In this post, you would understand everything about obtaining a Private Pilot Licence from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA-INDIA). As a Private Pilot’s Licence holder, you would be able to fly an aircraft as a Pilot or as a Co-pilot of any aircraft on which you are endorsed to fly in your licence.
Use of Private Pilot Licence
You may carry passengers in your personal capacity and not for hire or remuneration. That means to say , you cannot be employed by an airline or other operators. However, you carry your friends or relatives as passengers in your aircraft.
If you intend to carry your passengers at night, you should have a valid night rating. In addition, you should have flown at least five take-off and five landings as a pilot by night within the last six months. If Visual Met Conditions (VMC) does not exist, you cannot undertake flight under Instrument Met Conditions (IMC) without a valid Instrument Rating.
Eligibility Conditions
Now let us understand the requirements for issue of a Private Pilot’s Licence. You should be more than seventeen years of age on the date of submitting your application. The minimum educational qualification is a Class Ten or Equivalent Examination from a recognised School Education Board.
Medical Fitness
A DGCA approved medical practitioner must certify your medical fitness on the basis of medical tests and by physical examination. The medical requirements are stipulated under Rule 39B by the Director General.
Ground Training
Thereafter, you should clear the written examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Frames and Engines. If you already have a valid PPL, CPL or ATPL for Helicopters, you need to pass just the examination in Aircraft and Engines only.
Flight Training
Flying training requirement for obtaining a Private Pilot’s Licence in an aeroplane is a minimum of forty hours of flight. The flying hours should comprise of at least twenty hours of solo flight time. You must have at least five hours of cross-country flight time. This requirement includes a flight of at least one hundred and fifty nautical miles with full stop landings at two different aerodromes. Your solo flight times must not be less than ten hours in the previous twelve months before the date of application for the issue of licence.
Fifty percent of solo flying experience on microlight aircraft acquired during the preceding twenty four months from the date of application, subject to a maximum of ten hours, may be credited towards the total experience required for the issue of the licence. Fifty percent of solo gliding experience shall count towards total flying experience requirement, subject to a maximum of ten hours towards total flight time.
Your flying test would include your ability to perform as a Pilot-in command on the type of aeroplane. These tests should be have been done within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application.
Renewal of Licence
Private Pilot Licence shall be valid for a period as specified in Rule 39C. The licence may be renewed by undergoing review a medical examination and completion of five hours of flight time as Pilot of an aeroplane within a period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of application.
Rating of Private Pilot Licence
Your PPL licence would indicate the class and the types of aeroplanes you is entitled to fly. An open rating means you are entitled to fly all single piston engine aeroplanes with an all-up weight of less than one thousand five hundred Kilograms. Open rating may be granted if you have completed not less than two hundred and fifty hours as Pilot-in-command in at least four different types of aeroplanes. However, you may exercise your open rating only after undergoing ground and flight familiarisation with a Flight Instructor or Examiner for the type of aircraft,
Night Rating entitles you to carry passengers at night.To get a night rating, you must fly at least fifty hours as Pilot-in- command which includes at least five hours by night. These hours should comprise of at least five take-off and five landings carried out within the preceding six months of the date of application. You must have flown a dual cross-country flight by night of at least one hundred nautical miles.
In addition to the above, you must have completed not less than five hours of dual instructions in instrument flying which may include not more than two and a half hours on an approved synthetic flight trainer. Instrument rating entitles you to fly under the Instrument Flight Rules.
For extension of Aircraft Rating to include an additional type of aeroplane, you should clear the written examination in Aircraft and Engines for the new aircraft. You must also have adequate dual instructions and solo flying to gain competency on the type of aircraft. In addition, you should undergo these flight tests within a period of six months immediately preceding date of application for the extension of Aircraft Rating.
I hope you have understood the broad requirements for obtaining a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA-INDIA).