Chapter 2: The Aircraft Rules, 1937 for Engineers

How the Aircraft Rules are organised

The Aircraft Rules, 1937 were made under the Aircraft Act 1934 and — thanks to the savings clause of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024 — remain fully in force. They are arranged in Parts. The ones an engineer is examined on are:

Key definitions from Rule 3: “Airworthy” means the status of an aircraft, engine, propeller or part when it conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation. “Airworthiness Review Certificate” means a certificate issued to confirm the continued validity of a Certificate of Airworthiness. “Aerial work” is any operation for an industrial, commercial or other remunerative purpose that is not an air transport service. An aerodyne is an aircraft supported dynamically — aeroplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes, gliders and kites.

Conditions for flight, documents and checklists

Rule 15 — conditions to be complied with by an aircraft in flight

No aircraft shall be flown unless:

1. it has a valid certificate of airworthiness (or special C of A) issued by the Director-General;
2. it is certified as airworthy and maintained in accordance with Part VI (or, for a foreign aircraft, the rules of its State of registry);
3. all terms and conditions of the C of A are complied with; and
4. it carries on board its C of A and any other certificate Part VI requires.

An aircraft that does not meet these conditions may fly only under a special flight permit issued under Rule 55A.

Rule 7 and Rule 7B

• Rule 7 — an aircraft must carry the valid documents required by its State of registry; an Indian aircraft carries those required by the Rules. If a licence or document has been submitted to the authority for renewal, that is a valid excuse for not carrying it. (The detailed list is in CAR Section 2 Series X Part VII — see Chapter 11.)
• Rule 7A — the person in charge must not bring an aircraft into India unless everyone on board holds a valid passport.
• Rule 7B — every Indian-registered aircraft must carry the cockpit checklists and emergency checklists specified by the DG for that type, readily accessible to the pilot in flight.

Rule 25A — fuelling of aircraft

Fuelling safety is a favourite exam area. The numbers to remember:

• Fuel only from vehicles or hydrant installations of a type approved by the Chief Inspector of Explosives (or barges licensed under the Petroleum Rules 2002).
• A “NO SMOKING” notice must be displayed.
• Engines must not be started or turned; ignition switches OFF. Radar and radio switched off — except switches for power and lights essential for fuelling, minimum cabin lighting and steady parking lights, which must not be operated during fuelling.
• The fuelling equipment and the aircraft must be bonded to each other and both earthed.
• Only staff of the operator and fuelling company and officials (Civil Aviation, Customs, Police) are allowed within 15 m.
• Passengers may stay on board or embark/disembark only with precautions — an attendant on duty in the cabin, loading ramp correctly positioned, exits clear.

Rules 29C and 29D — Convention and SMS

Rule 29C lets the DG lay down standards to implement the Chicago Convention and requires the DG to formulate the State Safety Programme. Rule 29D requires a Safety Management System and an SMS Manual, accepted by the DG, from:

• scheduled and non-scheduled operators (Rules 134/134A) of aeroplanes or helicopters;
• general aviation operators of large (all-up weight above 5 700 kg) or turbojet aeroplanes;
• licensed aerodrome operators;
• approved design and manufacturing organisations (aircraft, engines, propellers);
• approved maintenance organisations maintaining aeroplanes or helicopters;
• approved flying training organisations (Rule 41B); and
• air traffic service providers.

An SMS is defined as "a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organisational structures, accountabilities, responsibilities, policies and procedures". Details are in CAR Section 1 Series C Part I (Chapter 10).

Part IV — registration and marking

Rule 30 — certificate of registration

• The authority to register aircraft is the Central Government. The C of R shows type, constructor's number, year of manufacture, nationality and registration marks, owner's name, nationality and address, usual station, date of registration and period of validity; for a leased aircraft also the lease validity and lessor/lessee details.
• A registration mark can be reserved for one year, extendable one year at a time.
• Category A registration — aircraft wholly owned by Indian citizens, Indian companies (registered and with principal place of business in India), the Central or a State Government or their companies, or by a foreign company that has leased the aircraft to any of these.
• Category B — aircraft wholly owned by non-citizens resident or doing business in India, or by a foreign-registered company carrying on business in India.
• An aircraft already validly registered in another country cannot be registered in India.
• The Central Government may refuse or cancel registration (e.g. wrongly obtained, better registered elsewhere, not in public interest).

Rules 31–36

• Rule 32 — for an aircraft being imported by air, a temporary C of R can be issued; it is valid only until the first landing at a customs aerodrome in India, where the pilot hands it to the DG.
• Rule 32A — export of an aircraft on the application of an IDERA holder (Cape Town Convention) after de-registration.
• Rule 33 — on a change of ownership, the registered owner must forthwith notify the DG, and the new owner must inform the DG and may apply for a new C of R.
• Rule 36 — the DG maintains the register of aircraft, open to public inspection.

