A2 CofC UK Drone Regulations & Legislation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which primary piece of UK legislation governs drone operations in UK airspace?
- The Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016 (Correct answer)
- The Civil Aviation Act 1982 only
- The Drone Safety Act 2019
- The Transport Act 2000
Correct answer: The Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016
The Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016 (as amended) is the primary statutory instrument regulating all aircraft operations in UK airspace, including unmanned aircraft (drones). It sets out the legal requirements for flights, registration, and pilot competency.
Question 2: What is the maximum take-off mass (MTOM) threshold below which a drone is classified as an unmanned aircraft in the UK open category without special requirements for class marking?
- 250 g (Correct answer)
- 500 g
- 1 kg
- 2 kg
Correct answer: 250 g
Drones below 250 g MTOM fall into the lightest subcategory. The 250 g threshold is a key boundary in UK drone regulations — many rules distinguishing subcategories and registration requirements hinge on this weight limit.
Question 3: Under UK CAA rules, at what age can a person legally fly a drone in the open category without supervision?
- 18 years old
- 16 years old (Correct answer)
- 14 years old
- 12 years old
Correct answer: 16 years old
In the UK, the minimum age to fly a drone in the open category without direct adult supervision is 16 years old. Younger pilots must be supervised by a competent adult who meets the regulatory requirements.
Question 4: CAA publication CAP722 primarily covers which aspect of drone operations?
- Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace (Correct answer)
- Pilot medical certification standards
- Air traffic control procedures
- Airport security requirements
Correct answer: Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace
CAP722 'Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace' is the CAA's guidance document for UAS operations. It provides detailed operational guidance supplementing the ANO and is an essential reference for drone operators.
Question 5: Which organisation is responsible for issuing the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) in the UK?
- CAA-approved National Qualified Entities (NQEs) (Correct answer)
- The Civil Aviation Authority directly
- The Department for Transport
- NATS (National Air Traffic Services)
Correct answer: CAA-approved National Qualified Entities (NQEs)
The A2 CofC is awarded by National Qualified Entities (NQEs) — organisations approved by the CAA to deliver drone training and assessment. The CAA sets the standards but NQEs conduct the training and examinations.
Question 6: What does the A2 CofC qualification specifically permit a drone operator to do that a basic open category flyer cannot?
- Fly a C2-class drone as close as 30 m horizontally to uninvolved persons (Correct answer)
- Fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)
- Operate drones over 25 kg
- Fly in class A restricted airspace
Correct answer: Fly a C2-class drone as close as 30 m horizontally to uninvolved persons
The A2 CofC allows the holder to fly a C2-class drone in the open category subcategory A2, maintaining a reduced horizontal distance of 30 m from uninvolved persons (or 15 m in low-speed mode). This is the key additional privilege over the basic A1/A3 rules.
A2 CofC UK Drone Regulations & Legislation 1
Which primary piece of UK legislation governs drone operations in UK airspace?