in IMA or OTA. Before commissioning, the Indian Army asks for your preferences for regiment/unit. To join the Indian Army Aviation Corps as a Pilot, you need to keep the Army Aviation Corps as your first preference. There are limited vacancies in the Army Aviation Corps for Pilots and there will be many cadets just like you who would like to become pilots in the Indian Army. So, you need to get good merit during your training at OTA or IMA. You need to excel in drills, games, and service subjects to get good merit. Passing CPSS (Computerized Pilot Selection System), to become a pilot in all three armed forces be it Airforce, Navy, or Army.	You can join the Indian Army Aviation Corps after joining the Indian Army as an officer. Indian Army Aviation Corps releases vacancies for officers of the Indian Army. Officers can volunteer to join the Indian Army Aviation Corps after getting permission from their commanding officer. Officers must fulfill physical criteria to join the Indian Army Aviation Corps. Officers must pass the CPSS Test also to become a pilot in the Army Aviation Corps.
Educational Qualification
Unlike the Indian Navy or Indian Air Force, It is not mandatory to pass Physics, Chemistry, and Maths in 12th Class to become a Pilot in the Indian Army. There are no criteria of a minimum percentage also in joining Indian Army Aviation Corps.	Sane applies on post-commissioning joining also, It is not mandatory to be passed with Physics, Chemistry, and Maths in 12th Class to become a Pilot in Indian Army. There is no criteria of a minimum percentage also in joining Indian Army Aviation Corps.
Physical Criteria
All physical criteria to become a Pilot in the Airforce and Navy applies in the Army also.	All physical criteria to become a Pilot in the Airforce and Navy applies in the Army also.

 

Perks of Joining Indian Army Aviation Corps?

Pilots of the Army Aviation Corps are entitled to get 25,000 /- as a flying allowance. Pilots of the Army Aviation Corps are posted in some of the most critical places, so you will gain operational experience also by becoming a pilot in the Indian Army Aviation Corps. Pilots of the Indian Army Aviation Corps are deployed in carrying VVIPs from one place to another in forward areas. So, you will be meeting with VVIPs like Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Chief Air Staff. Indian Army is soon going to receive Apache and HAL Prachand Attack Helicopters also. It means you can become a fighter pilot also in the Indian Army Aviation Corps.

 

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