FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit

NWADC9 said:
What does it look like? Is it a plastic card?
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Nope (unless the changed recently), it's a sheet of paper with a perforated sector that is the "card". Kind of a tan/beige patterned paper.
 
It serves no purpose in aviation other than to meet treaty requirements. FCC just issues them to keep other countries happy. There's no way it should cost $60.
 
Back in the day, the first class radiotelephone test was probably about on par with the private pilot knowledge test in difficulty and study time. I never made it that high, but I did get a second class, which was converted to general class. My kids were amused to learn that I hold three federal licenses, pilot, radiotelephone and amateur radio. I suppose I could start selling guns and get another one...
 
Henning said:
Nope (unless the changed recently), it's a sheet of paper with a perforated sector that is the "card". Kind of a tan/beige patterned paper.
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Mine from 1987 was like that. The one I just got is just a piece of paper
 
Just out of curiosity, the document is called "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit," what does "restricted" mean and is it possible to get one that's not restricted?
 
MachFly said:
Just out of curiosity, the document is called "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit," what does "restricted" mean and is it possible to get one that's not restricted?
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Sure, you can get general and technician grades as well as some specialized ones like GMDSS both operator and technician. You need to test for those though.
 
Henning said:
Sure, you can get general and technician grades as well as some specialized ones like GMDSS both operator and technician. You need to test for those though.
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So the word "restricted" actually has a meaning there? It's not like the "Limiations: English Proficient" on the back of your certificate.
 
Henning said:
It's restricted to the uses listed.
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Okay so mine says "none" under special conditions/endorsements. Does that mean that almost everything is restricted or nothing is restricted?
 
MachFly said:
Okay so mine says "none" under special conditions/endorsements. Does that mean that almost everything is restricted or nothing is restricted?
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Almost everything is restricted. You can use maritime and aviation VHF & HF/SSB sets and operate a commercial radar IIRC, it's been a long time since I looked. You cannot operate Ham gear nor modify radios.
 
Henning said:
Almost everything is restricted. You can use maritime and aviation VHF & HF/SSB sets and operate a commercial radar IIRC, it's been a long time since I looked. You cannot operate Ham gear nor modify radios.
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Okay makes sense, thanks.
 
Tantara said:
There's nothing 'easy' about the First Class Radiotelephone Commercial License [now GROL] unless one uses a cheat sheet / cheat book. If you take and pass the test, "legitimately", it means .
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Years ago I had a 1st Phone with Radar Endorsement. It had bragging rights hanging on the wall next to all the 2nd class tickets at work. Then the FCC took it from me upon renewal and issued a General.

That really PO'd me big time.

Paul
Salome, AZ
 
pmanton said:
Years ago I had a 1st Phone with Radar Endorsement. It had bragging rights hanging on the wall next to all the 2nd class tickets at work. Then the FCC took it from me upon renewal and issued a General.

That really PO'd me big time.
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I didn't like it either.
 
MachFly said:
So the word "restricted" actually has a meaning there? It's not like the "Limiations: English Proficient" on the back of your certificate.
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From the FCC's web site:
Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR)

Description
RR holders are authorized to operate most aircraft and aeronautical ground stations. They can also operate marine radiotelephone stations aboard pleasure craft (other than those carrying more than six passengers for hire on the Great Lakes or bays or tidewaters or in the open sea) when operator licensing is required.
An RR is NOT needed to operate the following:

  • Ship stations operating only on VHF frequencies that do not travel to foreign ports or make international communications (unless the vessel carries more than six passengers for hire, or the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required by law to carry a radio station for safety purposes).
  • Shore radar, shore radiolocation, maritime support, marine utility, or shore radionavigation stations.
  • Survival craft stations or EPIRBs.
  • Ship radar stations, if (a) the radar frequency is determined by a nontunable, pulse type magnetron or other fixed tune device, and (b) the radar is capable of being operated exclusively by external controls.
  • Coast stations.
  • Aircraft stations which operate only on VHF frequencies and do not make foreign flights.
  • Aircraft radar sets, radio altimeters, transponders or other aircraft automatic radionavigation transmitters.
  • ELTs or aviation survival craft stations used solely for survival purposes (testing only).
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http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=rr
 
pmanton said:
...I had a 1st Phone with Radar Endorsement. It had bragging rights hanging on the wall next to all the 2nd class tickets at work. Then the FCC took it from me upon renewal and issued a General...
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I don't remember if I had to specifically ask, but on renewal I got my original First Phone back with a nig red "CANCELLED" across the front. I have it in a frame, but nowadays nobody knows what it is.

At least the General doesn't expire.
 
GROL is elements 1, 3, and 8 (if you want radar endorsement)

No radar for the RR
 
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Tantara said:
There's nothing 'easy' about the First Class Radiotelephone Commercial License [now GROL] unless one uses a cheat sheet / cheat book. If you take and pass the test, "legitimately", it means you have BS degree engineering level knowledge of radio electronics, circuit diagrams and troubleshooting abilities. At one time the First Class Radiotelephone Commercial License was the 'ticket' into broadcast engineering and many other genres of communications. Under the Reagan administration, many of those genres were deregulated to accommodate the fast-growing cellular industry which needed technicians but time didn't allow to train that many to acquire the FCC First Class Radiotelephone Commercial License - that's when a BS degree in electrical engineering became the new requirement.
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Getting the GROL ain't easy, whichever way ya go. And mathematically expressing impedence in polar/rectagular coordinates still gives me the heebe jeebes. I can plot it on a graph, but I can't put the formulae to work for me.
The logic stuff is, well, just simple logic.
Since the exam, how often have you contemplated the altitudes of the various satellite constelations?
 
flyingron said:
Nope. The restricted was an "easy to get" reduction of the original third class radiotelephone operators license (which required elements 1 and 2 to be passed, plus element 9 if you need the broadcast endorsement). My second, and your GROL required element 3. The first class (I didn't need it for the broadcast station I was working at) element 4. If you needed the radar endorsement, element 8. I don't recall what they used 5..7 for.

My second class and your GROL should legally suffice for an aviation station if you could convince whatever non-FCC guy checking such to know what it is you were presenting him.
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The FCC settled this issue as to whether a general radiotelephone includes a restricted radiotelephone authority. It does. 47C.F.R. 13.8
 
Yes, not only my GROL but also my Radiotelegraph both suffice. It's about the only thing the latter is actually good for unless I get my coast guard officer's license.
 
Just to update an old thread:
It appears the fee is now $170.00.
Unless I'm looking at the wrong thing.
 
You can get the GROL or the Radiotelegraph test. Either way it is free and sufficient for any aviation use.
 
Restricted is $70. Apply now, get the PDF in 24 hours.
What a load of ********.
 
denverpilot said:
Have to agree, that’s way too much money for a rubber stamp.
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Makes the RT and PG I have more attractive since they were free. The current version isn't an ornate certificate like the old ones were. My PG, RT, and Ham licenses all look identical to the restricted now save the words at the top.
 
Thanks to this thread, I went looking through my old billfolds and found mine. It's dog-eared, but still very legible. I think I'll have it laminated.
 
I think if you have an issued one, getting a duplicate copy is free. You'll have to create an account on the ULS and deal with that goofy system.

What I find amusing is the ones watermarked "Official Copy" is the one they sent me originally (and with my address change). As long as I don't lose that PDF file, I can print as many "originals" as I want. If I go to the ULS and ask for a duplicate I get a PDF marked duplicate.
 
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