India's RTR Platform · ICAO DOC 9432

DGCA RTR Exam
Complete Guide &
Free Practice

The DGCA RTR (A) is a mandatory licence for every Indian pilot. AIVR is India's only dedicated platform built exclusively to help you clear the RTR exam — with a free Part 1 question bank, a realistic Part 2 RT simulator, real exam scenarios, and live 1-on-1 mock tests. No signup needed. Start free in under 10 seconds.

Free to Start 23 Part 1 Chapters 17+ Pro Scenarios ICAO DOC 9432 500+ Unique Scenarios Live Mock Test
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23
Part 1 Chapters
6
Flight Phases
17+
Pro Scenarios
500+
Unique Scenarios
₹0
To Start
The Exam

What is the DGCA RTR Exam?

The RTR (A) — Restricted Radio Telephone Operator's Certificate (Aeronautical) is a mandatory licence for all Indian CPL and PPL holders. Without a valid RTR certificate, a pilot cannot legally operate the radio communication equipment on an aircraft or communicate with Air Traffic Control.

The exam was traditionally conducted by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing under the Ministry of Communications. It has now been integrated into the DGCA pilot licensing framework and is conducted through the Pariksha portal for Part 1, with Part 2 as a live practical examination.

Every candidate who clears the RTR exam is issued a Radio Telephone Operator (Restricted) licence authorising them to operate aeronautical radio communication equipment on board Indian-registered aircraft.

Why RTR Preparation is Critical

Part 2 is the most challenging component. The examiner plays the role of Ground, Tower, Approach, and Control — and expects exact ICAO DOC 9432 phraseology with no deviations. Candidates who haven't practised live radiotelephony extensively routinely fail despite strong theory knowledge.

AIVR was built specifically because no dedicated RTR practice platform existed in India. Every module on AIVR — from the Part 1 question bank to the Part 2 simulator to the live mock test — is designed around exactly what appears in the DGCA RTR exam.

RTR Exam — Key Facts
Full NameRadio Telephone Operator (Restricted) — Aeronautical
Commonly CalledDGCA RTR / RTR(A)
FrequencyEvery alternate month (~6 sessions/year)
PartsPart 1 (Written) + Part 2 (Oral/Practical)
Part 1 Passing Mark50% minimum
Standard FollowedICAO DOC 9432
Mandatory forCPL, PPL, ATPL holders
Conducting BodyDGCA India (via Pariksha portal)
Best PreparationAIVR — aivr.in

DGCA RTR Part 1 Syllabus — All 23 Chapters

The Part 1 written exam covers the following chapters. AIVR's question bank covers every single chapter with MCQs and instant answer feedback.

01International Telecommunication Convention (ITU)
02ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices
03DGCA RTR Regulations
04Q Codes — Aviation
05Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN)
06Radio Equipment — Types and Operation
07Aviation Meteorology for RT
08Aeronautical Information Services (AIS)
09Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
10GPS and Satellite Navigation
11GAGAN — Indian GPS-Aided Navigation
12Radar — Primary and Secondary (SSR)
13Radio Wave Propagation
14Instrument Landing System (ILS)
15Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and ADF
16SELCAL — Selective Calling System
17Numbers, Phonetic Alphabet and Time
18Call Signs and Abbreviations
19Distress and Urgency — MAYDAY, PAN PAN
20General Radiotelephony Procedures
21Air Traffic Control Communications
22VHF/HF Communication Procedures
23Radiotelephony Failure and Abnormal Procedures
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Part 2 Practical

DGCA RTR Part 2 — 6 Flight Phases

Part 2 is the practical oral examination. The examiner gives you a scenario — aircraft type, registration, route, frequencies, weather — and then plays the role of ATC across all 6 phases. You must respond with exact ICAO DOC 9432 phraseology.

