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DGCA CPL AIR REGULATIONS · ASKED IN REAL EXAMS

Communications & phraseology

17 questions on this topic, recalled by candidates after DGCA sittings between 2021 and 2026. Together they were asked 53 times; the most repeated come first. Pick a year to see only what was asked that year.

Asked in:
Q1Asked in 7 sittings:May 20222022 · Regular 03Aug 2023 · OLODEJan 2025 · OLODE 01May 2026 · OLODE 04Jun 2026 · Regular 02Aug 2026 · OLODE 06

An altitude of 3500 ft is transmitted in radiotelephony as

  1. A.Three five zero zero
  2. B.Three thousand five hundred
  3. C.Thirty-five hundred
Show answer

B. Three thousand five hundred

For altitude, cloud height, visibility and RVR, whole thousands and hundreds are spoken as THOUSAND and HUNDRED: "three thousand five hundred". Digit by digit is used for flight levels and squawk codes.

Q2Asked in 6 sittings:Feb 2021Dec 2022 · Session 04Jan 2025 · OLODE 01Oct 2025 · OLODE 07Apr 2026 · OLODE 03Jun 2026 · Regular 02

On the readability scale, "readability 3" means

  1. A.Readable now and then
  2. B.Readable but with difficulty
  3. C.Perfectly readable
Show answer

B. Readable but with difficulty

The scale runs 1 unreadable, 2 readable now and then, 3 readable but with difficulty, 4 readable, 5 perfectly readable.

Q3Asked in 5 sittings:May 2024 · OLODE 04Jan 2025 · OLODE 01Apr 2025 · Regular 01May 2025 · OLODE 04Apr 2026 · OLODE 03

The radiotelephony urgency signal is

  1. A.PAN PAN
  2. B.MAYDAY
  3. C.SECURITE
Show answer

A. PAN PAN

PAN PAN, preferably spoken three times, pronounced like the French word "panne". MAYDAY is distress; SECURITE is a safety signal from marine radio, not the aviation urgency call.

Q4Asked in 5 sittings:Aug 2022Jul 2023 · OLODEFeb 2025 · OLODE 02Oct 2025 · OLODE 07Jul 2026 · OLODE 05

In ICAO terminology, STAR stands for

  1. A.Standard instrument arrival
  2. B.Standard terminal radar
  3. C.Surveillance and tracking arrival route
Show answer

A. Standard instrument arrival

A STAR is a published IFR arrival route linking an en-route significant point to a point where an instrument approach can begin. Some countries say "standard terminal arrival route"; the ICAO term is standard instrument arrival.

Q5Asked in 5 sittings:2022 · Regular 03Nov 2024 · OLODE 08Oct 2025 · OLODE 07Apr 2026 · OLODE 03May 2026 · OLODE 04

DER stands for

  1. A.Departure end of runway
  2. B.Designated emergency runway
  3. C.Distance to end of runway
Show answer

A. Departure end of runway

The departure end of the runway is the end of the area declared suitable for take-off. The instrument departure procedure starts there.

Q6Asked in 4 sittings:May 2024 · OLODE 04May 2025 · OLODE 04Jul 2026 · OLODE 05Aug 2026 · OLODE 06

A distress message is preceded by the radiotelephony distress signal

  1. A.MAYDAY, preferably spoken three times
  2. B.PAN PAN, preferably spoken three times
  3. C.DISTRESS, spoken three times
Show answer

A. MAYDAY, preferably spoken three times

Distress = MAYDAY, preferably three times, sent on the frequency in use. PAN PAN is the urgency signal, for a situation that is serious but not in grave and imminent danger.

Q7Asked in 4 sittings:Nov 2023 · OLODE 08Jul 2025 · OLODE 05Apr 2026 · OLODE 03Jul 2026 · OLODE 05

The international aeronautical VHF emergency frequency is

  1. A.121.5 MHz
  2. B.123.45 MHz
  3. C.118.1 MHz
Show answer

A. 121.5 MHz

The correct answer is: 121.5 MHz.

