Personnel Licensing

A licence holder must be able to communicate safely and must remain medically fit for the privileges being exercised. Both are continuing requirements, not one-time entry tests.

Language Proficiency

Applicants for the PPL, CPL, ATPL, flight navigator, flight engineer, ATC and aeronautical station operator licences must speak and understand the English used for radiotelephony to the level specified by the Director General.

Validity of Medical Fitness

Conditions under which a Licence shall be deemed invalid

1. Sickness or injury causing incapacity for licensed work for 15 days or more requires fresh medical fitness before privileges are resumed.
2. An accident injury likely to cause incapacity or impair efficiency must be reported immediately, with relevant details, by the holder or employer to the Director General.
3. A medically disqualified person's licence remains invalid until the holder passes a fresh medical examination.
4. A holder who knows that physical condition has deteriorated below the required standard must not exercise licence privileges.

Special Medical Examination

Bali records that an ailment causing unfitness for flying for at least 15 days but not more than 60 days may be handled case by case by a DGCA-empanelled Class 1 medical examiner when the DGCA medical directorate so decides. Every in-flight incapacitation of aircrew must be reported by the operator to DGCA at the earliest opportunity.

The SPL controls supervised training. The PPL permits private flying without remuneration after a broader knowledge, experience, training and skill standard has been met.

Student Pilot's Licence: Knowledge and Security Clearance

An SPL applicant passes the prescribed oral examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, and Aircraft and Engines, unless credit is available from a higher licence or approved evidence. The flying club or Government flying training school obtains security clearance from the State Police before flying training begins and supplies it to the Director General.

SPL Renewal, Aircraft Rating and Privileges

The SPL may be renewed for no more than 12 months from a fresh medical examination, subject to a total licence validity not exceeding 24 months from issue. It records the classes and types the holder may fly. The holder may fly as pilot-in-command only in India, within the entered rating, under the authority and supervision of a flight instructor or approved examiner, and under VFR.

An SPL holder may not carry passengers, animals or goods, and may not fly for hire or reward. Cross-country flight requires at least 10 hours of solo time and successful Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology examinations. The SPL is issued by a specifically authorised flying club or Government flying training school under DGCA conditions.

Private Pilot's Licence: Knowledge and Experience

The PPL knowledge examination covers Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, and Aircraft and Engines. A current helicopter PPL or commercial or airline helicopter pilot may be required to take only Aircraft and Engines for the aeroplane licence.

Flying Training and Skill

The applicant completes the DGCA-prescribed training syllabus and demonstrates pilot-in-command or co-pilot competence in the required procedures and manoeuvres on the relevant type. The skill demonstration must be within 6 months immediately before the application.

PPL Renewal

Renewal requires a satisfactory medical examination and either at least 5 hours as pilot-in-command during the 12 months immediately before the renewal application, or a satisfactory flying test completed during the preceding 6 months.

The licence establishes the basic grade. Aircraft, night and instrument ratings define which aircraft and operating conditions the holder may actually use.

Aircraft Rating and open rating

The licence records the class and types of aeroplane the holder may fly. Bali describes an open rating for all single-piston aeroplane types not above 1,500 kg after at least 250 hours as pilot-in-command and at least four different types entered in the licence. Before using the open rating on another type, the pilot completes ground and flight familiarisation with an instructor or approved examiner, and the examiner records certification in the logbook.

Night Rating

Instrument Rating

An Instrument Rating permits flight under the Instrument Flight Rules. The separate requirements and privileges appear on page 8 of this chapter. The PPL holder exercising instrument privileges requires the applicable current rating and Class 1 medical fitness.

Extension of Aircraft Rating

To add another aeroplane type, the applicant passes Aircraft and Engines, receives adequate dual and solo training to become competent, and completes the type flight test within the 6 months immediately before applying for the extension.

Privileges

A PPL holder may act, without remuneration, as pilot-in-command or co-pilot of an aeroplane entered in the licence's aircraft rating and may carry passengers. Passengers may be carried by night only with a valid Night Rating and at least 5 take-offs and 5 landings by night as pilot-in-command during the 6 months before the intended flight. IFR flight requires a valid Instrument Rating.

