Getting your DGCA CPL issued: requirements, skill test and eGCA
The CPL is not awarded the moment you land your 200th hour. It is issued when you assemble every piece the rule demands and apply through eGCA. This lesson is the assembly checklist, taken straight from the rule, so nothing is missing when you are finally ready.
To be issued a DGCA CPL you must be 18 or older, have passed 10+2 with Physics and Maths, hold a valid Class 1 medical, have cleared the ground exams and hold a current radio telephony licence, have flown the 200 hours with all sub-minimums, and have passed a four-part skill test with an examiner within the six months before you apply. You then apply on eGCA.
The full issue checklist
Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules 1937 sets out exactly what an applicant for a CPL (Aeroplanes) must satisfy.
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Age | Not less than 18 years on the date of application |
| Education | Class 10+2 or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics, from a recognised board or university |
| Medical fitness | A current medical certificate, the Class 1 |
| Knowledge | The written ground exams, plus a practical signals examination for interpreting aural and visual signals |
| Experience | 200 hours with every sub-minimum met, including the recency rules |
| Flying training | Completed per the syllabus prescribed by the Director General |
| Other | A current Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence, that is your RTR(A) |
| Skill | A skill test passed within the 6 months before application (below) |
Alongside these, you will need your English Language Proficiency endorsement. DGCA sets aviation English proficiency requirements in CAR Section 7, Series G, Part III, with the ICAO operational level (Level 4) as the minimum for radiotelephony.
The skill test, in four parts
Near the end you fly a skill test with an authorised examiner, on the type of aeroplane your application relates to, demonstrating the procedures and manoeuvres in the syllabus. It must be completed within six months immediately preceding your application. It consists of:
- 1
A general flying test by day. Your handling and procedures against the CPL standard.
- 2
A general flying test by night. The same, at night.
- 3
A cross-country flight test by day of not less than 250 nautical miles, during which you make at least one full-stop landing at an aerodrome other than the one you departed from.
- 4
A cross-country flying test by night of not less than 120 nautical miles, returning to your point of departure without landing elsewhere.
DGCA may allow the skill test, or part of it, to be carried out on an aircraft or on an approved Zero Flight Time Training simulator at level 'D' for the type.
Applying through eGCA
- 1
Compile and reconcile your records. Cross-check your logbook totals against every category minimum, and confirm your exam passes, medical, RTR and ELP are all current. The documents checklist tracks the set.
- 2
Confirm your recency. 15 PIC hours and 10 night take-offs and landings inside the last six months, and a skill test inside the last six months.
- 3
Submit the CPL application on eGCA. Upload the required documents and pay the applicable fees through the portal.
- 4
Await verification and issue. DGCA verifies everything and issues the licence. Build in time, because this is a verification step, not an instant approval.
The commonest hold-ups at issue are avoidable: a logbook total that does not reconcile, a name that does not match across documents, or a medical, exam pass or recency window that lapsed while you finished flying. Remember your ground-exam passes must all sit within the five-year window before you apply. Reconcile everything before you submit, not after DGCA finds it.
If your Class 1 medical needs renewing before you apply, the examiner directory lists DGCA-empanelled medical examiners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a DGCA CPL?+
You must be at least 18 years old on the date of application, per Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules 1937.
What is the CPL skill test in India?+
A practical flight test with an authorised examiner, on the type you are applying for, made up of a general flying test by day, a general flying test by night, a day cross-country test of at least 250 nautical miles with a full-stop landing away from base, and a night cross-country test of at least 120 nautical miles returning without landing elsewhere. It must be passed within the six months before you apply.
Do I need English Language Proficiency for a CPL?+
Yes. DGCA requires an aviation English language proficiency endorsement, with the ICAO operational level (Level 4) as the minimum, under CAR Section 7, Series G, Part III.
Where do I apply for my CPL?+
On DGCA's eGCA portal, which handles licence applications, medicals and endorsements. Your ground exams are booked separately on the Pariksha portal.
How long does CPL issue take?+
It is a verification process rather than an instant approval, and the timeline depends on how clean your documents are. Reconciling your logbook, exam passes, medical and recency before you submit is the single biggest thing you control.
Key takeaways
- CPL issue requires age 18+, 10+2 with Physics and Maths, a valid medical, the ground exams, RTR, 200 hours with all sub-minimums, and a skill test.
- The skill test has four parts, including a 250 nm day cross-country and a 120 nm night cross-country, all within six months of applying.
- You also need an English Language Proficiency endorsement at ICAO Level 4 or above.
- Apply on eGCA, and reconcile every record before submitting.
Before you move on
That is the licence for those who trained in India. If you trained abroad, there is one more process first: converting your foreign licence.