Becoming a Drone Pilot in the UK Part 2
Welcome to part 2 of my story about becoming a licensed drone pilot in the UK.
Having completed the classroom training, the next steps were to create an operations manual, take a flight assessment and then submit my manual and proof of competence to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for approval.
The Operations Manual
The first step then was to create my Operations Manual. The finished manual runs to 90 pages so it was no small undertaking.
The training company supplied me with a template and plenty of support by way of suggestions and reading through and annotating my versions. I got to creating it straight after the classroom element of the course so that everything was fresh in my mind. I think two major pitfalls in getting your licence would be underestimating the time and dedication needed to create and complete the manual and putting off doing it. It took me at least two weeks to complete it. Fortunately I had the time available.
Getting a little practice in
I found an empty field on some common land near the River Hamble where it meets Southampton Water. I practised some manoeuvres like a figure of eight and flying in a circle with the camera staying on an object. It was a beautiful evening so I grabbed some footage of the river while I was at it.
The flight assessment and what to expect
With the manual completed and signed off as ready by the training company I was ready for the flight assessment. I was raring to go and then the lockdown for the pandemic kicked in and I had to wait 3 months to get my date!
The flight assessment sounds easy right? Turn up to the assessment with your drone and some extra safety equipment and perform a series of requested manoeuvres like doing a figure of eight and going up to maximum allowed height. Half an hour and job done! Er no.
Yes you do all that but you are also treating the flight assessment as an actual job. You are given a location and a scenario and are required to do a feasibility study using online maps and resources and to treat the assessor as the client.
I spent a solid day on that once I was given the location and scenario. I studied maps on Google Maps, Google Earth, Bing Maps (Ordnance Survey view) as well as weather reports and DroneSafe looking for airspace restrictions. From that work I was able to get a good impression of the area and any potential hazards. I sent off the completed feasibility report and looked forward to the flight assessment day.
Come the day the weather wasn’t great. I drove down to the training centre to meet the assessor. A key part of the assessment is you the trainee deciding if it safe to fly. For me that day the weather was border line. Light showers and the wind blowing at around the maximum my drone could operate in meant it was too risky. As much as I was looking forward to doing the test and getting it done it would have been stupid to fail the test due to the weather so I called it off. That was the right thing to do the assessor assured me and a plus point.
We arranged another date on the spot a week later when the weather forecast was good. A bit too good as it turned out as it was 30 degrees and boiling hot!
We got to the location after reviewing my feasibility study back at the training centre. I won’t reveal the location or the job scenario but it was a huge open space. A beautiful location too. I set out my cordon using the signs that I had adapted from floor cleaning signs. I paced out 30 metres in four directions and set down the signs. Then I set up my compass, wind sock, fire alarm, landing pad and set out my first aid kit. I pulled on my high vis and I was ready to go. The first item is briefing the assessor on the job at hand. Once through that I went through the pre flight and take off procedures (all printed out and in a folder so I could clearly read them).
The flight assessment went really well and I am happy to say I passed. It took all morning so be sure to allow for that time.
Once I got the certificates through from the training company I completed the CAA online form, uploaded the certificates and paid the fee. A week or so later I got an email from the CAA asking me to make some changes which I did and sent right back. A day later the certification came through.
All in all I am glad I took the course as it was a real eye opener. Getting the certification when you add everything up is an expensive business though. The training was around £800, the safety equipment was another £100, the CAA fee was £253. Add in your drone and insurance and you are over £2k.
Written and published by
Steve Hogg