New Delhi, India: In a significant reform for pilot licensing in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will officially begin conducting the Radio Telephony Restricted (Aeronautical) or RTR(A) exam from November 2025, a responsibility that has until now been managed by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Ministry of Communications. This update was first reported by The Hindu following official communication from DGCA sources. This move signals a long-awaited shift aimed at modernising the examination process, improving transparency, and bringing the radio communication licensing directly under the civil aviation regulator. The RTR(A) exam is a compulsory requirement for all pilots seeking a Commercial or Private Pilot Licence in India, as it certifies a pilot's ability to communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC), a non-negotiable skill in daily aviation operations. The DGCA had been given control of this examination in 2023, but full implementation was delayed due to procedural adjustments, system setup, and resource alignment. With the groundwork now complete, DGCA officials have confirmed that the first sessions under their supervision will begin in November 2025. According to the communication shared with The Hindu, detailed guidelines and schedules will be announced soon. This reform is expected to bring several key benefits to aspiring pilots and the broader aviation training ecosystem: Unified Oversight: With DGCA managing both theoretical exams and the RTR(A) exam, the entire pilot licensing process will now be under one authority, reducing confusion and improving coordination. Faster Processing: Earlier delays in scheduling RTR(A) tests under WPC often led to months-long waits. DGCA is expected to offer more frequent and timely exam windows. Better Relevance: WPC was a telecommunications authority, not aviation-specific. DGCA’s involvement means that the content and evaluation will be better aligned with real cockpit radio procedures and international norms. Improved Fairness: Pilots and instructors have long pointed to inconsistencies in the old system. DGCA’s testing protocol is expected to offer a more standardised, transparent, and tech-enabled evaluation process. This is especially important for students progressing through India’s CPL training pipeline, where delays in RTR(A) often held up licence issuance even after all other requirements were met. With DGCA now in control, the RTR(A) exam will be treated with the same regulatory seriousness as other aviation-specific assessments. The aviation community has largely welcomed the announcement, calling it a long-overdue upgrade to a process that had been out of step with modern training needs. Training organisations, students, and instructors are now looking forward to the release of official guidelines from DGCA in the coming weeks.
Pilot Training, Uncategorized

RTR(A) Exam to Be Held by DGCA From November; Move Aims to Cut Delays for Pilots

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New Delhi, India: In a significant reform for pilot licensing in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will […]