A light aircraft taxiing on a dark runway at night, landing lights on

A free community by Vikas Nair

No studentshould fly blind.

Vikas Nair nearly lost his CPL when his flight school shut down. Pilot Guru is the help he never had.

Getting a CPL should not depend on luck, the right agent, or a school staying open. Vikas learned that the hard way. Pilot Guru exists so you do not have to.

Flight log

Nine entries from Vikas's journey to a CPL, including the day it almost ended.

2014Pre-flightALT 0 FT

A fence at Kochi airport

Seventeen and watching ATRs land every evening. He decides he will fly, with no idea where to begin.

Challenge Nobody in the family knew a single pilot.

2015TaxiALT 400 FT

A year lost to agents

Three consultants, three different answers. He pays fees for a roadmap that turns out to be a brochure.

Challenge Conflicting advice on medicals, exams and schools.

2016TakeoffALT 1,800 FT

DGCA ground exams, alone

Studying from photocopied notes that were two syllabus revisions old. Air Navigation takes him two attempts.

Challenge No structured ground school he could trust.

2017ClimbALT 4,500 FT

Off to a US flight school

Loans signed, I-20 in hand. Training finally starts and the logbook begins to fill.

Challenge Visa paperwork with nobody to double-check it.

Mayday mayday mayday

2018MaydayALT 900 FT

The school shuts down mid-training

One morning the doors are locked. Prepaid fees gone, hours half done, visa status suddenly uncertain. He nearly books a flight home.

Challenge Financial loss and a journey that almost ended.

2018RecoveryALT 3,200 FT

A second school takes him in

A different school in the US accepts his transfer. Part-time work, a tighter budget, and the hours start adding up again.

Challenge Rebuilding money and confidence at the same time.

2019CruiseALT 8,500 FT

FAA commercial checkride, passed

The licence he almost gave up on. Then comes the next maze: converting it back home.

Challenge Licence conversion rules nobody explained.

2021CruiseALT 10,500 FT

Indian CPL issued

Seven years after the fence. He starts answering questions from students stuck where he once was.

Challenge Seeing the same mistakes repeat for others.

2023Pay it forwardALT 12,000 FT

Pilot Guru begins

A free place for the honest answers, warnings and help he had to find the hard way.

Challenge Making sure no student flies blind again.

The flight deck of an airliner at dusk, instruments glowing

Runway 27, cleared for takeoff

Your turn in the left seat.

Vikas found his way the hard way. Pilot Guru is here so yours starts with better information.

Everything he had to find alone, in one place.

Blogs, videos, answers, seminars and free resources. Built by students and pilots for anyone starting out.

A student pilot reading notes beside a light aircraft

The Logbook

Long reads on schools, exams, money and the mistakes nobody warns you about.

Read the Logbook
Instructor and student in the cockpit of a light aircraft

Hangar Talks

Video breakdowns with working pilots and students mid-training.

Ask a pilot

  • Is a US CPL worth it if I plan to fly in India?
  • What happens to my fees if my flight school closes?
Ask a question

Seminars and workshops

Free, online and in Kochi. Next up on 24 October: choosing a flight school abroad.

See events

Seminars and workshops, always free

See events

Live seminar

ConfusedShortlist

Choosing a flight school abroad

Date
Sat, 24 Oct 2026
Time
19:00 IST
Where
Online

Seat

Free

Reserve seat

In-person workshop

NotesExam day

DGCA ground exam workshop

Date
Sun, 15 Nov 2026
Time
10:00 IST
Where
Kochi

Seat

Free

Reserve seat

The Pre-flight Brief

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A light aircraft on approach in front of the setting sun

Then he built the ground school he needed.

After his own CPL, Vikas started Rian Air: DGCA ground classes taught by working pilots, honest guidance on schools abroad, and someone to call when things go wrong.

Rian Air

Pilot Guru will always be free. If you want classroom training, that is what Rian Air is for.

Visit Rian Air