Radio Operator Exam

Today I wrote the examination for my (RIC-21) Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification. In plain English it is a License that allows me to broadcast on a radio frequency.

This certificate is issued by Industry Canada and is a requirement for the Canadian Private Pilot License. I downloaded the study guide and read it three or four times and then supplemented what I had learned with a powerpoint and video obtained from my online ground school.

I have to admit - I was scratching my head a lot while reading this guide. If people actually communicated on a busy frequency in the manner suggested - it would surely result in safety being compromised due to the lengthy transmissions required to say.. well to say anything. Here's an example of a standard check in, let's say this was on the ground looking for taxi to the active:


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What Industry Canada says we should say:

"Springbank Ground, this is Diamond 20, Charlie Foxtrot India Foxtrot Alpha on One Two One Decimal Eight"

"Charlie Foxtrot India Foxtrot Alpha, this is Springbank Ground. Go Ahead"

"Springbank Ground, Charlie Foxtrot India Foxtrot Alpha is at the Calgary Flying Club with Information Quebec, requesting taxi to the active for departure to the Practice Area".

"Charlie Foxtrot India Foxtrot Alpha, Taxi to runway Two Five via Alpha Charlie, Winds two two zero degrees at five knots, altimeter Two niner decimal niner two, contact Springbank Tower on frequency One One Eight Decimal Two when Ready. Over."

"Springbank Ground, Charlie Foxtrot India Foxtrot Alpha. Taxi to runway Two Five via Alpha Charlie, Winds two two zero degrees at five knots, altimeter Two niner decimal niner two, contact Springbank Tower on frequency One One Eight Decimal Two when Ready. Over."

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Sure that was an important transmission, here's how it actually goes in the practical (real) world:

"Springbank Ground, Diamond Fox India Fox Alpha at the club with Charlie, for the practice Area"

"Diamond India Fox Alpha, Ground. Taxi to runway Two Five via Alpha Charlie, Winds Two Twenty at 5, altimeter Twenty nine Ninety Two, Tower on Eighteen Two when ready."

"Two five via Alpha Charlie, India Fox Alpha"

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Granted it was nice to understand exactly how to handle the frequency during an emergency call (much different than the calls in the US) and also good to learn about some of the special frequencies and the regulations, laws, and fines related to using the frequencies.

Aside from that - I have to say that from my perspective it was mostly useless. In fact the exam itself was quite lame. Some of the questions on it had me scratching my head wondering "Why in the world would anyone actually need to know what the exact fine is for misusing the frequency?". The exam was multiple choice and 25 questions. I only needed 60% to pass. It took me less than 10 minutes for the first pass of the questions, and I spent an additional 15 minutes reviewing all of the questions. Some of them were extremely ambiguous - where I could easily have "argued" why the answer could have been A or C.

I realized during the exam, that I had not actually written a test or examination in many many many years. This is probably much easier for people who are still in High School or University - but at the same time it reminded me of the process one must go through in order to properly prepare for an examination.

I scored over 80%. I didn't bother arguing about the two questions which I still think are ambiguous and were correctly answered (I even looked it up afterwards). Not really worth it. The certificate should be in the mail.

Medical and Radio Certificate out of the way. Aside from the actual learning and practical air exercises - the only thing standing between me and a spin in the circuit without anyone in the right seat is the PSTAR examination. Now the studying can truly begin. I'm super busy for the next month and not even sure when I might fly again. Until then....