My CPL or AME licence application has been pending with DGCA for months. Can RTI speed it up?

Yes. RTI is one of the most effective tools for stalled DGCA licence applications. Pilot and AME licence processing involves multiple stages — written examination clearance, medical assessment (via DGCA-approved Medical Assessment Centres), skill test, and documentation verification. Any stage can become a silent bottleneck. Through RTI, ask for: (1) the specific stage at which your application (Reference No. [XXX]) is currently held; (2) whether all required documents and test clearances have been received by DGCA; (3) the name and designation of the officer currently handling the file; (4) the administrative timeline prescribed for processing this licence category. A written, on-record response from DGCA identifying the stalled stage is more actionable than informal follow-ups and often triggers internal movement on the file.

My airline cancelled my flight without notice and did not compensate me. Can RTI help?

RTI to DGCA cannot recover your compensation directly — that requires a complaint to the airline, then to the Civil Aviation Ministry's AirSewa portal, and ultimately to a consumer forum. However, RTI to DGCA is valuable for: (1) confirming the DGCA Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV — the specific compensation amounts and conditions prescribed when an airline cancels a flight or delays it by more than 2 hours without adequate notice; (2) establishing whether DGCA has received similar complaints against your airline and what action was taken; (3) getting DGCA's records of the airline's cancellation rate for the route in question. The authoritative CAR text and DGCA's action data (or inaction) are powerful supporting material for a consumer forum complaint or a case before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

DGCA has a safety audit or surveillance finding against an airline. Can I get this through RTI?

Partially. DGCA conducts safety audits, ramp checks, and surveillance inspections of airlines under the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The findings from these inspections inform DGCA's enforcement actions. Final enforcement orders, penalties, and public safety directives issued by DGCA against an airline are disclosable public records. However, raw inspection reports and internal audit notes may be withheld under Section 8(1)(d) (commercial confidence) or Section 8(1)(h) (disclosure prejudicial to investigation or prosecution) depending on whether enforcement is pending. Ask for the enforcement orders and penalty notices (which are final, public documents) rather than the underlying inspection notes. If DGCA has issued a public safety directive or grounded an aircraft, those records should be fully disclosable.

What is the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and can I get an accident report through RTI?

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) operates under DGCA and investigates aviation accidents and serious incidents involving civil aircraft in India. AAIB investigation reports — especially final reports for concluded investigations — are typically published on the DGCA/AAIB website and are public documents. For a specific incident, RTI can confirm: (1) whether an investigation was formally initiated; (2) the investigation number and current stage; (3) for concluded investigations, a copy of the final investigation report or its reference. Preliminary reports and working notes from ongoing investigations may be withheld under Section 8(1)(h). Note that AAIB investigations follow ICAO Annex 13 protocols and are aimed at accident prevention, not blame — so the report may not assign civil or criminal liability.

What if DGCA does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at DGCA within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. DGCA is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation — second appeal goes to the CIC.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with DGCA for Pilot Licence, Aviation Safety and Airline Complaints

Central Government

How to File RTI with DGCA for Pilot Licence, Aviation Safety and Airline Complaints

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for pilot licence or AME licence delays, DGCA enforcement actions against airlines, flight cancellation and delay regulatory data, aircraft accident or incident investigation reports, and aviation safety audit findings. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Civil Aviation

Address RTI ToCPIO, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the Central Government regulatory body for civil aviation in India, functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. DGCA issues pilot licences, aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licences, and air operator certificates; enforces safety standards under the Aircraft Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937; publishes Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs); and oversees the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). DGCA is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

RTI to DGCA is most useful for three types of situations: licence application delays, enforcement data about airlines, and aviation safety records.

What DGCA Can and Cannot Provide Through RTI

DGCA CAN provide through RTI:

The status and bottleneck stage of a pending pilot licence (CPL, ATPL), student pilot licence, or AME licence application
Enforcement orders, penalties, and directions issued against airlines or aircraft operators for regulatory violations — these are final, public documents
Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) and DGCA circulars — the authoritative regulatory text governing passenger compensation, flight duty time limitations (FDTL), maintenance standards, and more
Flight cancellation and delay statistics reported by airlines to DGCA
AAIB investigation reports for concluded accident/incident investigations (these are also published on the DGCA website)
Air operator certificate status of an airline — whether the certificate is current and any conditions attached

DGCA MAY WITHHOLD:

Raw inspection reports and ramp check findings when enforcement action is still pending — Section 8(1)(h)
Internal audit notes and working documents — Section 8(1)(d) or 8(1)(g)
Preliminary reports of ongoing AAIB investigations — Section 8(1)(h)

Pilot and AME Licence: The RTI Use Case

Pilot licence applications go through multiple DGCA stages: written examination results, medical certification, skill test, and document verification. Delays can occur silently at any stage — an examiner's schedule, a pending medical review, or a document query that was never communicated to the applicant.

