What is the difference between a CPL, SPL or PPL? At what point does one go for these?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

An SPL, PPL and a CPL are the three different kinds of licenses issued by DGCA. To attain an SPL or a Student Pilot License, a candidate must be of sixteen years of age and must have completed Class 10th or equivalent from a Recognized Board. He/she also needs to be medically fit and have a medical certificate issued by DGCA. The SPL is issued to the student after successful completion of an oral exam based on Air Regulations, Navigation and Aviation Meteorology as well as Aircrafts and Engines with the Chief Flight Instructor of the flying school he has enrolled with. An SPL enables a student pilot to undertake training and fly the hours required to attain the next stage of flying that is the PPL. A PPL or a Private Pilot License enables a candidate to undertake flights on an aircraft that is endorsed (on which he is trained and cleared) on his license in capacity of a Pilot in Command or Co-pilot, without any remuneration, whatsoever. To attain a PPL, the candidate must be of 17 year of age and shall need an SPL. Along with being medically fit, he has to clear a written exam based on Air Regs, Air Navigation, Air Meteorology and Aircraft engines and systems. He would need at least 40 hours of flying experience to attain a PPL. Usually, people who do not intend to undertake commercial flying or those who want to take up aviation for hobby purposes go for a PPL. A CPL or a Commercial Pilot License is the holy grail of aviation. A person wanting to fly commercially for a charter company, as an Instructor or as an Airline pilot, needs to have a CPL. A candidate has to be of 18 year old, hold medical certificates required by DGCA, and needs to clear an array of Examinations in order to qualify for a CPL. He also has to complete 200 hours of flying. Once a person has a CPL, he can apply for jobs in various airlines by giving their respective entrance exams. In India, usually a CPL course costs anywhere between Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 45 Lakhs depending on the school a person chooses.

manpreet 2 years ago

SPL stands for Student Pilot License. It is the first step towards achieving obtaining Commercial or Private Pilot License. Candidates taking the SPL test have to appear in an oral examination and medical test approved by DGCA. Private Pilot License is also the license given for the aspirants who are interested in flying aircrafts. But this license is only given for the pilots in non-commercial aircraft. It is mainly for those who wish to take pilot job as a hobby or for those who own an aircraft. A total of 60 hours of flying is needed for PPL of which 20 hours minimum should be solo and five hours cross country. The commercial pilot license (CPL) is the qualification that allows it’s holder to play the role of a pilot. Many types of Commercial Pilot Certificates are issued to eligible candidates for major aircraft categories. This includes airships, helicopters and Airplanes. CPL certifications are also given to pilot aircrafts such as balloons and gyro-planes. Actual flying experience required for CPL is 250 hours of total flying time (150 hours of solo, 25 hours of cross country, 10 hours of instrument flying, and 5 hours of night flying). You must be at least 16 year of age to be eligible for a Student Pilot License, 17 year old for a Private Pilot License, and 18 year old for a Commercial Pilot License. Minimum eligibility is 10+2 with PCM subjects. Majority follows routes such as SPL-PPL or SP-CPL to fulfill their dream of becoming pilot.