Phase 01
Parked
Startup clearance, ATIS request, pushback and engine start, ATC ground clearance, squawk setting, departure information readback.
Phase 02
Taxi
Taxi clearance request, hold short instructions, runway crossing clearance, lining up, traffic information readbacks.
Phase 03
Departure
Takeoff clearance, departure frequency change, SID following, initial climb, radar vectors, frequency transfers to Approach and Control.
Phase 04
Enroute
Position reports (time, level, next waypoint, ETA destination), altitude change requests, ATC re-clearances, diversion procedures, SELCAL checks.
Phase 05
Emergency
PAN PAN and MAYDAY declarations, TCAS RA response and reporting, emergency frequency changes, declaring fuel emergency, squawk 7700.
Phase 06
Arrival
Descent clearance, ATIS receipt, approach clearance (ILS/NDB), landing clearance, vacating runway, taxi to stand, shutdown.
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Everything You Need to Clear RTR

Five dedicated modules — the only complete RTR preparation system in India. Free to start, no signup needed.

Free
RTR Part 1 — Question Bank
Complete MCQ question bank across all 23 DGCA RTR Part 1 chapters. Instant answer feedback. Practice chapter by chapter or mixed. Covers every topic in the DGCA syllabus — from ILS and NDB to GAGAN and SELCAL.
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Free
RTR Part 2 — Live Simulator
India's only dedicated RTR Part 2 radiotelephony simulator. Built on ICAO DOC 9432 procedures. Practice all 6 flight phases — Parked, Taxi, Departure, Enroute, Emergency, Arrival — with 500+ dynamically generated scenarios.
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Pro · Points
Part 2 Pro — Real Exam Scenarios
17+ predefined exam scenarios built from real DGCA RTR session reports. Each scenario includes a fixed aircraft registration (VT-XXX), departure and destination airports, ATC frequencies, METAR weather, and a complete question set — exactly replicating the actual DGCA exam hall experience.
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Free
Learn Transmissions — ICAO Formats
Complete library of ICAO DOC 9432 radiotelephony transmission formats. Browse by section, learn the exact format and context for every type of RT transmission — from startup to MAYDAY. Essential pre-practice study for Part 2.
Browse Transmissions →
Live · 1-on-1
RTR Mock Test — Panel-Style Live Examination
The closest simulation to the real DGCA RTR Part 2 exam. The AIVR team conducts a live 1-on-1 panel-style mock test over call — playing Ground, Tower, Approach, and Control across all 6 flight phases in the exact format used by DGCA examiners. Detailed feedback provided after. Book a slot before your exam date.
Book Mock Test →
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Preparation Strategy

How to Clear DGCA RTR First Attempt

The exact preparation path followed by candidates who clear RTR on their first attempt.

1
Start with ICAO Transmission Formats
Before attempting any Part 2 practice, spend 2–3 days in the Learn Transmissions module. Understanding the exact format, correct phrasing, and context of every RT transmission makes the simulator practice dramatically more effective. Knowing why you say what you say is more important than memorising phrases.
2
Build Part 1 Simultaneously
Do not neglect RTR Part 1 while preparing for Part 2. Use the AIVR Part 1 question bank for 30–45 minutes daily, one or two chapters at a time. Chapters on Distress and Urgency, ILS, NDB, and SELCAL have high question density in the actual exam. Complete all 23 chapters before your exam date.
3
Drill Part 2 Phases in Order
In the AIVR Part 2 simulator, practice phases in sequence. Do not jump to Emergency before you are confident on Parked and Taxi — the phases build on each other. Spend at least 15–20 practice runs on each phase before moving forward. Pay attention to the exact readback format — do not add or omit any elements.
4
Attempt Part 2 Pro Scenarios
At least 1–2 weeks before your exam, start practicing AIVR Part 2 Pro Scenarios. These are built from real DGCA RTR exam session reports — the routes, aircraft types, frequencies, and METAR data are drawn from actual past exam papers. This is the only way to experience the exact pressure and flow of the real exam.
5
Book a Live Mock Test Before Exam Day
The biggest differentiator between first-attempt passers and those who need multiple attempts is live interaction practice. The AIVR 1-on-1 mock test is conducted over call in the exact DGCA panel format — all 6 phases, real-time ATC responses, and detailed feedback on every deviation. Book 3–5 days before your exam date.
6
Read Back Everything — Completely and Correctly
The most common reason for failing RTR Part 2 is incomplete readbacks. When ATC gives a clearance, every element — frequency, level, squawk, runway, waypoint — must be read back in the correct order using proper ICAO phonetics. Practice this until it is completely automatic. AIVR scenarios train this exact habit.

