RTR(A) is now a DGCA licence: what changed after WPC handed over

The Radio Telephony (Restricted) licence, RTR(A) for aeroplane pilots, is the licence that allows you to use an aircraft radio. Every Indian CPL holder needs it. For decades it was examined and issued by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Department of Telecommunications. That has now changed.

What happened

• From 1 December 2025, the DGCA took over RTR examinations and the issue of RTR certificates and licences from WPC.
• On 1 July 2026 the DGCA notified that it would accept RTR certificates and licences issued by WPC only until 15 July 2026. After that date it will not accept them for licensing, examination or regulatory purposes.
• The notification covers RTR(A), RTR(C) and RTR(P).

What this means for students

• Apply for RTR(A) exams through the DGCA's process, not WPC.
• If you hold an older WPC-issued RTR, check with the DGCA whether you need to act to keep using it for licensing, and do it early so your CPL issue is not held up.
• The exam still has two parts: a written paper on regulations, radio principles and radiotelephony procedures, and a practical part on transmitting and handling messages correctly.

Why RTR deserves real preparation

Many students treat RTR as an afterthought, then lose months repeating it. Standard phraseology, message priority, distress and urgency procedures and readback rules all need practice out loud, not just reading. Airlines also notice good radio discipline in simulator assessments.

At Charlie Foxtrot we run RTR(A) Part 1 and Part 2 as separate batches, with mock transmissions in the classroom and live online.