A2 CofC Operational Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a site survey before a drone flight, which of the following should be assessed?
- Only the weather forecast for the flight window
- Nearby obstacles, public access points, emergency landing areas, and proximity to sensitive sites (Correct answer)
- The availability of mobile phone signal for live streaming
- Whether the site has parking facilities for the pilot
Correct answer: Nearby obstacles, public access points, emergency landing areas, and proximity to sensitive sites
A site survey must assess physical hazards (buildings, trees, power lines, cranes), public access points where uninvolved people may appear, emergency landing options, proximity to aerodromes or restricted areas, and any sensitive locations (schools, hospitals, prisons).
Question 2: In the A2 subcategory, at what maximum ground speed can a C2 drone be flown to reduce the minimum distance to uninvolved people to 5 metres?
- 5 m/s
- 3 m/s (Correct answer)
- 10 m/s
- The speed does not affect the minimum distance
Correct answer: 3 m/s
When a C2-marked drone is operated in its low-speed mode (maximum 3 m/s), the minimum horizontal distance from uninvolved people can be reduced from 30 metres to 5 metres. This is because the reduced kinetic energy lowers the risk of injury.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a pre-flight checklist for a drone operation?
- To satisfy insurance requirements only
- To systematically verify the drone, controller, environment, and pilot readiness before flight (Correct answer)
- To demonstrate competency to bystanders
- To calculate the maximum flight range
Correct answer: To systematically verify the drone, controller, environment, and pilot readiness before flight
A pre-flight checklist ensures that all critical items are systematically checked before flight, including drone condition, battery levels, controller link, propeller security, firmware status, GPS lock, environmental conditions, and pilot fitness to fly.
Question 4: Under UK regulations, can a drone be flown at night in the Open category?
- No, night flying is prohibited in all circumstances in the Open category
- Yes, but only with specific lighting fitted to the drone and additional risk assessment (Correct answer)
- Yes, without any additional requirements
- Only with an Operational Authorisation from the CAA
Correct answer: Yes, but only with specific lighting fitted to the drone and additional risk assessment
Night flying in the Open category is permitted under UK CAA regulations provided the drone is equipped with appropriate lighting to maintain VLOS, and the pilot has conducted an adequate risk assessment addressing the additional hazards of night operations.
Question 5: What action should a remote pilot take if uninvolved people unexpectedly enter the area during an A2 flight?
- Continue the flight as normal since the area was clear at take-off
- Immediately increase altitude to maximum permitted height
- Move the drone away from the uninvolved people or land if safe separation cannot be maintained (Correct answer)
- Radio the people on a common frequency to warn them
Correct answer: Move the drone away from the uninvolved people or land if safe separation cannot be maintained
The remote pilot must dynamically manage the distance from uninvolved people throughout the flight. If people enter the operating area and minimum distances cannot be maintained, the pilot should reposition the drone or land to ensure safety.
Question 6: What does the term 'fail-safe' mean in the context of drone operations?
- A marketing term used by drone manufacturers to guarantee crash-proof drones
- An automated function that activates when the drone loses signal with the controller, such as return-to-home or auto-land (Correct answer)
- A manual override that the observer can trigger
- The drone's ability to fly indefinitely without battery
Correct answer: An automated function that activates when the drone loses signal with the controller, such as return-to-home or auto-land
A fail-safe is a pre-programmed automated response that activates when certain failure conditions occur, such as loss of control link. Common fail-safe actions include return-to-home (RTH), hover in place, or auto-land. Pilots must configure and test fail-safes before flight.
A2 CofC Operational Procedures 2
When conducting a site survey before a drone flight, which of the following should be assessed?