Modern-Aviation

There will be no formal requirement to complete any CAA Drone Training Courses when the UK CAA switch over to the new EASA Drone Regulations on the 31st December 2020. Under the new regulations, the UK CAA will remove the definitions of 'commercial' and 'recreational' drone usage from the Air Navigation Order (ANO). This will allow anyone who owns a drone to fly it for 'commercial gain' without the need for any qualifications at all... So long as you can stay 150 metres away from built-up areas and 50 metres away from uninvolved persons at all times (and your drone weighs 25Kg or less).

You must remember that you ARE REQUIRED to have drone insurance in place though, if you are looking to do any kind of commercial drone flying... Give our friends at Coverdrone a shout if you need any help or advice on this; we use them for our Drone Insurance and they're awesome! : (UAVHUB)

The only time CAA Drone Training Courses will be required, under the new EASA Regulations, will be if you want to fly closer to uninvolved people than 150m (or you want to fly over or near to crowds, fly drones which weigh more than 25Kg etc - if you want to know more about this, please don't hesitate to give the UAVHUB Team a shout and they can help you find a solution!).

What CAA Drone Training Courses will be available from 31st December 2020?
After the 31st December 2020, if you do want to fly closer to uninvolved people than 150 metres then you can either use a 'legacy' Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO), a (soon to be) 'legacy' Operating Safety Case (OSC), or, the new CAA Drone Training Course Qualifications which are;

- The A2 Certificate of Competency ( A2 C of C )

- The CAA General Visual Line of Sight Certificate ( CAA GVC )

What is the CAA General Visual Line of Sight Certificate ( GVC )?
The CAA GVC effectively replaces the current PfCO. It follows a similar course structure; A theory course & exam, followed by the creation of a CAA Drone Operations Manual and a Practical Drone Flying Exam.

Completion of these 3 core elements will lead to you getting a GVC issued to you by your training provider and you can then use this certificate to apply to the CAA for an 'Operational Authorisation'.

The GVC Permissions in their basic form allow the operator to fly any drone which weighs less than 25Kg, down to a distance of 50m from uninvolved persons and allows for use in congested areas, provided the 50m separation from uninvolved persons can be maintained at all times. This is the same as the current PfCO qualification.