Charter Pilot
Also known as: Business Aviation Pilot · Corporate Pilot · Non-scheduled Operator Pilot
Flies non-scheduled, corporate or business aircraft for charter and private operators.
Starting salary: not added yet.
What you’d do
A charter pilot flies aircraft that are hired for specific trips rather than scheduled routes. Non-scheduled operators, corporate flight departments and private owners hire them. A typical day can include flying business travellers, medical evacuation or survey flights, with schedules that change at short notice.
- Plan routes, fuel and weather briefings
- Fly passengers on charter flights
- Complete pre-flight aircraft checks
- Keep flight logs and documents current
How you get in
A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) from DGCA is the requirement, not a degree. It needs Class 12 with Physics and Maths (these can be added later through NIOS), a DGCA Class 1 medical, passes in the DGCA ground exams (Air Navigation, Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical) plus a radio telephony licence, and about 200 hours of flying at a DGCA-approved flying school. Charter operators often ask for extra hours or experience on their aircraft type, so many pilots build hours (for example as instructors) before joining.
Salary in India
Salary data isn’t added for this role yet. When it is, every figure points to its source.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Single-pilot or two-crew operations in small aircraft
- Flight planning to smaller airports and airstrips
- Handling passengers directly
- Adapting to short-notice schedules
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition3
How many graduates enter each year?
B.Sc (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 at institutions that reported to AISHE — everyone finishing that degree, not only those entering this role.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field3
Is it diverse?
Share of women among B.Sc (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 — the entry degree, not people already working in this role.
At a glance
- Work can be irregular and depends on client demand.
- Flying varied routes and airports builds broad experience.
- Some pilots later move to airlines; others stay in business aviation.
- Helicopter charter needs a separate helicopter licence.
Stay safe
No legitimate employer ever asks you to pay to get a job.