Do I need any kind of insurance before I start a drone training course?
No - heliguy™ offer free insurance for your practical flight assessment (for the GVC course) through their partners at Coverdrone and the A2 CofC does not require a practical flight assessment.
However, candidates must have EC785/2004 compliant insurance to operate in a commercial capacity once training is complete.
What are the Open, Specific and Certified drone categories?
Under the new uk drone laws three categories define where drones can be flown.
These categories are:
-
Open: Operations that present a low (or no) risk to third parties.
-
Specific: Operations that present a greater risk than that of the Open category, or where one or more elements of the operation fall outside the boundaries of the Open Category. Holding an Operational Authorisation - similar to the former PfCO - allows you to fly in this category.
-
Certified: Operations that present an equivalent risk to that of manned aviation. This category is for high-complexity missions.
The Open Category is broken down into three subcategories:
-
A1: Fly over people.
-
A2: Fly close to people.
-
A3: Fly far from people.
Each of these subcategories has more specified criteria of where/how your drone can be operated.
What is the A2 CofC?
The A2 CofC (Certificate of Competency) is a remote pilot competency certificate primarily intended to assure safe operations of drones close to uninvolved persons.
The A2 CofC allows pilots to fly small drones up to 2kg "close to people" - maintaining a 50m horizontal separation distance from uninvolved people.
It was introduced as part of the new drone regulations, which started in the UK and throughout Europe in December 2020. The A2 CofC is specifically for the Open Category.
Why do I need an A2 CofC?
The A2 CofC enables operators of small drones to fly close to people. It permits the following:
-
C2 Rated Aircraft: Under the new drone laws, a class system has been introduced. Drones will be given a class mark (C0-C4) based on certain criteria, such as weight, speed, and safety features. An A2 CofC will allow operators of a C2-rated aircraft (up to 4kg in weight) to operate in the A2 subcategory, meaning they can fly up to 30m horizontally from uninvolved people, or up to 5 metres in low-speed mode. However, no class-marked drones currently exist.
-
A2 Transitional Aircraft: Because no drones are class-marked, a Transitional Period has been introduced, running from now until December 31, 2022. During this time, an A2 CofC enables operators of drones without a class mark and weighing up to 2kg to fly in the A2 subcategory under Transitional provisions - which stipulates no flights closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved people.
This applies to the following DJI aircraft: Mavic 3, Mavic 2 Series, Phantom 4 Series, and the Mavic Air 2.
- A1 Transitional Aircraft: Holders of an A2 CofC can operate non-class-marked drones, with a take-off weight of between 250g and 500g, in the A1 subcategory, under A1 Transitional provisions, during the Transitional Period (until December 31, 2022). This stipulates that there must not be any intentional flight over uninvolved persons.
This applies to the following DJI aircraft: Mavic Air, Spark, and the Mini 2 and Mavic Mini if their take-off weight exceeds 250g.
What Happens If I Don't Have an A2 CofC?
If you haven’t got an A2 CofC, you could find yourself limited in terms of where you can fly your drone.
Up until the end of December 31, 2022, if you have a ‘legacy’ drone weighing between 500g and 2kg (such as Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom, Phantom Series) and you don’t have an A2 CofC, you will have to operate in the A3 subcategory (far from people), which stipulates that there can be no uninvolved people present within the area of flight, and no flight within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.
Likewise, if you have a ‘legacy’ aircraft which has a take-off weight of between 250g and 500g – such as the DJI Spark and Mavic Air – and you don’t have an A2 CofC, you will be restricted to flying in the A3 subcategory.
How Do I Obtain an A2 CofC?
You can obtain an A2 CofC by completing a one-day Ground School course with heliguy™, via our Learning Management System. This enables you to complete the modules remotely in your own time and at your own convenience. heliguy™ instructors will be available though to assist if you need help or advice along the way, via our live messenger feed.
Once you have covered the syllabus, you can sit your exam remotely.
Unlike the GVC, there are no requirements to undergo a Practical Flight Test or complete an Operations Manual for the A2 CofC.