DGCA RTR — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DGCA RTR exam?+

The DGCA RTR (A) — Restricted Radio Telephone Operator's Certificate (Aeronautical) is a mandatory licence for all Indian CPL and PPL holders to legally operate aircraft radio communication equipment and communicate with Air Traffic Control. It consists of Part 1 (written MCQ) and Part 2 (practical oral radiotelephony examination).

Is the DGCA RTR exam compulsory for CPL?+

Yes. The RTR (A) certificate is mandatory for all Indian CPL holders. Without it, a pilot cannot act as Pilot-in-Command or communicate with ATC. It must be cleared before your CPL is issued. It is also required for PPL holders operating aircraft with radio equipment.

Who conducts the RTR exam in India?+

The RTR exam is now integrated into the DGCA pilot licensing framework. Part 1 is conducted as a computer-based test through the Pariksha portal. Part 2 is a live oral/practical examination. Previously, it was conducted by the WPC Wing under the Ministry of Communications.

What is the passing mark for DGCA RTR?+

Candidates must score at least 50% in Part 1 (written MCQ test). Part 2 is a pass/fail oral examination — there is no numerical score; candidates must demonstrate competent use of ICAO DOC 9432 standard phraseology across all required flight phases to satisfy the examiner.

How many chapters are in RTR Part 1?+

DGCA RTR Part 1 covers 23 chapters including ITU regulations, ICAO standards, DGCA regulations, Q Codes, AFTN, Radio Equipment, Aviation Meteorology, AIS, AIP, GPS, GAGAN, Radar, Radio Waves, ILS, NDB, SELCAL, Numbers, Call Signs, Distress and Urgency, and General Radiotelephony. AIVR covers all 23 chapters in its Part 1 question bank.

What does RTR Part 2 test?+

RTR Part 2 tests live radiotelephony across 6 flight phases: Parked (startup, ATIS, pushback, engine start), Taxi, Departure, Enroute (position reports, diversions), Emergency (PAN PAN, MAYDAY, TCAS RA), and Arrival (approach, landing, vacating). Candidates receive a fixed scenario with aircraft registration, route, ATC frequencies, and weather, then respond to ATC instructions using correct ICAO DOC 9432 phraseology.

How often is the DGCA RTR exam held?+

The DGCA RTR exam is conducted every alternate month (approximately 6 sessions per year) at major Indian cities. Exam dates and schedules are published on the DGCA Pariksha portal. Registration opens and closes approximately 2–3 weeks before each session.

What is ICAO DOC 9432 and why does it matter for RTR?+

ICAO DOC 9432 — Manual of Radiotelephony is the international standard that defines all correct radiotelephony procedures, phraseology, and transmission formats for aviation. The DGCA RTR Part 2 exam tests candidates' ability to communicate using this exact standard. Deviation from DOC 9432 phraseology — even minor — can result in failing Part 2. AIVR's entire Part 2 system is built on ICAO DOC 9432 procedures.

What is the best platform for DGCA RTR preparation?+

AIVR (www.aivr.in) is India's only dedicated DGCA RTR exam preparation platform. It is the only platform with a complete Part 1 question bank (23 chapters), a realistic Part 2 radiotelephony simulator (6 phases, 500+ scenarios), real DGCA exam-style Part 2 Pro scenarios (17+), an ICAO transmission formats library, and 1-on-1 live panel-style mock tests — all in one place. It is free to start with no signup required.

Can I use AIVR for free?+

Yes. AIVR provides 6 minutes of free access per session with no signup required. RTR Part 1, Part 2 simulator, and Learn Transmissions are all accessible free. For unlimited access to all modules including Part 2 Pro Scenarios, subscription starts at ₹399 for 28 days. A Combo Plan at ₹799 includes 28 days full access plus a live mock test.

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