Iran CAO ATCO Theory study guide
Iran CAO ATCO Theory · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Iran Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Air Traffic Control Officer Theory Examination is the theoretical knowledge component required for an air traffic control licence in Iran. It is intended for candidates who have completed approved ATC training and are seeking to demonstrate the regulatory, operational, and technical knowledge needed to control air traffic safely. The Iran CAO ATCO Theory study guide has 10 sections and about 2,799 words.
01Air Law and ICAO Regulatory Framework
Domain 1 tests the legal chain behind every clearance: the Chicago Convention, ICAO Annexes and PANS, and the national rules issued by the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAO). Questions often ask which rule authorises or restricts a flight, rather than asking you to recite an Annex number.
318 words, about 2 min02Air Traffic Management
Domain 2 tests how you turn the rules in Annex 11 and Doc 4444 into safe, orderly flow inside the Tehran FIR. The exam favours practical separation and clearance questions: what minimum applies, whether you may use it, and what you do when the assumption behind it fails.
337 words, about 2 min03Meteorology
Domain 3 tests altimetry and hazardous weather: how pressure settings change what the altimeter shows, and how METAR, TAF, SIGMET and wind shear reports affect your control decisions. Below the transition altitude, aircraft use QNH; on the aerodrome, QFE may be used.
279 words, about 1 min04Navigation
Domain 4 tests navigation fundamentals that affect clearances: track, heading, variation, VOR/DME, NDB, ILS, RNAV and RNP. You need to convert between true and magnetic values and recognise when a navigation aid or PBN specification changes the usable route structure.
286 words, about 1 min05Aircraft General Knowledge
Domain 5 tests what controllers must know about aircraft performance, approach categories and wake turbulence. You are not expected to fly the aircraft, but you must know how its size, speed and configuration affect separation and runway use.
312 words, about 2 min06Human Factors and Performance
Domain 6 tests how you use human-factors models to explain and prevent controller error, not how well you recite them. Expect questions on situational awareness, fatigue, workload, communication and team coordination.
257 words, about 1 min07Communications and Radio Telephony
Domain 7 tests standard radiotelephony: correct phraseology, readback, frequency discipline and distress procedures. The exam rewards exact standard words and penalises informal substitutes that sound harmless in conversation but are ambiguous on a busy frequency.
272 words, about 1 min08Air Traffic Control Equipment and Systems
Domain 8 tests the equipment behind the display: surveillance, communications, navigation aids and automation. Questions usually ask what a system can and cannot prove, so focus on identification, coverage and serviceability rather than on manufacturer names.
247 words, about 1 min09Operational Procedures and Emergency Handling
Domain 9 tests emergency phases, priority handling and the interface with search and rescue. The exam wants a sequence: recognise the condition, declare the phase, protect the flight and notify the right agency.
245 words, about 1 min10Aviation English and Phraseology
Domain 10 tests the language standard behind safe radiotelephony: ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale Level 4 and the disciplined use of standard phraseology, with plain language only when standard phrases do not cover the situation. ICAO assesses pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and interactions.
246 words, about 1 min