Has anyone joined an Air India/IndiGo cadet program with prior flight experience?
I'm currently an Indian student studying in the US majoring in Mechanical Engineering and I will most likely graduate in 2028.
I dream is to and has always been to be an airline pilot, I wanted to take the Air Force route but I recently learned I can't retire till I spend 14 years in the IAF. I'm already doing flight training in the US under FAA Part 61. By the time I graduate, I expect to have at least an FAA PPL, an Instrument Rating, and potentially a Multi-Engine rating, and around 100–200 hours total time.
I've been looking into the Air India and IndiGo cadet pilot programs. Their eligibility information generally says that no prior flying experience is required, but I haven't been able to figure out whether having prior experience/licences can actually affect eligibility for an ab-initio cadet program.
Has anyone here personally joined, been accepted to, or gone through Air India or an IndiGo cadet program while already holding a PPL or having significant previous flight experience?
I'd especially like to know:
> Did you disclose your previous flight experience during the application?
> Did having a PPL or other license/rating cause any issues during the selection process?
> Is there a cap as to how much previous flight experience I am allowed to have
> Were you required to repeat the entire training syllabus despite already having flight experience (which I don't mind doing if it means I get to be a pilot at the end)
> Would someone having an FAA PPL, IR, MEI make someone ineligible or less suitable for these programs?
I'm not looking for speculation if possible, I'd really appreciate hearing from current/former cadets, people who were selected with previous experience, or anyone who even works in the industry and knows the answers to these questions.
I'm trying to get some clarity because I'm lost, but I can't seem to give up on the dream I've had for 15 years now and I don't plan on doing so either.
FYI for those wondering I'm doing a degree because I love engineering too (not as much as flying) and my high school took me to EFTA where I met a A380 captain that was forced to retire due to a medical condition and he now trains pilots, its just something to fall back on if incase something unforeseen happens.
THANKS!!!