RTR exam: Part 1 and Part 2

RTR(A) is the Restricted Radiotelephony Operator certificate for aeronautical use. It is the licence that lets you operate an aircraft radio, and it is separate from the DGCA theory papers. You sit it in two parts: a written paper and a practical.

You need to be 16 or older and to have passed Class 10. The licence lasts until you turn 80.

DGCA. Under the Radio Telephone Operator (Restricted) Certificate and Licence Rules, 2025, DGCA took over conduct of the examination from the WPC wing of the Ministry of Communications. You book the written paper on the Pariksha portal and the practical on eGCA.

A WPC certificate issued or renewed up to 15 July 2026 stays valid until it expires. Any renewal is now done by DGCA. To get a DGCA licence, apply on eGCA to skip the written, then pass the practical.

You can apply on eGCA to skip it if you are an armed forces or Coast Guard pilot with 1,000 hours, if you hold a valid RTR issued by WPC, or if you hold a valid FRTOL (or equal) from a Commonwealth country or the Philippines. You still sit the practical, with three attempts in three years.

₹2,000 for each written attempt, paid on the Pariksha portal when you book, and ₹500 for each practical attempt, paid on eGCA. The licence costs ₹5,000 once you pass. These are the fees in the 2025 Rules.

Part 1 is a written paper of 50 multiple choice questions on the regulations, radio principles and RT phraseology, and you need 70 per cent. Part 2 is practical: six scenarios in about 30 minutes, working the radio as the pilot while the examiner plays Air Traffic Control. You need 50 per cent.

No. A CPL candidate sits Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulation, Technical General and Technical Specific as theory papers. RTR(A) is a separate radio licence, taken alongside them.

It tests two different things. Part 1 needs 70 per cent on 50 written questions, which the Radio Telephony question bank prepares you for. Part 2 needs 50 per cent across six spoken scenarios, and it rewards calls you can say without stopping to think.

For Part 1, work through the Radio Telephony question bank. For Part 2, learn the standard phraseology by phase of flight, read worked calls as whole exchanges, then say them out loud under time pressure. The phraseology library and the worked calls here are free, and the voice simulator gives every account 2 free attempts on two set papers. Pro gets 30 a month on any paper.