Flight Crew Ground Examinations

An applicant for the grant of a licence or rating shall, pass examination in accordance with the syllabus and procedures determined in the Examination Procedure Manual (SLCAP 3080).

• Refer AIC-B04-10
  [ PDF - 1.17 KB ]

1.1 Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) [PPL (A))] Examination

The applicant for a PPL (A) Examination shall have demonstrated to the Director General of Civil Aviation level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges to be granted to the holder of a Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane). This examination consists of six (06) question papers in six (06) subjects as explained below.

1.2 Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) - (CPL (A)) Examination

The applicant for a CPL (A) Examination shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane). This examination consists of 13 question papers in 07 subjects as explained below.

1.3 Instrument Rating (Aeroplane) (IR (A)) Examination)

The applicant for an IR (A) Examination shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of an Instrument Rating (Aeroplane)

This examination consists of (07) question papers in (07) subjects for Private Pilot Licence holders as explained below.

Furthermore this examination consists of one composite subject for Commercial Pilot Licence holders, refer the table below.

1.4 Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane)/Instrument Rating Integrated (CPL/IR) Examination

The applicant for a CPL (A)/IR Integrated Examination shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) / Instrument Rating. The examination consists of 13 question papers in (07) subjects as explained below.

1.5 Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) (ATPL (A)) Examination

The applicant for an ATPL (A) shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of an ATPL (A). This examination consists of (13) question papers in (07) subjects as explained below.

1.6 Knowledge Examination for Conversion of Pilot Licences

Any applicant for conversion of a Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or a commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or a commercial Pilot Licence / Instrument Rating (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) issued by respective authority of ICAO Contracting states to a SriLankan a Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or a commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or a commercial Pilot Licence / Instrument Rating (Aeroplane / Helicopter) or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane / Helicopter) respectively shall satisfactorily complete theory examination papers as mentioned in the AIC/12 26 June.

• Refer AIC/12 26 Jun
  [ PDF - 40 KB]

1.7 English Language Proficiency Check (ELPC) Examination

Type of Applicants & Eligibility

• PPL / CPL / CPL(IR) / ATPL / GLIDER & FREE BALLOON PILOTS Applicants
  • ELPC will be conducted and level will be determined if the ELPC has not been already and/or the candidate has a level below the ELPC level of six
• Applicant seeking to render valid a Foreign Flight Crew Licence and Rating
  
  • DGCA conducts an evaluation in order to assess the English Language Proficiency of every flight crew member prior to issue of validation except as follows,
  • An applicant who has level six (expert proficiency level) endorsement on his original licences issued by a native English speaking state will be exempted from the formal evaluation.
• Applicants seeking to convert a Foreign Flight Crew Licence and Rating into a Sri Lankan Flight Crew Licence and Rating
  • The applicant shall have been rated for English Language Proficiency, on his foreign licence and the rating in the foreign licence may be transferred to Sri Lankan licence if the rating has been issued by a native English speaking state. If DGCA Sri Lanka considers necessary an evaluation shall be conducted to ensure the level, with regard to an applicant.

Examination Format & Procedure

Application Procedure

• An applicant for ELPC examination should forward a duly completed application, which is available at the Personnel Licensing Section (Application Number CAA/PL/E/08). Applicable payment for this shall be paid by applicant. Otherwise applicant shall use PEL online application system to follow this step mentioned above.
• Duly completed application shall be collected by relevant CAO and if application reaches the number more than six, those shall be forwarded to Programme Assistant. ELPC evaluation check exam shall be fixed after consultant with designated examiners ensuring their availability of particular date of examination.
• An applicant should be able to present for examination at the scheduled time of date.
• A candidate shall produce his/her identity with payment sheet at the time of examination.

Examination Format

• ELPC evaluation shall be conducted by Civil Aviation Authority approved designated examiners
• Following evaluation criterias shall be checked by examiner at the time evaluation thereby proficiency level shall be determined,
  • Pronunciation
  • Structure vocabulary
  • Fluency
  • Comprehension
  • Interaction
• ELPC exam shall be conducted at the PEL examination center using special communication equipment

Examination Results

• Results sheet signed by examiners along with student and examiner attendance sheets shall be filed in the PEL ELPC file and copy shall be forwarded to relevant CAO who is handling this subject and finally it will go to the personnel file of the student.

Results validity period

If applicant obtains,

• Level 01, 02, 03 : Denial of Licence
• Level 04 : licence issued valid only for 03 years
• Level 05 : licence issued valid only for 06 years
• Level 06 : no further evaluation

Examination Schedule

• ELPC exam is conducted once per week. Additionally schedule shall be made as per the request of students if requirements reaches more than six applications.

Flight Operations Officer (FOO) Licence Examination

The applicant for a FOO Examination shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of a Flight Operations Officer Licence. This examination consists of the (13) subjects listed below. Refer SLCAP 3080 for more details.

