DGCA prescribed textbook

Air Regulations for CPL/ATPL

Wing Commander RK Bali (IAF, Retd.)
Sterling Book House

The standard DGCA-prescribed reference for the CPL and ATPL Air Regulations examination. Covers all 18 ICAO Annexes as applicable to Indian operations, DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, Rules of the Air, licensing, and ATC procedures.

1,228
Practice questions
12
Chapters covered
Air Regulations
Subject
Yes
DGCA prescribed

Chapter-by-chapter breakdown

Ch 1
Introduction to Air Law
Sources of air law, ICAO structure, the Chicago Convention. The DGCA tests the relationship between ICAO SARPs and domestic regulation.
Ch 2
ICAO and International Conventions
Chicago, Tokyo, Hague, Montreal Conventions. Know what each covers, not just that it exists.
Ch 3
Aircraft Nationality and Registration
Straightforward chapter — reliable source of easy marks. Know the Indian nationality mark (VT-).
Ch 4
Airworthiness
Certificate of Airworthiness validity and conditions under which it lapses are tested consistently.
Ch 5
Licensing
Most consistently tested chapter. CPL vs ATPL privileges, recency requirements, medical classes — know them precisely.
Ch 6
Rules of the Air
Right-of-way hierarchy and VFR minima by airspace class appear in virtually every paper.
Ch 7
Air Traffic Services
Communication failure procedures are tested specifically — the sequence and transponder code matter.
Ch 8
Aerodromes
Visual aid identification (runway markings, holding position signs, runway guard lights) appears regularly.
Ch 9
Facilitation
Lighter chapter in exam weight but produces straightforward marks when studied.
Ch 10
Search and Rescue
SAR phases (uncertainty, alert, distress) and their trigger conditions are tested reliably.
Ch 11
Aircraft Accident Investigation
Annex 13 definitions are tested exactly — learn the difference between accident, serious incident, and incident word-for-word.
Ch 12
Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs)
Where regulatory currency matters most. ProPilotLicence questions in this section are reviewed against current DGCA CARs.

Sample question

From Chapter 6: Rules of the Air

An aircraft in distress has right of way over all other aircraft. Which of the following aircraft has the LOWEST priority in the right of way hierarchy under ICAO Annex 2?

A. An aircraft on final approach to land
B. An aircraft towing another aircraft or object
C. An airship
D. A powered aircraft
Explanation

Under ICAO Annex 2, the right of way hierarchy (highest to lowest priority) is: aircraft in distress → balloons → gliders → airships → aircraft towing → powered aircraft. A powered aircraft has the lowest priority, meaning it must give way to all other categories. This is frequently tested because candidates instinctively assume powered aircraft have priority over slower or less manoeuvrable types. The rule is the opposite.

Practise all 1,228 questions from RK Bali

Organised by chapter. Reviewed by active airline captains. First 10 questions free.

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Frequently asked questions

Is RK Bali sufficient for the DGCA Air Regulations exam?
Bali covers the syllabus comprehensively and is sufficient for most of the paper. For regulatory content updated after your edition of Bali, supplement with current DGCA CARs available free on the DGCA website. ProPilotLicence questions are reviewed against current CARs.
Which chapters of RK Bali are most heavily tested?
Chapter 5 (Licensing) and Chapter 6 (Rules of the Air) are the most consistently tested. Chapter 7 (Air Traffic Services), specifically communication failure procedures, produces questions candidates lose marks on disproportionately. Chapter 11 (Accident Investigation) definitions are tested exactly — learn the Annex 13 definitions precisely.
How often does the Air Regulations syllabus change?
DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements are updated regularly. In 2024–25, significant updates included amendments to drone regulations and RTR(A) licensing. The ProPilotLicence captain panel reviews Air Regulations questions specifically for currency.
Can I practise just the CARs-related questions separately from ICAO Annex questions?
Yes. ProPilotLicence allows filtering by chapter, separating ICAO Annex chapters from CARs-specific content.