ROC-A Practice Test (Aeronautical Radio) 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Who needs a Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification (ROC-A)?

   • AAnyone using aeronautical radio on aircraft or ground stations
   • BOnly airline captains who fly international routes out of Canada
   • COnly boaters who use marine VHF radios on the coast
   • DOnly amateur radio operators who also hold a pilot licence
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Anyone using aeronautical radio on aircraft or ground stations

   ISED says the ROC-A is for pilots, drone operators, airport radio operators and ground staff who use radios on aeronautical frequencies.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which airport worker might need a ROC-A?

   • AA parking attendant who calls the office on a personal cell phone
   • BA fuel truck driver who talks on an aeronautical-band radio
   • CA passenger with a handheld scanner
   • DA ticket agent who only uses a desk phone
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A fuel truck driver who talks on an aeronautical-band radio

   ISED lists ground staff such as fuel truck drivers, snow removal crews, dispatchers and airport firefighters as people who may need the ROC-A.

3. Question 3 of 25

   How long is a ROC-A valid?

   • AUntil your pilot licence expires
   • BFor 2 years
   • CFor 5 years
   • DFor life
   Show answer

   Answer: D. For life

   RIC-21 states that the ROC-A is issued for life and does not need to be revalidated.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Who gives the ROC-A exam?

   • AAn examiner accredited by ISED
   • BA Transport Canada inspector at every airport
   • CAny licensed pilot
   • DThe airline you work for, without ISED
   Show answer

   Answer: A. An examiner accredited by ISED

   You pass an exam given by an accredited examiner. ISED keeps an online search and a list of ROC-A examiners.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What can the ROC-A exam include?

   • AOnly a flight test in an aircraft
   • BOnly a Morse code test
   • CWritten, practical and oral parts
   • DOnly a medical exam
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Written, practical and oral parts

   RIC-21 and the ISED FAQ say the ROC-A exam may include written, practical and oral exercises chosen by the examiner.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Are there age or nationality limits for the ROC-A?

   • AYes, you must be at least 16
   • BYes, you must be at least 16 and a permanent resident
   • CNo, but you must show identification to the examiner
   • DYes, you must be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen
   Show answer

   Answer: C. No, but you must show identification to the examiner

   RIC-21 says there are no nationality or age limits. The examiner checks your identification before the exam.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Which type of message has the highest priority in the aeronautical service?

   • AFlight safety
   • BDistress
   • CUrgency
   • DMeteorological
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Distress

   RIC-21 lists distress messages first in the order of priority, followed by urgency messages.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which type of message comes second in priority, right after distress?

   • AUrgency
   • BGovernment messages
   • CFlight regularity
   • DMeteorological
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Urgency

   In the RIC-21 order of priority, urgency messages rank second, after distress and before radio direction-finding communications.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which communications come right after urgency messages in the order of priority?

   • AService communications
   • BRadio direction-finding communications
   • CFlight regularity messages
   • DMeteorological messages
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Radio direction-finding communications

   RIC-21 places radio direction-finding communications third, after distress and urgency and before flight safety messages.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Which of these has higher priority: a flight safety message or a meteorological message?

    • AA meteorological message
    • BThey have equal priority
    • CWhichever was sent first
    • DA flight safety message
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A flight safety message

    In the RIC-21 order, flight safety messages come before meteorological messages, which come before flight regularity messages.

11. Question 11 of 25

    You overhear a radio message that was not meant for you. What do the rules say?

    • AYou must record and publish it
    • BYou may tell anyone if it is interesting
    • CYou may share it with friends as long as you leave out the call signs
    • DDo not reveal its contents, or that it exists, unless the law allows
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Do not reveal its contents, or that it exists, unless the law allows

    RIC-21 explains that the privacy rules in the Radiocommunication Act stop you from sharing an intercepted message, except with those allowed by law.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Which messages are NOT covered by the privacy rule on sharing radio messages?

    • AMessages between two airline dispatch offices
    • BCompany dispatch messages
    • CDistress, urgency and safety messages and messages to ALL STATIONS
    • DMessages from a ground station to one named aircraft about its flight
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Distress, urgency and safety messages and messages to ALL STATIONS

    RIC-21 says the privacy limits do not apply to distress, urgency or safety messages, or to messages addressed to ALL STATIONS.

13. Question 13 of 25

    In normal communication between an aircraft and a ground station, which station is in control?

