A2 CofC Operational Procedures — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before conducting a flight under the A2 subcategory, what must the remote pilot complete?
- Only a verbal briefing with a colleague
- A documented pre-flight risk assessment including site survey (Correct answer)
- A flight plan filed with the CAA at least 24 hours in advance
- A mandatory check-in with local air traffic control
Correct answer: A documented pre-flight risk assessment including site survey
A2 CofC holders must conduct a pre-flight risk assessment before every flight. This includes a thorough site survey to identify hazards, assess the area for uninvolved people, check airspace restrictions, and evaluate weather conditions.
Question 2: What does VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) mean for a drone operation in the UK Open category?
- The drone must be visible on a monitor or screen at all times
- The remote pilot must be able to see the drone unaided (except corrective lenses) at all times to monitor its flight path and avoid collisions (Correct answer)
- The drone must remain within 500 metres horizontally of the pilot
- The drone's camera must maintain visual contact with the pilot
Correct answer: The remote pilot must be able to see the drone unaided (except corrective lenses) at all times to monitor its flight path and avoid collisions
VLOS means the remote pilot can see the drone with their own eyes (corrective lenses are permitted) at all times during the flight, without relying on binoculars, monitors, or other visual aids, to maintain situational awareness and avoid collisions.
Question 3: When flying in the A2 subcategory, what is the minimum horizontal distance that must be maintained from uninvolved people with a C2 class drone at full speed?
- 5 metres
- 30 metres (Correct answer)
- 50 metres
- 150 metres
Correct answer: 30 metres
With a C2 class marked drone operating in the A2 subcategory, the remote pilot must maintain a minimum horizontal distance of 30 metres from uninvolved people. This can be reduced to 5 metres if the drone is in low-speed mode (max 3 m/s).
Question 4: What is the role of an observer during a UK drone operation?
- To take over control of the drone in an emergency
- To maintain visual line of sight with the drone and communicate hazards to the remote pilot (Correct answer)
- To file the flight plan with the CAA on behalf of the pilot
- To operate the drone's camera and payload systems
Correct answer: To maintain visual line of sight with the drone and communicate hazards to the remote pilot
An observer assists the remote pilot by helping to maintain awareness of the drone and its surroundings. They scan for hazards and communicate relevant information to the pilot, but they do not take control of the drone.
Question 5: What should a remote pilot do if they lose visual contact with their drone during an Open category flight?
- Switch to FPV goggles to regain visual contact
- Continue the flight using telemetry data alone
- Initiate the return-to-home function or land the drone as soon as safely possible (Correct answer)
- Increase altitude to make the drone more visible
Correct answer: Initiate the return-to-home function or land the drone as soon as safely possible
If VLOS is lost, the remote pilot must take immediate action to regain sight of the drone or land it safely. Continuing to fly without visual contact violates Open category requirements and poses a safety risk to other airspace users.
Question 6: What information should be included in a flight log after completing a drone operation?
- Only the drone's serial number and flight time
- Date, location, duration, drone used, battery cycles, any incidents, and weather conditions (Correct answer)
- The names of all people who observed the flight
- A video recording of the entire flight is mandatory
Correct answer: Date, location, duration, drone used, battery cycles, any incidents, and weather conditions
A comprehensive flight log should record the date, time, location (including coordinates), flight duration, drone type and serial number, battery status, weather conditions, crew involved, purpose of flight, and any incidents or observations. This aids maintenance tracking and regulatory compliance.
A2 CofC Operational Procedures
Before conducting a flight under the A2 subcategory, what must the remote pilot complete?