Rule 37 — nationality and registration marks

• Nationality mark: capital letters VT in Roman characters. Registration mark: a group of three capital letters assigned by the DG. A hyphen separates them, no ornamentation — e.g. VT-ABC.
• Marks must be painted or fixed with a similar degree of permanency, as specified by the DG.
• Marks must also appear, with the owner's full name and address, on the owner's name plate (identification plate).
• Marks must always be kept clean and visible.

Rule 37A — no advertising or lettering on the exterior except as permitted; the aircraft's name and owner's name/emblem may be shown if they cannot be confused with the marks; a civil aircraft must not bear State-aircraft markings; national flags may be displayed if not confusable with military markings.

Part VI — airworthiness

Part VI is the heart of the Rules for an engineer. Rules 49 to 49I cover type certificates (Chapter 8). The rest:

Rule 60 — maintenance standards and certification

For Rule 60, maintenance means all work necessary to ensure the aircraft is airworthy and safe, including servicing, modifications, repairs, replacements, overhauls, processes, treatment, tests, operations and inspections. The DG specifies continuing airworthiness standards and approves the maintenance system, considering the type of operation, environment (dust, salt air, climate), routes and record keeping.

An aircraft engaged in public transport, aerial work or flying training shall not fly unless:

1. it has been maintained as specified by the DG;
2. the maintenance was carried out by or under the supervision of a person licensed/authorised under Rule 61, or authorised in writing by an approved maintenance organisation; and
3. all maintenance has been certified by appropriately licensed engineers or authorised persons, on the prescribed certificate, within the specified period.

Rule 60(5) — no flight may begin if, after the certificate was issued, the aircraft has suffered damage or revealed a defect making it unsafe — other than items covered in the approved list of deficiencies (the MEL) — unless it could be remedied by the crew under ordinary aeronautical practice.

Rule 61 — licensing of aircraft maintenance engineers

• The Central Government grants AME licences and authorisations to persons meeting the requirements.
• Applicant: at least 18 years old; passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (or equivalent); passed the written examinations; and holds the required practical experience (the same figures as CAR-66 66.A.30 — Chapter 3).
• The DG may exempt from the written examination an applicant holding an AME licence from a Contracting State.
• A failed candidate may re-sit only after the period specified by the DG (CAR-66: 30 days).
• Validity: a licence is valid for the period specified in it, maximum 10 years, renewable for 10 years at a time. An expired licence is renewed only after passing any examinations the DG specifies.
• An authorisation granted under the rule is valid for a maximum of one year, renewable a year at a time if the holder has performed the tasks for three months in the preceding year.
• The Central Government may revoke, cancel, suspend or endorse a licence, issue a warning or admonition, or debar a person temporarily or permanently — for example for unfair means in an examination, false information, or negligence.

Rule 61A — a licence granted by a Contracting State and in force may be validated by the Central Government, with conditions and for a period it thinks fit, so it has the same effect as an Indian licence for maintaining/certifying Indian aircraft (detailed in CAR Section 2 Series L Part XVI).

Part IX — log books

Rule 67 — every aircraft registered in India must keep:

1. a journey log book (or an acceptable equivalent record);
2. an aircraft log book;
3. an engine log book for each engine installed;
4. a propeller log book for every variable-pitch propeller;
5. a radio apparatus log book if radio is fitted; and
6. any other log book the DG requires.

The DG may also require a technical log or flight log. Contents, entries, certification and preservation periods are specified by the DG — in CAR Section 2 Series X Part VI. Rule 67A: flight crew personal log books, entries in ink, preserved for at least 5 years after the last entry.

Owners and operators — Rules 155 and 155A

• Rule 155 — a private aircraft owner maintains the aircraft as the DG specifies and keeps complete records: total time flown, time since last overhaul and since last inspection.
• Rule 155A — an operator must have access to an adequate organisation (qualified staff, workshops, equipment, inspection aids). All operators other than private owners must operate under an approved maintenance system, a delegated system of airworthiness control. Approval validity: up to 10 years for scheduled air transport operators (Rule 134), 5 years for scheduled commuter and non-scheduled operators (Rule 134A), 2 years for Rule 134B authorisation holders.
• Rule 134 — no scheduled air transport service without an Air Operator Certificate; Rule 134A — non-scheduled operator's permit.

Enforcement — Rules 19, 156, 157, 160–162

Chapter summary

• Rule 15: fly only with a valid C of A, certified airworthy and maintained per Part VI — otherwise a Rule 55A special flight permit.
• Rule 25A fuelling: 15 m from buildings, no ignition within 30 m, bond and earth, engines off.
• Registration: Central Government; Category A/B; marks VT-XXX with hyphen; temporary C of R valid to first customs landing.
• Part VI: C of A invalid without an ARC (50(5)); DG can impose mandatory mods (50A); no safety-affecting mod/repair without approval (52); C of A deemed suspended on major damage/defect (55); major defects reported (59); maintenance certified by licensed/authorised persons (53, 54, 60).
• Rule 61: age 18, 10+2 PCM, licence valid up to 10 years; Rule 61A validates foreign licences.
• Rule 67: journey, aircraft, engine (each), variable-pitch propeller and radio log books.