Commercial Pilot’s License (Aeroplanes)

1.Requirements for issue of License:

An applicant for a Commercial Pilot’s License shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Age:
He shall be not less than Eighteen years of age on the date of application.

(b) Educational Qualification:
He shall have passed Class Ten plus Two or an equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics, from a recognized Board/University.

(c) Medica Fitness:
He shall produce on a prescribed Performa a certificate of physical fitness from an approved Medical Board after undergoing a medical examination during which he shall have established his medical fitness on the basis of compliance with the requirements as notified by the Director-General under Rule 39B.

(d) Knowledge:
He shall pass a written examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation Meteorology and aircraft and Engines and Signals (practical) examination for interpretation of aural and visual signals, as per the syllabus prescribed by the Director-General : Provided that the holder of a current Commercial Pilot’s License (Helicopters) shall be required to pass an examination in Aircraft and Engines only.

(e) Experience:
He shall produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed as a pilot of an Aero plane within a period of five years immediately preceding the date of application for license not less than two hundred hours of flight time, which shall include:-

     (i) not less than one hundred hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command of which not less than fifteen hours shall have been completed within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for license;

    (ii) not less than twenty hours of cross-country flight time as Pilot-in-Command including a cross-country flight of not less than three hundred nautical miles in the course of which full stop landings at two different aerodromes shall be made;

    (iii) not less than ten hours of instrument time of which not more than five hours may be on an approved simulator; and

    (iv) not less than five hours of flight time by night including a minimum of ten take-offs and ten landings as Pilot-in-Command as (sole manipulator of controls) carried out within six months immediately proceedings the date of application for license.

(f) Flying Training:
He shall have completed the flying training in accordance with the syllabus prescribed by the Director-General.

(g) Other Requirements:
He shall be in possession of a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft issued by the Director-General.

(h) Skill:
He shall have demonstrated his competency to perform the procedures and manoeuvres prescribed in the syllabus to the satisfaction of an examiner, on the type of Aeroplane to which the application for license relates, within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application. The competency shall be demonstrated in —

   (i) general flying test by day;
   (ii) general flying test by night;
   (iii) a cross-country flight test by day consisting of a flight of not less than two hundred fifty nautical miles in the course of which at least one full stop landing at an aerodrome other than the aerodrome of departure shall be made; and

   (iv) across country flying test by night consisting of a flight of not less than one hundred twenty nautical miles returning to the place of departure without landing elsewhere.

2. Validity: The period of validity shall commence from the date of issue or renewal of the license. The license shall be valid for a period specified in Rule 39C subject to compliance with renewal requirements as stipulated in Para 3 hereinafter.

3. Renewal:

The license may be renewed on receipt of satisfactory evidence of the applicant

(a) having undergone a medical examination in accordance with Para 1(c) above;

(b) having satisfactorily completed not less than ten hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command (Fifty percent of flight time as Co-Pilot may be counted towards the requirement of flight time as Pilot-in-Command) within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for renewal; or in lieu thereof, having satisfactorily completed the general flying test by day and night as laid down in clause (h) of paragraph 1 within the same period.

(c) having a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft, issued by the Director-General.

4. Aircraft Rating:

(a) The license shall indicate the types of Aeroplane the holder is entitled to fly.

(b) An open rating for all single piston engine type of Aeroplane having an all-up-weight not exceeding one thousand five hundred Kgs. may also be granted if he has completed not less than one thousand hours of flight time on such types of Aeroplanes including not less than five hundred hours as Pilot-in-Command and has at least four different types of aircraft entered in the aircraft rating of his license. Provided that the privileges of the open rating shall be exercised only after having undergone a ground and flight familiarizations with a flight Instructor or an approved Examiner and a certificate to this effect shall be recorded by the Examiner in the pilot’s log book, before the pilot is released to exercise the privileges of open rating on that type of aircraft.

(c) Instructor’s Rating:

Instructor’s Rating entitles the holder to impart flying instructions. The privileges and conditions for the issue of these ratings are laid down in Sections Q & R

(d) Instrument Rating:

Instrument Rating entitles the holder to fly under Instrument Flight Rules. Conditions for issue of this rating are laid down in Section O

5. Extension of Aircraft Rating:

For extension of aircraft rating, to include an additional Aeroplane, an applicant shall be required to produce evidence of having passed a written examination in Aircraft and Engines as mentioned in Para 1(d) and of having satisfactorily completed the general flying tests by day and night in accordance with Para 1(h) in respect of the type of Aeroplane for which the extension of aircraft rating is desired. The flying tests shall have been completed within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for extension of the aircraft rating.

