How I Survived Six Long Years of Unemployment After Pilot Training

How I stayed resilient, built a legacy, and helped others fly—when I couldn’t fly myself.

Becoming a commercial pilot is a dream many pursue, but few truly understand the long road behind that cockpit. When I completed my pilot training, I believed that a career in the skies was just a few steps away. But reality had other plans. For the next six years, I lived through one of the most testing phases of my life—unemployed, uncertain, and yet unrelenting.

1️⃣ Peer Group: The Lifeline That Kept Me Sane

Just six months after completing my training, one of India’s biggest airlines at the time—Kingfisher Airlines—collapsed. The aviation industry was in freefall. No jobs. No clarity. No immediate hope. But I quickly realized one thing: I couldn't survive this journey alone.

So, I built a peer group of fellow pilots—like-minded individuals who were also struggling but determined. We studied together, shared updates, discussed concepts, and most importantly, stood by each other emotionally and mentally. That web of support kept us going. Some of them are still among the most trusted people in my life. We weren’t just pilot friends—we were a support system during storms.

2️⃣ Knowledge & Skills: My Only Asset When There Was Nothing Else

The aviation job market was dead, but I told myself one unshakable truth:

“When the opportunity finally comes, I must be the best-prepared person in the room.”

No shortcuts. No distractions. No giving in to rumours or emotional noise. While many lost hope, I chose to study harder—dive deeper into technical knowledge, brush up my flying theory, and refine my interview readiness. Even when there was no job in sight, I believed I had to stay ready for the moment it would arrive. That belief kept me sharp.

3️⃣ Daily Life & Survival: Founding Golden Epaulettes Aviation

After about a year, I reached a painful realisation: I couldn’t keep asking my family for money forever. I had to survive. I had to make it on my own. That’s when I decided to start Golden Epaulettes Aviation.

What began as a means of survival soon became my motivation. Training young student pilots gave me a reason to wake up every day. It allowed me to teach, to study, to explain concepts repeatedly—which only deepened my own understanding. Golden Epaulettes didn’t just pay my bills; it kept my passion alive.

4️⃣ The Book: Mastering the Airline Pilot Interview

Out of these tough years, something incredible was born—my book:

Mastering the Airline Pilot Interview.

This wasn’t just a book; it was a decade’s worth of struggle, learning, and preparation condensed into one guide. I poured my time into research, technical writing, and understanding what airline interviews truly demand—not just theoretically but emotionally. This book was born from pain, persistence, and an unbreakable desire to help others never feel the way I did.

💬 My Message to Aspiring Pilots:

If you're in that dark tunnel now—jobless, hopeless, doubting everything—listen to me carefully:

✅ Keep all your licenses and medicals current

✅ Be mentally prepared for a long haul

✅ Read every day—keep learning even without opportunity

✅ Stop worrying about relatives—they’ll clap later

✅ Most important: NEVER leave aviation.

I say this with full confidence—you will get the job. It may take months or years, but if you are disciplined, skilled, and determined, the sky will open up for you. Just don’t stop flying in your mind until you fly for real.

I did it. So can you.