The GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) is a remote pilot competency certificate, introduced as part of the new EASA drone regulations, which started in the UK at the end of December 2020. It provides a single qualification that is suitable for VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) operations within the Specific Category. 

The Specific Category hinges on an Operational Authorisation being held by the drone operator, which has been issued by the CAA, before the operation can be commenced.

The GVC is acceptable for all VLOS operations conducted under a published STS (Standard Scenario) or PDRA (Pre-Defined Risk Assessment) and, in most circumstances, it will be considered an acceptable level of remote pilot competency within an operational risk assessment for any other VLOS operation.

The Operational Authorisation – which has replaced the term PfCO – is based upon a risk assessment that is completed by the UAS operator, or through a series of Pre-Defined Risk Assessments (PDRA).

This means that individuals or organizations that wish to operate a drone within the Specific Category must either provide a risk assessment to the CAA (by following the OSC – Operating Safety Case – process), or adhere to the requirements of the PDRA.

Holders of valid PfCOs will be pleased to hear that the current provisions of a Standard Permission will be converted into a PDRA.

You can obtain a GVC by completing the course online, through Heliguy Blackbox. This allows you to complete the modules remotely in your own time and at your own convenience.

The GVC course syllabus covers topics such as airlaw/responsibilities, UAS airspace operating principles, airmanship/aviation safety, meteorology, and navigation/charts, among other things. The GVC course will culminate in a theory test. As a Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE), we now have dispensation from the CAA to allow us to invigilate the GVC theory examination remotely using your webcam to maintain virtual exam conditions within Blackbox - if you choose to sit our online drone training.

All candidates will also be required to complete an Operations Manual and a practical flight test which will be taken on a separate date following successful completion of the Ground School course. 

The GVC examination – sat in formal conditions – will comprise a minimum of 40 questions. 

There will be a minimum of five questions in each of the following subject areas:

• Air law/responsibilities;
• UAS airspace operating principles;
• Airmanship and aviation safety.

The exam questions may be in the following formats:

• Multiple-choice questions – a choice of no less than 4 answers;
• Long answer questions;
• A mixture of both multiple-choice and long answer questions.

The exam will be a closed-book format (except when questions require reference to charts, or other sources of specific aeronautical information) and the minimum overall pass mark is 75%. 

The duration of the examination can be determined by the RAE and is subject to acceptance by the CAA. Any candidate with a recognised disability or additional needs (e.g. dyslexia or dyspraxia) should be granted an extra 10% of the allocated assessment time to complete the examination.

The GVC practical flight test is designed to provide assurance that the remote pilot being examined can safely undertake a wide range of VLOS operations within the Specific Category, including those conducted under a published PDRA, whilst adhering to a set of procedures contained within an operations manual.

The test will be conducted outdoors and candidates must sufficiently show competence in a range of pre-and-post-flight actions, and in-flight procedures.

All candidates must complete the practical flight test.

Heliguy will offer free resits for a period of 12 months after you have failed your first exam. Any candidates who need to resit the test/flight assessment a year after failing the first will have to pay a nominal fee and re-do the GVC course, as well as sit the exam/flight assessment.

Yes. You must successfully complete the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service online training course for basic remote pilot competency and the associated competency test, and be in possession of the Flyer ID number associated with that test.

Yes, there are. The GVC can be augmented by a number of additional modules. Currently, one additional module has been developed; this is the GVC Module 1, which covers operations that involve an unmanned aircraft being flown beyond the VLOS of the remote pilot but make use of visual observers for the purpose of avoiding collisions (ie Extended VLOS operations).

These bolt-on modules will allow you to complete more complex missions with your drone, similar to what is now granted through an OSC (Operating Safety Case).

Heliguy will be releasing more information on these bolt-on modules in due course.

The GVC, along with any additional modules that are attached to it, is valid for a period of five years from the date that the examination was taken.

Pilots with a valid PfCO (which runs beyond December 31, 2020) don't need to panic, as their PfCO did not become null and void at the start of the new drone regulations.

Rather, operating conditions on valid PfCOs will be amended to bring them into line with the Operational Authorisation. This ensures that all relevant UAS operators hold the same privileges.

This special permission is applicable until the expiry date of a remote pilot’s PfCO/standard permission.

Once a renewal application is submitted, the applicant will receive an Operational Authorisation and individuals with NQE qualifications may continue to renew that Operational Authorisation until January 1, 2024, before which, they’ll be required to undertake the PfCO to GVC Conversion course.

Read more here.

No - Heliguy offers free insurance for your practical flight assessment through their partners at Coverdrone.

Once you're operating commercially, you will need to have insurance in place to protect your operations and your equipment.

No. Whether you have experience or not - our drone training school helps take you from novice to commercial 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.

Under the new EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) laws, three categories will 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 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.

More Information On New UK Drone Regulations

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.

Explore New Drone Class System

Because no drones currently meet the class requirements, a Transitional Period is running from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 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.

A2 CofC vs GVC - Which Do You Need?

In the past - Heliguy were 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 862 298 5964 to discuss what options you may have.

As of the time of writing, there is no hobbyist drone license in the UK.

Whether or not you'll need some form of qualification depends on the circumstances of your flight.

Find out more here.