Recruitment of Pilots in Armed Forces
Pilots are inducted in the Indian Navy as Permanent Commission (PC) or Short Service Commission (SSC).
- Permanent Commission (PC) : Volunteers from serving Executive branch officers (upto 25 years of age) are selected for pilot training biannually.
- Short Service Commission (SSC) : Short Service Commissioned officers are inducted biannually through Direct Entry Scheme.
All pilots in Army Aviation are commissioned officers. Options to join Army Aviation are as under:-
- Volunteers who opt for Army Aviation during pre- commissioning training at IMA and OTA.
- Volunteer Officers from any Arm of Indian Army on completion of one and half years of service.
Volunteer Officers are required to undergo the following tests:-
- Pilot Aptitude and Battery Test (PABT)
- Aviation medical examination
Officers clearing the PABT and medical examination undergo the Basic and Advance flying training, on completion of which they become pilots in the Indian Army.
As on 1st February, 2018, sanctioned strength and strength of pilots in Indian Air Force (IAF) is as follows:
Sanctioned Strength | Strength |
4231 | 3855 |
There is a marginal shortage in strength of pilots in IAF against the authorized establishment.
Indian Navy:
Government Sanction | 735 |
Borne Strength | 644 |
Vacant Posts | 91 |
Indian Army:
The total number of pilots in Army Aviation as on date are:
Sanctioned | 794 |
Held | 602 |
Vacant | 192 |
A study on Restructuring of Army Pilot Cadre was conducted and salient decisions that have been implemented are:
- There has been an increase in Direct Commissioned Officers (DCO) both from IMA and OTA.
- For the DCO, the lower service limit of two years of attachment period with fallback arm after commissioning has also been reduced to one and half years.
- Setting up of an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) at Gandhinagar in 2013.
- The selection process into the IAF has been simplified with the introduction of the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) for non-UPSC entries. Under this format, a candidate may apply for selection in any branch for which they meet the QRs, through a single application in a selection cycle.
- Proactive steps have been taken by the IAF to reduce the shortage of pilots, which include participation in career fairs/exhibitions, advertisements in print and electronic media, motivational lectures in schools, colleges, visuals/signage at strategic locations etc.
Source : PIB