How to join Airforce As a fighter Pilot:- Friends, do you want to make a career in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot? Are you interested in the fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force? Do you want to become a fighter pilot in the IAF? If the answers to the above questions are yes, then this article will help you in realizing your dream! Here we will tell you all the things you need to know about becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. We will give you information related to Indian Air Force such as post job details, eligibility criteria, important examinations, age limit, physical and medical standards, etc.
How to join Airforce As a fighter Pilot
Table of Contents
Let us give information about the job post of a fighter pilot. The Indian Air Force’s flying branch can divide into three sub-flying branches – fighter plane, transport aircraft, and helicopters. Therefore, if you want to become a fighter pilot, you have to focus on the branch of the fighter plane. Selection for the branch of a fighter plane as a fighter pilot done on the basis of the merit of the candidate. Till now only male officers allowed in Indian Air Force as Fighter pilots. Women officers gave the duty of flying transport aircraft.
Gender
Till now, only male officers allowed to become fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. Women flying officers (SSC Entry) usually given transport aircraft and helicopters. Hopefully, this rule can be changed in the future.
How to become fighter pilot in Airforce in IAF
To become a fighter pilot in the flying branch of the IAF, male candidates have two methods –
- NDA Entry (NDA) (12th pass with PCM subjects)
- After graduation (any 3 or 4-year graduation course or 12th class pass with PCM subjects)
Let us go through the important details about the above-mentioned entry types one by one.
NDA (10 + 2) entry Fighter pilot in Airforce
| Educational Qualification | Age limit | Examination and Date | Website |
| 10 + 2 (Science Stream) pass with Physics and Mathematics subjects | Maximum 19 years old | The NDA entrance exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year. These exams are conducted in the months of May and December. | You can apply by going to www.upsc.gov.in and www.upsconline.nic.in. |
After applying successfully, the candidates are required to pass this written test, After passing the written examination, they are called for SSB (Service Selection Board) interview.
The SSB interview process lasts for 5 days, which consists of the following steps:
- Officer Intelligence Rating Test
- Picture Perception / Discussion Test
- Psychological test
- Group test (physical and mental work)
- GD (Group discussion)
- Interview and Conference. (For more information about SSB Interview, click on the given link.
- Those who know to be selected for the flying branch have to appear for the PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test). PABT tests the ability to fly branch candidates.
- Candidates who successfully clear PABT are required to undergo physical and medical tests.
Medical Standards (for Flying Branch)
- For flying branch recruitment, some important tests and tests are done under medical standards, which are as follows –
- Spinal position
- Vision (Requirements of vision): – 6/6 (for right eyes) and 6/9 (for Unfit / bed eyes)
- Ocular muscles balance
Finally, an all India level merit list created. The candidates who are made after the medical examination. They selected to participate in the training program. These candidates will then undergo training to become a flying officer in the Indian Air Force and thus after training, the candidate gets a chance to become a Fighter pilot.
After graduation (by CDS, AFCAT (SSC) and NCC)
| Educational Qualification | Age limit | Examination and Date | Website |
| Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and 10 + 2 (science stream) pass with Physics and Mathematics subjects | 21 years | The NDA entrance exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year. These exams are conducted in the months of May and December. | You can apply by going to www.upsc.gov.in and www.upsconline.nic.in. |
If someone is not able to join IAF as a fighter pilot after 12th (or while staying in 12th), So one can try after graduation (or in the final year of the graduation program). Three main entrance schemes are available in front of the graduates –
- CDSE (Combined Defense Services Examination),
- NCC (NCC Certificate “C” holder)
- AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test).
CDSE (Combined Defense Services Examination)
- CDS exam conducted twice a year by UPSC.
- The CDS exam advertised by UPSC in the months of June and October.
- The sites upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in can used to register online and appear for the written examination.
NCC (NCC Certificate “C” holder)
Talking about NCC entry, only cadets holding Air Squadron NCC Senior Division ‘C’ certificate can become Fighter Poilet through this NCC entry scheme. Eligible candidates have to apply through DG NCC or their respective NCC Air Squadron. After applying, the candidate only has to take the AFCAT exam (AFCAT).
AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)
- AFCAT (SSC Entrance) Examination conducted by Indian Air Force
- Air Force Common Admission Test application advertisements placed in the months of June and December and the examination conducted twice a year (February and December).
- To get more information, candidates can get information by going to the official website of the Army – careerairforce.nic.in.
The first phase of both CDSE and AFCAT examinations is a written test. Candidates who pass this exam, are invented for an SSB interview. Following are the procedures of SSB interview-
The SSB interview process lasts for 5 days, which consists of the following steps:
- Officer Intelligence Rating Test
- Picture Perception / Discussion Test
- Psychological test
- Group test (physical and mental work)
- GD
- Interview and Conference. (For more information about SSB Interview, click on the given link.
- Those who know to selected for the flying branch have to appear for the PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test). PABT tests the ability to fly branch candidates.
- Candidates who successfully clear PABT are require to undergo physical and medical tests.
Medical Standards (for Flying Branch)
- For the Fighter pilot in Airforce recruitment, some important tests, and tests are done under medical standards, which are as follows –
- Spinal position
- Vision (Requirements of vision): – 6/6 (for right eyes) and 6/9 (for bad eyes)
- Ocular muscles balance
Finally, an all India level merit list created. The candidates who made after the medical examination. They selected to participate in the training program. These candidates will then undergo training to become a Fighter pilot in Airforce in the Indian Air Force. And in this way, after training, the candidate gets a chance to become a Fighter pilot in Airforce.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force?
Answer:- To become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, a candidate must pass the NDA and CDS exams, pass the NCC certificate, the Indian Air Force Common Admission Test. - Can one act as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force even after graduation?
Answer:- Yes, one can become a fighter pilot after passing the Combined Defense Service Examination held after graduation in the Indian Air Force. - What is the maximum age to become a fighter pilot?
Answer:- If you get selected through NDA, then your maximum age should be 19 years and 21 years in the CDS exam. - What educational qualification required to become a fighter pilot? Answer:- To become a fighter pilot, a candidate must have Mathematics and English as a subject in graduation or 12th standard.
- What are the medical criteria to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force?
Answer:- Read the complete article above for more information on medical criteria.