6. Privileges:

Subject to the validity of endorsements and ratings in the license and compliance with the relevant provisions of Rule 39B, Rule 39C and Rule 42 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the privileges of the holder of a Commercial Pilot’s License shall be :—

(a) to exercise all the privileges of Private Pilot’s License:

(b) to act as Pilot-in-Command of any Aeroplane having an all-up-weight not exceeding five thousand seven hundred Kgs. and which is entered in the aircraft rating of his license provided that when passengers are to be carried at night, he shall have carried out within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of the intended flight not less than ten take-offs and ten landings by night as Pilot-in-Command:

(c) to act as Co-Pilot of any Aeroplane where a Co-Pilot is required to be carried and which is entered in the aircraft rating of his license :

Provided that for all flights under the Instrument Flight Rules, either as Pilot-in-Command or as Co-Pilot, he shall have a current Instrument Rating

Provided further that for all flights as Co-Pilot of transport Aeroplanes having an all-up-weight exceeding five thousand seven hundred Kgs. he shall have carried out within the preceding six months of the intended flight, appropriate proficiency checks in respect of that type of aircraft as required by the Director-General.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONVERTING LICENCES TO AN INDIAN CPL

1. PURPOSE:

Many requests are received for issue of Indian pilot's licences on the basis of licences issued by other Contracting States. Some applicants have faced difficulties in obtaining Indian licences or aircraft ratings as they did not comply fully with the Indian requirements while obtaining licences or ratings abroad. In order to clarify the applicable requirements and to streamline the procedure for issue of Indian licences and aircraft ratings, this Civil Aviation Requirement is issued under the provision of Rules 41 &133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

This CAR supersedes AIC 13/1991 dated 25th July, 1991.

2. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING INDIAN PILOT'S LICENCES AND RATINGS:

An applicant desirous of obtaining Indian pilot's licence or rating on the basis of licence or rating issued by a Contracting State, should make an application to DGCA (Attn. - Director, Training & Licensing) and submit all the necessary documents as required under the applicable provisions of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules 1937 and this CAR along with the necessary fees in the form of a bank draft payable at any scheduled bank/I.P.O. in favor of the Accounts Officer, Central Pay & Accounts Office, DGCA, New Delhi. The documents submitted by the applicant should show that the applicant meets the requirement for grant of the licence or rating and has acquired the desired level of proficiency. Where applicable, the documents should be within the laid down validity period. The syllabi prescribed by DGCA for passing oral examination, written examination, flying training, skill tests etc. in accordance with the provisions of Schedule-II of the Aircraft Rules 1937, shall be applicable for passing examinations and tests stipulated in this CAR.

3. ISSUE OF INDIAN PILOT'S LICENCES:

An Indian pilot's licence may be issued in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Rule 41 and Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 on the basis of current pilot's licence issued by other Contracting States provided the applicant meets the following requirements:

3.1 General:

The applicant shall meet the requirements relating to (i) age; (ii) educational qualifications; (iii) medical fitness; and (iv) flying experience and competency as laid down in the appropriate sections of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

3.2 Written and Oral Examinations:

3.2.1 For issue of a Private Pilot's Licence (Aeroplane/Helicopter), the applicant shall have to pass a written examination (composite paper) conducted by Central Examination Organization (CEO) of DGCA in Air Regulations, Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology as per the prescribed syllabus.

3.2.2 For issue of a Commercial Pilot's Licence (Aeroplane/Helicopter), the applicant shall have to pass the written examination conducted by CEO in the following two papers as per the prescribed syllabus.

  (i) Air Regulations.

  (ii) A composite paper for Commercial Pilot's Licence on Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology.

3.2.3 For issue of an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (Aeroplane/ Helicopter), the applicant shall have to pass the written examination conducted by CEO in the following two papers as per the prescribed syllabus.

  (i) Air Regulations.

  (ii) A composite paper for Airline Transport Pilot's Licence on Air Navigation, Avionics (Radio Aids and Instruments) and Aviation Meteorology.

In addition to the above written examination, the applicant for ALTP licence shall have to pass an oral examination as stipulated in para 1(d) of Section M, or Section N, of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, as the case may be.

3.3 Additional Requirements for Issue of Commercial Pilot's Licence and Airline Transport Pilot's Licence

3.3.1 The applicant shall obtain a Certificate of Proficiency from the Ministry of Communications under the provisions of Indian Wireless and Telegraphy Rules, 1954 for operation of Radio Telephony Apparatus on board an aircraft. Based on this, a Flight Radio Telephone Operator's (FRTO) Licence will be issued by DGCA in accordance with the provisions of Section 'Y' of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

3.3.2 The applicant shall also have to pass Signals (Practical) examination for interpretation of signals as per the prescribed syllabus.