The CPL raises the standard from private competence to professional operation. It combines detailed knowledge with 200 hours of flight experience, current radio authority, recent flying tests and aircraft-specific ratings.

Knowledge and Experience

The applicant passes Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines, and the practical signals examination. A current helicopter CPL holder may receive the Aircraft and Engines conversion treatment stated by Bali.

For the helicopter-licence credit route described by Bali, at least 1,000 hours as helicopter pilot-in-command can reduce the aeroplane total to 100 hours. That route still requires 75 hours aeroplane pilot-in-command, including 25 cross-country hours and 10 instrument hours with no more than 5 simulator hours, plus 5 hours at night with 10 take-offs and landings, and 10 hours on aeroplanes within the preceding 6 months.

Flying Training, Other Requirements and Skill

The applicant completes the prescribed training, holds a current FRTOL and demonstrates competence within 6 months before application. The demonstrations include general flying tests by day and night, a day cross-country test of at least 250 NM with a full-stop landing at another aerodrome, and a night cross-country test of at least 120 NM returning to the departure aerodrome without landing elsewhere. Approved zero-flight-time simulation may be accepted where DGCA permits it for the type.

Renewal

Renewal requires medical fitness, a current FRTOL and either at least 10 hours as pilot-in-command during the preceding 6 months, with 50 percent of co-pilot time creditable, or satisfactory day and night general flying tests during that period.

Aircraft, Instructor and Instrument Ratings

The licence lists the types the holder may fly. An open rating for single-piston aeroplanes not above 1,500 kg requires at least 1,000 hours on those types, including 500 hours as pilot-in-command, and at least four types entered in the rating. An Instructor's Rating authorises flight instruction. An Instrument Rating authorises IFR flight when current.

Extension of Aircraft Rating and Proficiency Check

Adding a type requires approved theoretical and practical preparation in normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, instrument procedures where applicable, crew incapacitation, crew coordination and checklist use, followed by day and night flying tests within the preceding 6 months. A co-pilot of a transport aeroplane above 5,700 kg needs a type proficiency check valid for 6 months. A check completed within 2 months before expiry renews validity from the old expiry date.

Privileges

The CPL includes PPL privileges. It permits command of an entered aeroplane not above 5,700 kg, and co-pilot duties where a co-pilot is required. Night passenger carriage requires 10 take-offs and 10 landings by night as pilot-in-command within the preceding 6 months. IFR operation requires a current Instrument Rating. At age 65, Bali limits the remaining privileges to those of a PPL.

Bali separately describes the aeroplane CPL issued with instrument qualification. The licence grade, instrument competence and aircraft-type competence still remain separate controls.

Knowledge and Experience

The knowledge subjects are Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines, plus practical interpretation of aural and visual signals. The principal experience is completed within the 5 years before application.

The book notes that student-pilot-in-command time is not logged by the instructor as the instructor's own flight time. The student's logbook identifies the time in remarks as SPIC and names the instructor.

Flying Training, Other Requirements and Skill

The applicant completes the prescribed training, holds a current FRTOL and demonstrates the day, night and cross-country tests used for the CPL. In addition, the applicant completes an instrument flying test solely by reference to instruments within the 6 months before application. DGCA may permit approved simulator credit for the type.

Ratings and Extension of Aircraft Rating

The aircraft rating lists the authorised types. The open single-piston rating up to 1,500 kg requires 1,000 hours on those types, including 500 hours as pilot-in-command, and at least four entered types. The Instructor's Rating authorises instruction. Bali states that instrument privileges may be included in this licence when the required instrument tests have been completed. A type extension requires training in normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, instrument procedures, crew coordination and incapacitation, followed by the required tests within 6 months.

Proficiency Check and Privileges

Pilot-in-command or co-pilot operation of transport aeroplanes above 5,700 kg requires the prescribed type proficiency check. It is valid for 6 months and renewed in further 6-month periods. The licence includes PPL and CPL privileges, command within the applicable 5,700 kg limit and co-pilot operation where required, subject to a current Instrument Rating for IFR.

