The ROC-A radio certificate: who needs it and what the law says

The Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification (ROC-A) is the Canadian radio operator certificate for aviation. It is issued by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the department that manages the radio spectrum. It is separate from any pilot licence or drone pilot certificate issued by Transport Canada.

Who needs it

You need a ROC-A to transmit on radiotelephone equipment:

• in an aircraft, or
• at an aeronautical ground station, fixed or mobile, that uses aeronautical mobile frequencies. An FBO or company base station counts.

Listening alone does not need a certificate. A drone pilot who only monitors the local MF or 126.7 MHz on a receiver needs no ROC-A, but one who wants to talk to aircraft does (TC AIM RPA 3.2.6.3).

The ROC-A covers equipment with simple external switching, preset frequency controls and no more than 250 W e.r.p. It does not cover marine radios (those need the maritime certificate, ROC-M), amateur bands or broadcasting.

Getting the certificate

The exam is given by an examiner accredited by ISED, often at a flight school or flying club. Study the ISED guide RIC-21. The pass mark is 70%. The certificate is valid for life; there is no renewal and no recurrent exam.

Secrecy of communications

Under section 9(2) of the Radiocommunication Act, you may not intercept and then use or divulge a private radiocommunication unless you are authorized. Overhearing company traffic is not a crime, but repeating it, posting a recording online or using it for your business is.

The secrecy rules do not apply to:

• distress messages,
• urgency messages,
• safety messages, and
• messages addressed to ALL STATIONS, such as weather warnings.

So you may, and should, tell a rescue centre about a MAYDAY you heard.

Interference and false alarms

Every station must be operated so it does not interfere with other stations. The Act also prohibits interfering with or obstructing radiocommunication without lawful excuse, and knowingly sending a false distress call. Keep transmissions short, use the lowest practical power, and use aeronautical frequencies only for flight-related traffic.

Penalties

For a general offence under section 10, an individual can be fined up to $5,000, jailed for up to one year, or both. A corporation can be fined up to $25,000.