Q8Asked in 3 sittings:Feb 2021Sep 2024 · Session 03Feb 2025 · OLODE 02

In the SHEL model, the letters stand for

  1. A.Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware
  2. B.Safety, Health, Environment, Leadership
  3. C.Systems, Human, Error, Limits
Show answer

A. Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware

Software (procedures, manuals, checklists), Hardware (the machine), Environment, and Liveware (the human, at the centre).

Q9Asked in 3 sittings:Sep 2023 · Regular 03Oct 2023 · FC 07Oct 2025 · OLODE 07

In the ground-to-air code used by survivors, "X" means

  1. A.Require medical assistance
  2. B.Require assistance
  3. C.No / negative
Show answer

A. Require medical assistance

X = require medical assistance; V = require assistance; N = no; Y = yes; an arrow = proceeding in this direction. Symbols should be at least 2.5 m (8 ft) long.

Q10Asked in 2 sittings:Oct 2025 · OLODE 07May 2026 · OLODE 04

Which of these is an international HF distress frequency, used for voice contact with ships?

  1. A.3062 kHz
  2. B.2182 kHz
  3. C.2346 kHz
Show answer

B. 2182 kHz

2182 kHz is the maritime distress frequency, and many ships can also be reached on 4125 kHz and 121.5 MHz. The recognised distress list is 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz and 2182 kHz.

Q11Asked in 2 sittings:Oct 2024 · OLODE 07Jun 2026 · Regular 02

Having made an error in a transmission, the correct word to use is

  1. A.REPEAT
  2. B.CORRECTION
  3. C.DISREGARD
Show answer

B. CORRECTION

CORRECTION means "an error has been made in this transmission; the correct version is...". DISREGARD cancels a transmission and REPEAT is not used in this sense.

Q12Asked in 2 sittings:Sep 2023 · Regular 03Oct 2023 · FC 07

In radiotelephony, the Q code QFE is spoken as

  1. A.QUEBEC FOXTROT ECHO
  2. B.QUEEN FOXTROT ECHO
  3. C.QUEBEC FOX ELEVATION
Show answer

A. QUEBEC FOXTROT ECHO

The correct answer is: QUEBEC FOXTROT ECHO.

Q13Asked in:Jul 2026 · OLODE 05

RNAV stands for

  1. A.Area navigation
  2. B.Radio navigation
  3. C.Route navigation
Show answer

A. Area navigation

Area navigation: navigation on any desired path within ground-based or space-based aid coverage, or within the limits of self-contained aids, or a combination.

Q14Asked in:Jul 2026 · OLODE 05

AFIS stands for

  1. A.Aerodrome forecast information service
  2. B.Aerodrome flight information service
  3. C.Automatic flight information service
Show answer

B. Aerodrome flight information service

Aerodrome flight information service - flight information and alerting at an aerodrome that has no control tower. Do not confuse it with ATIS, the automatic information broadcast.

Q15Asked in:Apr 2026 · OLODE 03

RVR stands for

  1. A.Runway visual range
  2. B.Runway visibility report
  3. C.Reported visual range
Show answer

A. Runway visual range

Runway visual range: the distance over which a pilot on the runway centre line can see the runway markings or lights. With DA/H, it is how precision approach minima are stated.

Q16Asked in:Mar 2025 · Regular 01

TORA (take-off run available) is

  1. A.The length of runway declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane taking off
  2. B.TORA plus the clearway
  3. C.TORA plus the stopway
Show answer

A. The length of runway declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane taking off

TORA is the runway available for the ground run. TODA adds the clearway; ASDA adds the stopway.

Q17Asked in:Jun 2024 · Regular

In the ground-to-air code used by rescue units, "LLL" means

  1. A.Operation completed
  2. B.We have found all personnel
  3. C.Nothing found - will continue to search
Show answer

A. Operation completed

LLL = operation completed. LL = found all personnel; NN = nothing found, will continue.

These are candidates' recollections, not official DGCA papers: wording can differ from the paper as set. Every answer was checked against the DGCA CARs, AIP India, ICAO documents or worked calculation (independent check completed 17 Oct 2026). Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it against the source.