The ATPL is the command licence for large transport aeroplanes. Its experience standard is much broader than the CPL and includes substantial command, cross-country, night and instrument time.

Knowledge and Experience

The applicant passes written and oral examinations in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Avionics including radio aids and instruments, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines, and the practical signals examination. A current CPL holder receives the examination credit stated by Bali.

Where the aircraft requires a co-pilot, no more than 50 percent of ordinary co-pilot time is credited toward total time. No more than 50 percent of qualifying supervised co-pilot command time is credited toward the command requirement. Solo flight time receives full credit.

Other Requirements, Skill and Renewal

The applicant holds a current CPL, a current multi-engine Instrument Rating and a current FRTOL. Competence by day and night is demonstrated on the relevant multi-engine type within the 6 months before application. Approved zero-flight-time simulation may be accepted where DGCA permits it. Renewal requires medical fitness, current radio and multi-engine instrument authority, and either 10 hours as pilot-in-command during the preceding 6 months with 50 percent co-pilot credit, or the prescribed day and night tests.

Ratings, Extension and Proficiency Check

The licence lists authorised classes and types. Bali describes an open rating for aeroplanes up to 5,700 kg after at least 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command on aeroplanes of 14,000 kg or more. An Instructor's Rating authorises instruction. Instrument privileges are included only when the prescribed instrument tests have been completed. Type extension requires appropriate theoretical, simulator or aircraft training and a skill test. Pilot-in-command or co-pilot operation above 5,700 kg requires a type proficiency check valid for 6 months.

Privileges

The ATPL includes PPL and CPL privileges and permits command of an entered aeroplane above 5,700 kg when type, route, proficiency and instrument conditions are met. For initial command on type, Bali requires at least 100 hours on that type as co-pilot followed by the prescribed number of satisfactory route checks, a proportion of them by night. A pilot with at least 100 hours previous command experience on transport aeroplanes above 5,700 kg completes a reduced number of route checks, stated by Bali as six with at least three by night. The pilot must have completed the required type proficiency check within the preceding 6 months and hold a current Instrument Rating before IFR flight. At age 65, privileges are restricted to PPL privileges.

An Instrument Rating is evidence of trained competence to control and navigate an aircraft by reference to instruments. Its privilege is limited by aircraft category, type or mass, medical fitness and the rating's own validity.

Instrument Rating: Knowledge and Experience

The applicant passes Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology and Instrument Rating examinations, plus the practical aural and visual signals test. The aeroplane experience requirements are:

Other Requirements, Flying Training and Skill

The applicant holds a current pilot licence for aeroplanes and a current FRTOL, completes the prescribed flight training and passes an instrument flight test within the 6 months before application. DGCA may allow all or part of the test in an approved simulator for the type.

Validity and Renewal

The rating is valid for 12 months from the instrument-rating flight test. If the renewal test is completed within the 2 months before expiry and the other renewal requirements are met, the next 12 months begins at the old expiry date. Otherwise, validity begins on the date of the test. Renewal requires a satisfactory Instrument Rating Flight Test and a valid FRTOL.

Extension of Instrument Rating

To add another aeroplane type, the applicant passes the applicable instrument flight test on that type within the 6 months before applying for the extension.

Privileges

A successful test on a single-engine aeroplane not above 5,700 kg permits instrument privileges on all single-engine aeroplanes within that mass category entered in the aircraft rating. A test on a multi-engine aeroplane not above 5,700 kg permits privileges on all multi-engine aeroplanes within that category and on entered single-engine aeroplanes. For a multi-engine aeroplane above 5,700 kg or a transport aeroplane, the privilege is limited to the type on which the Instrument Rating Flight Test was completed satisfactorily.

Logging flight time

A practical privilege check

1. Is the licence document valid and does its grade permit the intended role?
2. Is the required aircraft class or type entered?
3. Is the medical class valid for the operation and age?
4. Are Night, Instrument and Instructor Ratings valid where needed?
5. Are take-off, landing, route-check, proficiency-check and recent-flight requirements current?
6. Is the FRTOL current when aircraft radio operation is required?