    • AThe aircraft
    • BThe ground station
    • CThe station with the newest radio
    • DWhichever station is louder
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The ground station

    RIC-21 says the aircraft follows the ground station's instructions on timing, frequency and length of calls, except in distress or urgency.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In aircraft-to-aircraft communication, which station controls the exchange?

    • AThe station with more passengers
    • BThe faster aircraft
    • CThe station that is higher
    • DThe station being called
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The station being called

    RIC-21 says that between two aircraft, the station being called controls the communication.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Which of these is prohibited on aeronautical radio?

    • ASuperfluous messages and profane or obscene language
    • BReporting your position to the flight service station
    • CReading back a clearance
    • DAsking a ground station for a current weather report
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Superfluous messages and profane or obscene language

    Aeronautical communications should be about safety and regularity of flight. Unneeded messages and profane or obscene language are banned.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What does the Radiocommunication Act say about false distress signals?

    • AThey are allowed if cancelled within one hour
    • BNo one may knowingly send a false or fraudulent distress signal
    • CThey are allowed on training flights, without telling anyone first
    • DThey are allowed on 121.5 MHz only
    Show answer

    Answer: B. No one may knowingly send a false or fraudulent distress signal

    Paragraph 9(1)(a) of the Radiocommunication Act makes it an offence to knowingly send a false or fraudulent distress signal or message.

17. Question 17 of 25

    How should you speak when transmitting?

    • AClearly, at a steady speed, with a normal rhythm
    • BLoudly and slowly, stressing every syllable of every word
    • CAs fast as possible to save time
    • DWith pauses filled by "um" and "er"
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Clearly, at a steady speed, with a normal rhythm

    RIC-21 advises speaking each word plainly, at a constant speed and in a normal rhythm, without shouting or filler sounds.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How is 1:45 p.m. written on the 24-hour clock?

    • A1145
    • B1345
    • C2145
    • D0145
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 1345

    On the 24-hour clock, hours are counted from midnight. 1:45 p.m. is 13 hours and 45 minutes after midnight, written 1345.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Which time reference is normally used in aeronautical radio?

    • ACoordinated Universal Time (UTC), also called Zulu
    • BEastern Time
    • CLocal daylight time
    • DThe local time zone of the aircraft's home base airport
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), also called Zulu

    UTC avoids mix-ups across time zones. RIC-21 says local time may be used only when all operations are within one time zone.

20. Question 20 of 25

    When may local time be used instead of UTC?

    • AOnly on 121.5 MHz
    • BOnly at night
    • CWhenever the pilot and the ground station both prefer it
    • DWhen all operations are within one time zone
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When all operations are within one time zone

    RIC-21 allows local time only when all operations take place within a single time zone. Otherwise, UTC is used.

21. Question 21 of 25

    In a six-figure date and time group such as 161200, what do the first two figures show?

    • AThe hour
    • BThe day of the month
    • CThe month of the year
    • DThe year
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The day of the month

    In a date and time group, the first two figures are the day of the month and the last four are the time.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What is the ITU phonetic word for the letter J?

    • AJuliett
    • BJupiter
    • CJaguar
    • DJack
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Juliett

    The ITU phonetic alphabet uses Juliett for J. Standard words make letters clear on a noisy channel.

23. Question 23 of 25

    How is the registration GFAC spoken on the radio?

    • AGeorge Fox Apple Charlie
    • BGolf Foxtrot Alfa Charlie
    • CGolf Fox Able Charles
    • DG F A C
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Golf Foxtrot Alfa Charlie

    Aeronautical call signs are always spoken with the ITU phonetic alphabet: Golf, Foxtrot, Alfa, Charlie.

24. Question 24 of 25

    How are aeronautical call signs spoken?

    • AAlways with the phonetic alphabet
    • BWith the phonetic alphabet only at night
    • COnly with the letters said normally
    • DPhonetically only in emergencies
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Always with the phonetic alphabet

    RIC-21 says the phonetic alphabet is used for all aeronautical call signs, as well as for spelling words and in poor conditions.

25. Question 25 of 25

    How is the number 9 pronounced in aeronautical radio?

    • ANIN-er
    • BNINE
    • CNEIN
    • DNOVEM
    Show answer

    Answer: A. NIN-er

    RIC-21 gives the pronunciation NIN-er for 9. Standard number sounds help prevent mistakes on a noisy channel.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: ISED does not publish a question count or pass mark. An accredited examiner gives the exam, which may include written, practical and oral parts.