Mumbai: In a major revision of the exam procedure for Commercial Pilot Training (CPL), a fresh set of criteria dealing with eligibility to appear for the written pilot exams has been laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Before the decision, a student had to undergo 50 hours of flying training before he/she could appear for the written tests. Now, it has been decided by the DGCA that a student can attempt some papers even without completing a single hour of flying.

Earlier, a student had to undergo 200 hours of flying training, 350 hours of ground training and clear four subjects - aviation meteorology, air regulation, technical (general and specific) and air navigation before appearing for the written test.

As per the new rule, a student can appear for the written test after finishing 100 hours of ground training, covering all subjects and no flying training.

An official release issued by DGCA said, "The chief ground instructor shall issue a certificate to this effect and the student will be permitted to appear in the aviation meteorology and air regulation papers".

A student can appear for the other remaining papers after completing 15 hours of flying training, which can also include five hours of simulator training or 24 hours of flying training with maximum of five hours of simulator training and 350 hours of ground training.

Students having a private pilot license can directly appear for all CPL subjects.

Yashraj Tongia, Chief Flying Instructor, Yash Air said, "For a CPL aspirant, the sooner he/she begins the process, for instance, getting police verification and medical certificate etc, the better. The same applies for written exams. With the change in the 50-hour rule, students will be able to plan their training schedule in a more time-saving manner.''

He further said, "The change in rules is in tune with the new scenario in the job market for pilots. A fresh CPL holder encounters stiff competition while getting an airline job. If a student can clear the DGCA written exams early on, then he/she can start preparing for the airline written exams simultaneously with the 200-hour flying training."

A DGCA source said, "The decision was taken following a meeting of representatives of flying training institutes in the first week of August. It was felt that the 50-hour flying rule should be toned down so that students need not wait for months together to start giving these ground training exams."