However, there is a requirement to complete self-guided practical flight training.
The self-practical flight training must be completed before the ground school course, and it is important that you have registered with the CAA and obtained a Flyer ID before conducting the practical flight training.
Before conducting the self-practical flight training, you must successfully complete the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service free online competency test, and be in possession of the Flyer ID number associated with that test.
What Do I Have To Do In The A2 CofC Theory Examination?
The A2 CofC exam – sat in formal conditions – comprises a minimum of 30 multiple-choice questions, specifically covering meteorology; UAS flight performance; and technical and operational mitigations for ground risk.
The exam is a closed-book format (except when questions require reference to charts, or other sources of specific aeronautical information) and the minimum pass mark is 75%.
The examination will last for 75 minutes. Any candidate with a recognised disability or additional needs (e.g. dyslexia or dyspraxia) will be given an additional 15 minutes.
The exam is sat remotely and there is a wide scope to book your slot.
How Long Does An A2 CofC Last For?
The A2 CofC qualification lasts for five years, after which you’ll have to renew it.
Does the A2 CofC allow me to operate commercially?
Yes. You can use an A2 CofC to fly commercially or recreationally, so long as the flight is conducted within the boundaries of the subcategory you are flying in.
If your planned mission or missions exceed the limits of the Open Category, then you should take a GVC course to enable you to apply for an Operational Authorisation (similar to the old PfCO) to fly in the Specific Category.
In some cases, you might have a drone which can be flown in the A2 Subcategory - such as a Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced or Phantom 4 RTK, as they are under 2kg - but you require greater flexibility for your missions, so the GVC is the more prudent route.
heliguy™ advises that if you are investing in enterprise platforms, or have aspirations of scaling your operations within the enterprise sector, then obtaining a GVC will provide greater scope.
What Happens If I Fail The A2 CofC Exam?
heliguy™ offers free resits if you fail your A2 CofC exam. If you have not completed your practical flight training within a year of passing your exam, you will be required to re-sit the exam.
Do I need any experience with drones before attending the A2 CofC Course?
No. Whether you have experience or not - our drone training school helps take you from novice to an A2 CofC-qualified drone pilot, regardless of any existing drone experience.
Our curriculum is well-paced to ensure that those more recently entering the industry can get up to speed, while experienced pilots will still be getting value at every stage.
Do I need any kind of insurance before I take the course?
No, because the A2 CofC does not require a practical flight assessment.
However, candidates must have EC785/2004 compliant insurance to operate in a commercial capacity.
What Are The New Drone Classes?
As part of the new regulations, a new class system for drones has been introduced. Each make of drone will have its own class rating – from C0 to C4 – which will be based on certain criteria, such as weight, maximum speed and other features based around safety and geo-awareness.
Specific classes of drone can be flown in specific subcategories of the Open category.
Currently, no drones meet the current class requirements, so no C0-C4 aircraft exists.
Read more about the drone class system and UK drone laws.
What Is The Transitional Period?
Because no drones currently meet the class requirements, a Transitional Period is currently running, up until the end of December 2022, to give manufacturers the chance to bring out C0-C4 drones.
This means that you can continue to fly your current DJI drones - to become known as legacy aircraft - in accordance with the new rules.
Read the A2 CofC VS GVC blog post.
I have a Ground School Certificate, Flight Assessment or Operations Manual. Can I finish my training with heliguy™?
In the past - heliguy™ was happy to assist candidates who had started their training elsewhere.
However, due to the improvement in the structure of the A2 CofC and GVC courses when compared to the PfCO, there is no longer the chance to switch midway through your training.
If you're in the position where you have completed some part of your training, please give the training team a call on 0191 296 1024 to discuss what options you may have.
Do I need a Commercial Drone Licence or a Hobbyist Licence?
As of the time of writing, there is no hobbyist drone licence in the UK.
Whether or not you'll need some form of qualification depends on the circumstances of your flight - how far you are from uninvolved people and built up areas - and the weight of your drone.
Click here to learn more about the drone flight categories.