• Civil Air law & Regulations
• Aviation Indoctrination
• Aircraft Mass and Balance Control
• Navigation
• Air Traffic Management
• Communication
• Meteorology
• Aircraft Mass & Performance
• Flight Planning
• Flight Monitoring
• Dangerous Goods by Air
• Security
• Human Factors

Examination procedure of FOO Examination

• An applicant for FOO Licence should forward an application through the Training Organization with recommendation from Manager/Head of the Training.
• An applicant should be able to sit all the theory subjects in one and the same sitting initially. Inability to achieve this would require the applicant to repeat the entire examination.
• A candidate shall produce a letter from an airline confirming that he is currently employed in the flight dispatch duties either on part time or full time basis if he/she has to be issued with a Flight Operations Officer Licence by this Directorate. No licence will be issued to anyone who is not engaged in Flight dispatch duties under any circumstance.
• A candidate shall have performed at least a single familiarization flight in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft including a landing and take-off at two different locations if he/she has to be issued with Flight Operations Officer Licence.
• Repeat examinations will be conducted after 30 days of the release of final results.

Examination Schedules

The FOO Examination is conducted on demand of the Training Organizations, therefore the regularity of the examination cannot be specified.

Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) Examination

The applicant for an AML Examination shall have demonstrated to the DGCA a level of theoretical knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of an Aircraft Maintenance Licence. Applicants shall successfully complete all examinations specified in the applicable table of requirements.Refer SLCAP 3080 for more details.

Schedule of AML Examination

AML Examination is conducted thrice a year. Schedules are published as Aeronautical Information Circular and in addition schedules and relevant forms are published in the CAA web site. During the months of April, August and December AML Examination is conducted.

Click Here to Visit AML Examination Details for the Year 2026

Schedule of Conversion Examination of existing AME (BL) to AML

Conversion Examination is conducted twice a year. Schedules are published as Aeronautical Information Circular and in addition schedules and relevant forms are published in the CAA web site. During the months of January and July the conversion examination of AME (BL) to AML is conducted.

Scheme of Charges

• Fees & Charges Levied by the CAA (Gazette No.No. 1869/32 dated 2nd July 2014) Regulations
  [ PDF - 73 KB ]

Applications for Knowledge Examinations

Application Procedure for FCL Knowledge Examinations

A candidate shall submit a duly completed application in order to register for knowledge examinations in CAASL, application forms can be collected from the Examination Centre.

Application Numbers.

• PPL - CAA/PL/E/03
• CPL - CAA/PL/E/04
• ATPL - CAA/PL/E/10
• Special Air Law examination for FLVC - CAA/PL/E/05
• Conversion of license - CAA/PL/E/06
• Reactivation of lapsed license - CAA/PL/E/12

Applicable payment shall be paid by applicant. Duly completed application shall be collected by relevant CAO and he is to schedule a pre examination briefing for the candidate which will be done by SCAI-PLES. Candidate will be issued with a registration number which will be used for all applicable examinations.

An applicant shall book examination slots by sending a request to pilotexaminations [at] caa.lk. All examinations bookings will be coordinated through email by CAI-EX.

A candidate shall produce his/her identity with payment receipt at the time of examination.

Candidates are to adhere to following instructions when participating in examinations.

Instructions for Candidates

• Following items can only be brought in to the Examination Centre (Pencil / Pen /Eraser / Calculator – Approved by CAASL / Flight computer if necessary)
• You are not allowed to bring books or any reference material to the examination center
• Use only rough papers that are provided by the Invigilator.
• You are not allowed to take any examination material / rough papers outside the examination center.
• You are to refrain from communicating with other candidates during examinations
• You are not to leave the examination center without the permission of the invigilator until the examination is over.
• Any concern / problem faced during the examination to be brought to the attention of the invigilator
• You are to check that the correct examination paper is delivered and to inform invigilator if any differences are observed.
• Dress code for examinations is smart casual.
• You are to be present at least 15 minutes prior to time of examination.
• Cellular phones, Smart Watches, Recording devices or any programmable device is not permitted inside the examination room.

Examination Results

Candidate shall make a written request to obtain a result sheet on completion of all applicable examinations. Examination results will only be handed over to the candidate.

• Application For Aircraft Maintenance Licence(AML) Examination
  [ PDF - 66 KB ]
• Application for Airline Transport Pilot Licence (A and H)
  [ PDF - 54 KB ]
• Application for Assistant Flight Instructor Examination
  [ PDF - 59 KB ]
• Application for Commercial Pilot Licence (A and H)
  [ PDF - 59 KB ]
• Application for Commercial Pilot Licence(Aeroplane)-Instrument Rating Integrated
  [ PDF - 59 KB ]
• Application for Conversion of AME (BL) to Aircraft Maintenance Licence Examination
  [ PDF - 61 KB ]
• Application for Conversion of Foreign Licences Technical Examination
  [ PDF - 54 KB ]
• Application for ELPC
  [ PDF - 64 KB ]
• Application for Flight Operations Officer(FOO) Licence Examination
  [ PDF - 54 KB ]
• Application for Private Pilot Licence (A and H)
  [ PDF - 89 KB ]
• Application for Reactivation of Lapsed Licence (Aeroplane)
  [ PDF - 59 KB ]
• Application for Reactivation of Lapsed Licence (Helicopter)
  [ PDF - 54 KB ]
• Application for Validation of Foreign Licences Technical Examination
  [ PDF - 52KB ]
• Applications for Instrument Rating (A and H)
  [ PDF - 22 KB]

English Language Proficiency Check

The requirement of English Language Proficiency Check is applicable to Holders of following Personnel Licences.

• Aeroplane, airship, helicopter and powered-lift pilots
• Flight navigators required to use the radiotelephone on board an aircraft.
• Air traffic controllers (ATCOs)
• Aeronautical station operators
• Flight engineers
• Glider pilots
• Free balloon pilots