Orient Flight School, one of India’s oldest private flying schools offers a beginners course in flying, this summer. Students joining this course will be eligible to obtain a Student Pilot License (SPL), on the completion of this five week long course. This summer SPL program is open to students, who are 16 years of age and have completed their 10th standard exams.

On joining this program students will be offered training in basic flying subjects concerning flying, such as, the theory of flight, air regulations, aviation weather, air navigation, aero-engines, air frames and avionics. In addition, students get five hours of virtual flying on a flight simulator.

This program covers the first capsule of the full fledged pilot training course and prepares the candidate for an SPL. The key take away is that a SPL has a validity of 5 years and is obtained during the summer holidays, without affecting the academic focus of a student. This SPL may then be upgraded to a private pilot license (PPL) (which covers 50 hours of actual flying), during the class 11th and 12th vacations. By the time a candidate appears for his 12th (Senior Secondary School) Board exams, almost one third of the commercial pilot license (CPL) course would be completed.

The advantage of this program is that students get focused to a flying career, while in school itself. The advantages, as explained by the Deputy Director, OFS, Air Cmde (retd) Govindraj, are two fold. Firstly, most students go flying after their 12th, which typically takes two years. However, with this program, a CPL will be obtained within one year of passing class 12, thereby allowing the student to enroll in a full time, focused degree course immediately thereafter, allowing them to have a flying license and a useful degree at a young age. Secondly, it allows students to taste the world of professional flying early, and if not to his or her liking, aids in an early decision on pursuing career options either in or outside this field, without having to introduce a gap between senior secondary high school and a degree course.

To the flight school, such an innovative program helps keep the school active, drawing students to flying through greater awareness. Since financial entry barriers into this summer SPL program are very low, it allows a wider audience to taste the world of aviation, while allowing the serious to plan their financial requirements to meet the expenditure of a CPL Course.

Batch 01 (May) has already commenced, and admission to batches in June and July are open. You may read more about OFS by clicking here.