RTR(A) Exam for Pilots
The radio licence every Indian commercial pilot needs, what is tested, and when to take it during training.
Quick answer
The RTR(A) is the radio telephony licence a pilot needs to talk to air traffic control. It has a written part and a practical part where you make radio calls. Most students take it during ground school. The exam is moving from WPC to DGCA, so check the current authority and fee.
What is the RTR(A) exam?
RTR(A) means Radio Telephony Restricted (Aeronautical). It certifies that you can use an aircraft radio correctly.
- Needed for a DGCA CPL
- Separate from the five DGCA theory papers
- Tests both knowledge and live radio calls
What are the parts of the exam?
Part 1: written
Radio rules, procedures, phraseology and basic radio theory.
Part 2: practical
You make standard radio calls in a test setting. Clarity, correct order and phraseology matter.
| Area | What to study |
|---|---|
| Radio procedures | Call signs, readbacks, standard phrases |
| Air traffic services | Ground, tower, approach and area control |
| Emergency calls | Mayday, pan pan and distress procedures |
| Radio theory | Frequencies, wave behaviour, equipment |
| Regulations | Rules for radio use in aviation |
Source: RTR(A) syllabus as taught by Indian ground schools. Confirm with the current exam notice. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
When should you take it during training?
- Get your DGCA computer number.
- Start ground school and learn radio basics.
- Take the RTR(A) written and practical.
- Hold the licence before solo cross-country flying.
How do you prepare in 6 to 8 weeks?
- Learn standard phraseology word for word
- Practise calls aloud every day, ideally with a partner
- Listen to real ATC recordings to get the rhythm
- Revise emergency procedures until they are automatic
- Take timed written mocks
What does the RTR(A) cost?
The exam fee is small next to flying costs. Coaching for the practical is optional and varies by school.
Keep a small buffer for a re-attempt. See how it fits into the full pilot training cost.
What does a standard radio call sound like?
The practical tests whether you can make clear, correct calls under pressure. Calls follow a fixed order.
- Who you are calling, for example the tower.
- Your call sign.
- Where you are.
- What you want.
Readbacks matter too. You repeat key instructions like runway, altitude and frequency so the controller knows you heard them correctly.
A 6 week RTR(A) study plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Radio rules and the phonetic alphabet |
| Week 2 | Ground and tower calls, readbacks |
| Week 3 | Approach, area control and position reports |
| Week 4 | Emergency calls, mayday and pan pan |
| Week 5 | Radio theory and written mocks |
| Week 6 | Full practical rehearsals with a partner |
Source: FundMyCampus suggested plan based on ground school practice. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Find the right loan for your training
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will show you the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
Common RTR(A) mistakes
- Speaking too fast or adding filler words
- Missing the readback of a runway or altitude
- Mixing up the order of a position report
- Freezing on emergency calls because they were not practised aloud
- Not checking the latest notice for the conducting authority and dates
RTR(A) fits alongside the DGCA theory papers. Plan both together.
RTR(A) if you train abroad
A foreign radio licence does not replace the Indian RTR(A). If you train in South Africa, the USA, New Zealand or Canada, you will take it as part of your DGCA licence conversion.
Documents for the RTR(A) application
- Photo ID and passport photos
- 10th and 12th certificates
- DGCA computer number, if asked
- Proof of fee payment
- Any form or declaration listed in the exam notice
The list can change with the conducting authority. Follow the current notice exactly.
RTR(A) day checklist
- Carry ID and your admit card or booking confirmation.
- Revise the phonetic alphabet and number pronunciation.
- Run through one full flight of calls aloud, from start-up to shutdown.
- Revise mayday and pan pan formats.
- Speak slowly and clearly in the practical.
Radio terms you must know
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Roger | I have received your message |
| Wilco | I understand and will comply |
| Affirm | Yes |
| Negative | No |
| Say again | Repeat your message |
| Standby | Wait, I will call you back |
| Mayday | Distress, immediate help needed |
| Pan pan | Urgency, but no immediate danger |
Source: Standard ICAO radio phraseology taught for RTR(A). Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Learn these until you use them without thinking. The practical rewards clear, standard words over long sentences.
Where RTR(A) fits in your training timeline
- Month 1 to 2: computer number and ground school start.
- Month 2 to 4: RTR(A) study alongside Air Regulations.
- Month 4 to 5: RTR(A) written and practical.
- After passing: solo cross-country flying can begin as per your school.
Plan it around your flying hours so radio work never holds you on the ground.
RTR(A) costs at a glance
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | Set in the current notice | Check before applying |
| Coaching for the practical | Optional, varies by school | Often part of ground school |
| Re-attempt | Fee again | Usually for the practical part |
| Travel to the exam centre | Varies | Centres are in a few cities |
Source: Exam notices and ground school fee practice. Amounts not confirmed, so check the latest notice. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Keep these in your training budget. Small costs add up when they come at the same time as flying fees.
Key takeaways
- RTR(A) has a written part and a practical part with live radio calls
- Practise standard phraseology aloud every day for at least six weeks
- Clear it before solo cross-country flying
- Confirm the conducting authority, date and fee in the latest notice
- Learn the phonetic alphabet and number pronunciation before anything else
How to pay for pilot training
Most families use an education loan. There are three ways to do it, and the right one depends on two things: whether you have property for collateral, and whether a sponsoring airline has given you an LOI.
| Government bankWith property as collateral | NBFC, with an airline LOINo property needed | NBFC, without an LOINo property needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | Around 9.5%, linked to the RBI repo rate. Around 8.5% if you pay simple interest during the course | Around 11% to 13%, based on income | |
| During training | Nothing to pay (full moratorium), or monthly simple interest for the lower rate | A fixed partial EMI each month | The full EMI on the amount paid out so far |
| After training | Full EMI starts | The same EMI continues | |
| How much is funded | 85% of the fees. You pay 15% yourself (the margin) | 100% of the fees, up to ₹1.5 crore | |
| Processing fee | 1%, refunded later apart from about ₹10,000 | About 1% | |
| Loan insurance | About 1% to 2.5% of the loan | About 2% to 8% of the loan | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | A minimum yearly income, set by the loan amount | Monthly income about ₹30,000 more than the EMI |
| Speed | Slow (weeks) | Faster | |
What is an LOI, and why does it matter?
An LOI (Letter of Intent) is a conditional pre-employment letter from a sponsoring airline. It promises you a future role with that airline once you finish training and meet its conditions.
Because a job is lined up, lenders see the loan as low risk. So they offer a partial EMI without collateral: a fixed amount each month during training, with the full EMI only after you finish. Without an LOI, the full EMI starts from the first payment to the school.
Not every government bank gives a full moratorium on pilot training loans, and government banks are usually slow because of property checks. If you need a fast sanction and an easier process, talk to the FundMyCampus team first.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what students and parents ask us about pilot training
Plan your pilot training loan
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will call you with the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
FundMyCampus is a loan facilitation platform. Loans are sanctioned by the lending bank or NBFC at its discretion. Rates are approximate and change with the RBI repo rate and your profile. We never promise approval or a rate.