DGCA CPL Air Regulations key terms

The 1944 international treaty that established the legal framework for civil aviation, creating ICAO and setting out principles such as state sovereignty over airspace and equal treatment of contracting states.

One of the numbered technical supplements to the Chicago Convention covering a specific field such as personnel licensing, operation of aircraft, or accident investigation, containing Standards and Recommended Practices.

A uniform specification whose application is recognised as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation; contracting states must notify ICAO of any inability to comply.

A specification whose uniform application is desirable for safety, regularity or efficiency of international air navigation, but which is not mandatory in the same way as a Standard.

A set of commercial rights granted between states for international air services, ranging from overflight and technical stops to carrying traffic between two foreign states or within one foreign state.

A treaty between two states that specifies the routes, capacity and traffic rights their designated airlines may exercise, supplementing the general rights in the Chicago Convention.

A provision of the Chicago Convention permitting non-scheduled flights of other contracting states to enter or overfly a state without prior permission, subject to the right to require landing or conditions.

The formal process by which a contracting state informs ICAO of any national regulation that differs from an ICAO Standard or Recommended Practice, so other states can be made aware.

The national regulations made under the Aircraft Act that govern registration, airworthiness, licensing of personnel, operation of aircraft and other aviation matters within Indian territory.

Detailed technical requirements issued by the Indian civil aviation regulator in numbered sections, mirroring ICAO Annexes and prescribing compliance for operators, maintenance organisations and personnel.

The head of India's civil aviation regulatory authority, responsible for safety oversight, licensing, airworthiness control and enforcement under the Aircraft Act and Rules.

The Indian statute that empowers the government to make rules controlling the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale and movement of aircraft and for licensing of personnel and aerodromes.

The formal approval issued to an organisation authorising it to conduct commercial air transport operations, specifying the aircraft types, routes and conditions under which it may operate.

The document approved for an operator that sets out procedures, limitations and instructions for flight crew, ground staff and management to ensure safe conduct of all flights.

An approved document that identifies specific instruments and equipment that may be inoperative while the aircraft remains airworthy, subject to stated conditions and dispatch procedures.

An approved list of non-structural external parts, such as fairings or seals, that may be missing at dispatch, with associated performance penalties and conditions for safe flight.

The condition in which an aircraft, its engines, propellers and equipment conform to an approved design and are in a state safe for flight within the approved operating limitations.

A document issued for an individual aircraft confirming that it conforms to a type design found airworthy and is maintained in a condition safe for operation.

An approval granted for the design of an aircraft type, engine or propeller, confirming that the design meets applicable airworthiness requirements and serves as the basis for individual airworthiness certificates.

The set of processes and tasks by which an aircraft is kept in an airworthy condition throughout its service life, including maintenance, inspection, defect reporting and record keeping.

A document describing how an operator organises and controls maintenance, including scheduled tasks, defect rectification, record keeping and contracting arrangements with maintenance organisations.

A mandatory instruction issued by a state authority requiring specific inspections, modifications or limitations on aircraft, engines or components to correct an unsafe condition.

A document issued by a manufacturer recommending or requiring inspection, modification or replacement of components; it becomes mandatory only when adopted by an airworthiness directive or operator requirement.

A flight crew licence that permits the holder to act as pilot in command or co-pilot of aircraft in commercial operations, subject to the ratings, experience and medical requirements prescribed.

An authorisation entered on a pilot licence permitting the holder to operate a specific aircraft type that requires a type-specific training and checking programme.

An authorisation on a licence covering a category of aircraft of similar characteristics, such as single-engine piston aeroplanes, rather than a single specific type.

A qualification permitting a pilot to operate under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions, requiring training and testing in navigation and approach by sole reference to instruments.

A document issued by an approved medical examiner confirming that a licence holder meets the prescribed health standards for the privileges being exercised.

The regulatory limits on how long crew may remain on duty and fly, together with required rest periods, intended to control fatigue and maintain safe performance.

A two-part code based on aircraft reference field length and wingspan or outer main gear wheel span, used to relate aerodrome design standards to the aircraft intended to use the facility.

A certificate issued by the state confirming that an aerodrome and its operator meet the prescribed safety standards and are suitable for the type of operations conducted there.

A defined volume of airspace around an aerodrome that must be kept free of obstructions, within which any new object or growth is assessed for its effect on safety.

An occurrence associated with aircraft operation in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains substantial damage, or the aircraft is missing or inaccessible.

An occurrence, not qualifying as an accident, whose circumstances indicate a high probability of an accident, such as a near collision, engine failure or unsafe approach.

The independent process of gathering and analysing evidence to determine the causes and contributing factors of an accident, with the objective of preventing recurrence rather than apportioning blame.

A proposal issued by an investigating authority to a regulator, operator or manufacturer to correct a safety deficiency identified during an investigation and prevent similar occurrences.

A written account submitted by crew, controllers or other personnel describing an event such as an incident, defect or hazard, so that it can be assessed and acted upon.

A structured set of processes and accountabilities used by an organisation to identify hazards, assess and mitigate risk, and continuously improve safety performance.