About the DGCA Radio Navigation paper
Radio Navigation, also called Radio Aids and Instruments, is examined as part of the DGCA Air Navigation examination for the Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Licences. It is multiple choice, 70 percent to pass, with no negative marking; a subject pass is valid for five years, with a 30-day wait between attempts.
The syllabus covers radio wave propagation and the frequency bands, VHF direction finding, the ADF and NDB and their errors, the VOR and the interpretation of radials and the CDI, DME and slant range, the ILS with its localiser, glidepath and marker beacons and its categories, primary and secondary radar and transponder modes and codes, and GNSS, RNAV and area navigation, including the Indian GAGAN augmentation system.
What is in this question bank
This bank works through Radio Navigation chapter by chapter on the Oxford structure, with an additional set from the IndiGo 6000 question bank. Every question carries a written explanation, including the orientation and intercept questions for VOR and ADF that candidates most often get wrong. Two chapters are free to try; the rest unlock with a free account.
How to prepare
Get the principle of each aid clear first, then drill the interpretation questions: which radial you are on, TO or FROM, reverse sensing, relative versus magnetic bearing, and DME slant-range error. General Navigation is practised separately under General Navigation. The other subjects are Meteorology, Air Regulation and Technical General.
DGCA Radio Navigation - frequently asked questions
What is in the DGCA Radio Navigation syllabus?
Radio wave propagation and the frequency bands, VHF direction finding, ADF and NDB, VOR and CDI interpretation, DME, ILS and its categories, primary and secondary radar, transponders, and GNSS, RNAV and PBN.
How does a VOR work?
A VOR transmits a reference phase equally in all directions and a variable phase whose difference from the reference changes with bearing. The receiver measures the phase difference to give the radial from the station. This bank has worked orientation and intercept questions.
Is DGCA Radio Aids hard?
The concepts are straightforward. Marks are lost on CDI and bearing interpretation and on error lists, which are exactly the areas the explanations here focus on.
Which book is best for DGCA Radio Navigation?
The Oxford or Nordian Radio Navigation volume is standard. Indian candidates also use the IndiGo 6000 question set, which is one of the sources in this bank.
What is GAGAN?
GAGAN is India's satellite-based augmentation system, the regional equivalent of the American WAAS. It improves GNSS accuracy and integrity over the Indian region and is a common exam point.