RTI to DGCA is often more effective than repeated phone calls or walk-ins. It creates an official, time-bound obligation on DGCA to state, in writing, exactly where the application is and what is blocking it.

Key details to include in your RTI:

Application reference number (from the eLicence portal or the receipt DGCA gave you)
Licence type and category
Date of application and, if applicable, the date you cleared the DGCA written examination

Passenger Rights: Using RTI to Support a Complaint

DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirement Section 3, Series M, Part IV prescribes passenger rights for:

Flight cancellations: Airlines must inform passengers at least 2 weeks before departure; compensation applies for shorter notice
Delays: Meal/refreshment obligations kick in at 2 hours; compensation for delays above thresholds set in the CAR
Denied boarding: Compensation for involuntary off-loading

RTI to DGCA can confirm the exact current version of this CAR and whether your airline has received enforcement action for non-compliance — information that substantially strengthens a consumer forum or NCDRC complaint.

Where to File

DGCA's main office is in New Delhi. File on rtionline.gov.in:

Select Ministry of Civil Aviation → Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Draft your questions — include the application reference number or flight details as applicable
Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt
Submit and note your registration number

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Licence status:

Current stage of licence application No. XXX for CPL / AME / ATPL — the specific requirement pending and the officer holding the file
Prescribed administrative timeline for this licence category and whether it has been exceeded

Airline enforcement: 3. Any show-cause notice, penalty, or suspension order issued against Airline Name in the last two years — nature, date, and reference 4. Number of consumer complaints received by DGCA against Airline Name via AirSewa in the last four quarters and action taken

Passenger rights and CARs: 5. Current text of CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV — passenger compensation provisions for cancellations, delays, and denied boarding 6. Current Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations applicable to commercial airline pilots

Flight cancellation data: 7. Number of cancellations and delays (>2 hours) by Airline Name on domestic routes in the last four quarters per DGCA records

Accident/incident investigation: 8. Whether AAIB has initiated a formal investigation into the incident involving Aircraft Reg. No. / Flight No. on Date — investigation number and current stage 9. Copy of the final AAIB investigation report for concluded investigation no. AAIB-XXXX (for closed investigations)

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the FAA at DGCA within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. DGCA is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation — second appeal is CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),
Opposite Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi – 110003

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Pilot Licence Status / DGCA Enforcement Action / Aviation Safety Data

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Applicant / licence / complaint details (as applicable):
  Licence Type: [Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) / Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence / Student Pilot Licence / Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)]
  Application Reference Number (from eLicence portal / DGCA): [Application Ref. No.]
  Applicant Name: [Full Name]
  Date of Application: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Airline / Aircraft Operator (if complaint is against an airline): [Airline Name]
  Flight Number and Date (if related to a specific flight): [Flight No., DD/MM/YYYY]

Information sought:

1. [For licence delay] The current status of the above pilot / AME licence application bearing Reference No. [XXX] — whether the application is under processing, pending documentation, pending medical assessment, pending examination clearance, or held for any other reason. If pending, the specific requirement and the stage at which the application is currently held.

2. If the licence has not been issued — the specific reason(s) for delay or non-issuance, the name and designation of the DGCA officer currently holding the file, and the prescribed statutory or administrative timeline for processing this category of licence application.

3. [For airline enforcement] Whether DGCA has issued any show-cause notice, direction, suspension order, or financial penalty against [Airline Name] in the last two years for violations of the Aircraft Act, 1934, the Aircraft Rules, 1937, or any Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) — if yes, the nature, date, and reference number of each action taken.

4. [For flight cancellation / delay data] The number of flight cancellations and delays (beyond 2 hours) reported by [Airline Name] on domestic routes in the last four quarters, as per DGCA's records, and whether any of these triggered the compensation provisions under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV.

5. [For accident / incident] Whether the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated an investigation into the incident involving [Aircraft Registration No. / Flight No.] on [DD/MM/YYYY] — if yes, the investigation number and the current stage of the investigation.

6. A copy of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) or DGCA circular currently in force governing [the specific subject — e.g., pilot rest (FDTL) / passenger compensation for cancellations / AME licence eligibility / ground handling standards].

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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