A2 CofC - Drone Certificate of Competency Aviation Regulation and Safety Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A remote pilot with an A2 CofC is operating a 1.8kg 'legacy' drone in a park. They observe a person walking their dog approximately 60 metres away. What is the minimum horizontal separation distance the pilot must maintain from this person according to UK regulations?
- 30 metres
- 50 metres (Correct answer)
- 150 metres
- No minimum distance is required as long as they are not flown over.
Correct answer: 50 metres
According to UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations for the A2 subcategory, when flying a 'legacy' drone with a mass between 500g and 2kg, a remote pilot holding an A2 CofC must maintain a minimum horizontal distance of 50 metres from uninvolved people. The person walking their dog is considered an 'uninvolved person' as they are not part of the drone operation.
Question 2: Which of the following best defines an 'uninvolved person' in the context of a UAS operation in the UK?
- Any person who has not been employed by the drone operator.
- Any person within 150 metres of the drone operation.
- A person who is not participating in the UAS operation and has not received safety instructions from the remote pilot. (Correct answer)
- A person who has been notified of the drone flight via a public announcement or signage.
Correct answer: A person who is not participating in the UAS operation and has not received safety instructions from the remote pilot.
The UK CAA defines an 'uninvolved person' as someone who is not taking part in the drone operation, either directly or indirectly. To be considered 'involved', a person must give their explicit consent to be part of the operation and must have received clear instructions and safety precautions from the remote pilot. Simply being notified does not make someone an involved person.
Question 3: A remote pilot is preparing to take the A2 CofC theory examination. In addition to passing the exam, what practical competency requirement must they fulfil to be awarded the certificate?
- Complete a practical flight test with a CAA-approved examiner.
- Submit a video portfolio of at least 10 different flight manoeuvres.
- Log a minimum of 10 hours of flight time within the previous month.
- Complete a period of self-guided practical training and make a formal declaration of their competency to the Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE). (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Complete a period of self-guided practical training and make a formal declaration of their competency to the Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE).
The A2 CofC does not require a formal practical flight test with an examiner. Instead, the candidate must undertake self-guided practical flight training in a safe environment to build skills. Before the certificate is issued, they must submit a signed declaration to their RAE confirming they have achieved a suitable level of practical flying competence.
Question 4: Under the UK's Open Category A2 rules, what is the maximum validity period for an A2 Certificate of Competency before it requires renewal?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
An A2 Certificate of Competency issued by a CAA-approved Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) is valid for a period of five years. After this period, the remote pilot must undergo a renewal process, which typically includes passing a new theory examination, to maintain their qualification.
Question 5: A pilot with an A2 CofC is flying a C2-marked drone in its designated 'low-speed mode'. According to the '1:1 Rule', if they are maintaining a horizontal distance of 8 metres from an uninvolved person, what is the maximum height the drone should be operated at?
- 5 metres
- 8 metres (Correct answer)
- 30 metres
- 120 metres
Correct answer: 8 metres
When operating a C2-class drone in low-speed mode close to people, the '1:1 Rule' is a guiding principle for safety. It states that the drone's height above the ground should not exceed its horizontal distance from an uninvolved person. Therefore, if the horizontal separation is 8 metres, the drone's height should be no more than 8 metres.
Question 6: The A2 CofC theory syllabus, as mandated by the UK CAA, is primarily focused on assessing a remote pilot's knowledge of mitigating ground risk. Which three subjects form the core of the A2 CofC examination?
- Air Law, Navigation, and Human Performance.
- Aircraft General Knowledge, Principles of Flight, and Communications.
- Meteorology, UAS Flight Performance, and Technical and Operational Mitigations for Ground Risk. (Correct answer)
- Operational Procedures, Airspace Classification, and Insurance Regulations.
Correct answer: Meteorology, UAS Flight Performance, and Technical and Operational Mitigations for Ground Risk.
The Civil Aviation Authority specifies that the A2 CofC theory test must cover three main subject areas: Meteorology, UAS Flight Performance, and Technical and Operational Mitigations for Ground Risk.
A2 CofC - Drone Certificate of Competency Aviation Regulation and Safety Questions and Answers
A remote pilot with an A2 CofC is operating a 1.8kg 'legacy' drone in a park.
They observe a person walking their dog approximately 60 metres away.
What is the minimum horizontal separation distance the pilot must maintain from this person according to UK regulations?