4. ISSUE OF AIRCRAFT AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS ON THE BASIS OF SUCH RATINGS ISSUED BY CONTRACTING STATES:

4.1 Issue of Single Engine Aircraft Rating
The applicant shall demonstrate his competency to perform the procedures and manoeuvres prescribed in the syllabus to the satisfaction of an Examiner approved by DGCA, India, on the type of Aeroplane or helicopter to be included in the aircraft rating of the licence. The competency shall be demonstrated in general flying tests by day and by night including three landings each by day and by night (reference Form No.CA 37). He should have undergone training and checks on that type of aircraft.

4.2 Issue of Multi-engine Aircraft Rating Having Maximum All-Up-Weight upto 5,700 Kgs.

The applicant shall demonstrate his competency to perform the procedures and manoeuvres prescribed in the syllabus on the type of Aeroplane or helicopter which he desires to be included in the aircraft rating of his licence, to the satisfaction of a DGCA approved examiner if the test is carried out in India, or to the satisfaction of the competent authority of the Contracting State if the test is done abroad. The competency shall be demonstrated in general flying tests (reference Form No.CA40) by day and by night including three landings each by day and by night.

4.3 Issue of Multi-engine Aircraft Rating Having Maximum All-Up-Weight Exceeding 5,700 Kgs.

In accordance with the provision of Rule 41 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the applicant shall submit the following documents in original to show proof of his competency:

  (i) Documents showing that he has undergone ground training at a training establishment approved by the Contracting State and has passed the written examination with at least 70% marks as required for passing examinations conducted by CEO of DGCA, India; and

  (ii) Documents showing that he has successfully undergone flight simulator and/or aircraft flight training and checks on the type of aircraft to be included in the aircraft rating of the licence in accordance with the syllabi prescribed for such type rating and skill tests by day and by night (reference form CA40A or CA40B, as applicable) including three landings each by day and by night for co-pilot rating and six landings each by day and by night for pilot-in-command rating at a training centre approved by the Contracting State.

4.4 Issue of Instrument Rating

The applicant shall demonstrate his competency to fly the type of aircraft by sole reference to instruments to the satisfaction of a DGCA approved Examiner in India or to the competent authority of the Contracting State, on the type of aeroplane or helicopter, for which the instrument rating is desired.

5. ISSUE OF AIRCRAFT RATING AND INSTRUMENT RATING ON AN INDIAN LICENCE ON THE BASIS OF TRAINING IN A CONTRACTING STATE:

5.1 Applicants holding Indian licences and desiring to obtain additional aircraft rating on the basis of training outside India, should obtain prior approval of the training programme from DGCA India before proceeding abroad for training. The quantum of training may vary depending upon the flying experience of the candidates and the types of licences and the ratings already held by them. Taking prior approval of DGCA is in the interest of applicants so that they can show compliance of all the requirements for grant of such rating.

5.2 An applicant who has completed a training course satisfactorily in an approved training organization of a Contracting State after obtaining prior approval of DGCA, shall produce the following records in original relating to the training undergone in accordance with the training programme approved by DGCA:

  (i) Syllabus and duration of ground training undergone.

  (ii) Result of the written examination in which at least 70% marks shall have been obtained, as is required for passing the examination conducted by CEO of DGCA, India.

  (iii) Syllabus and duration of flying training received on a simulator and/or an aircraft; and

  (iv) Reports of flight checks conducted in accordance with the DGCA approved proformae i.e. CA40A, CA40B etc. as applicable. These flight checks shall also include satisfactory completion of 3 take offs and landings each by day and by night for Co-Pilot rating, and 6 take offs and landings each by day and by night for Pilot-in-Command rating.

5.3 For the issue of aircraft ratings in India, the validity of the written examination and flying tests shall be in accordance with the provisions of Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

5.4 The applicant/operator who had obtained prior approval of DGCA, must ensure that the papers in original required under para 5.2 ii) and iv) above are sent by the training establishment directly to DGCA (Attn. - Director, Training & Licensing) under a sealed cover.

6. VERIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY OF DOCUMENTS BY DGCA:

DGCA may verify the authenticity and validity of the documents submitted by an applicant from the aeronautical authority of the Contracting State issuing the licence or rating and the training institute where the training was conducted.

7. ACTION FOR SUBMISSION OF WRONG INFORMATION :

The applicant shall ensure that the documents and information submitted to DGCA for grant of a licence or rating are correct and authentic. He shall attest the documents to this effect. If a licence or rating is obtained on the basis of incorrect information and/or false documents, the licence/rating is liable to be cancelled and the applicant shall also be subject to appropriate action under the applicable provisions of the Aircraft Act, 1934, the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and the Indian Penal Code, 1861