Experiencing the Indigo Airlines Cadet Pilot Program: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you fascinated by the art of aviation and eager to join the ranks of professional pilots? Do you want to know what it takes to become a cadet pilot with Indigo Airlines? This guide will walk you through my experience with the Indigo Airlines cadet pilot program and provide valuable insights for aspiring pilots. While the program is currently paused due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many cadet pilots are still waiting at home. For more detailed information, visit our Instagram page.

1. Application and Registration

The journey begins with registration. To apply for the Indigo Airlines cadet pilot program, you must go through the official website. Applicants will be asked to pay a registration fee and submit important documents like your 12th class marksheet. After a few days, you'll receive an email confirming your eligibility for the program. Bear in mind, the written exam used to be part of the selection process but is no longer included now.

"I applied on their website and paid the registration fee. After 3–4 days, an email confirmed my eligibility for the program, moving on to the next step: the written exam."

2. Written Exam

The next phase involves the written exam. This requires another fee payment, and the exam covers knowledge from classes up to 12th grade, including subjects such as physics, mathematics, reasoning, and English. It consists of 100 questions. The exam day came on September 21, 2019, and the results were out the next day on September 22.

"The written exam was pretty straightforward, focusing on basic 12th-grade subjects like physics, maths, reasoning, and English. After the exam, we received our results and happily discovered I had passed."

3. Compass Test

After clearing the written exam, the next step is the compass test, which is a form of a competency assessment. It evaluates a candidate's skills in areas such as personality, mental math, basic physics, spatial orientation, multitasking, slalom, and short-term memory. The test lasts for three hours, and as with the written exam, payment is required for the test fee.

"For the compass test, I had to pay another fee and arrive smartly dressed. The test included personality questions, mental math, basic physics, and spatial orientation among other tasks."

4. Group Discussion and Personal Interview

Further down the road, applicants are invited to participate in a group discussion followed by a personal interview. The group discussion, or GD, is conducted by Indigo and takes place at venues like Lé Meridien Gurugram. It's important to be formally dressed and ensure no facial hair is present. The personal interview typically involves a panel of senior captains and an HR representative who ask questions about your background, passion for aviation, basic mathematical concepts, and knowledge about Indigo Airlines and geography.

"During the group discussion, we were divided into groups of seven and given a task to discuss. The interview was also conducted in a formal setting with a strict dress code and no facial hair is allowed."

5. Results and Letter of Intent Signing

After the interviews, you'll receive email notifications of your results. Usually, only a few candidates are selected to progress to the final step, which includes signing a letter of intent (LOI) and various contracts with both Indigo Airlines and the training organization, Insight Aviation.

"On October 22, 2019, we received email notifications of our results. Twenty-three out of twenty-seven candidates got selected, and the LOI signing ceremony took place on November 13, 2019. During this, you are required to bring a surety."

This process marks the completion of the selection process for the Indigo Airlines cadet pilot program. I wish you the best of luck if you decide to apply.