GVC Flight Planning and Navigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does VLOS mean and what is its practical implication for UAS flight planning?
- Very Low Operating Speed — the drone must fly below 20 mph
- Visual Line of Sight — the remote pilot must maintain unaided visual contact with the UAS at all times (Correct answer)
- Vertical Launch and Observe System — the drone must take off vertically
- Variable Level of Service — the drone adjusts autonomy based on signal strength
Correct answer: Visual Line of Sight — the remote pilot must maintain unaided visual contact with the UAS at all times
VLOS stands for Visual Line of Sight. It requires the remote pilot to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the UAS at all times during flight. This means the pilot must be able to see the drone clearly enough to determine its orientation, direction of flight, and proximity to other aircraft or obstacles.
Question 2: When planning a flight route for a commercial UAS operation, which of the following should be given the HIGHEST priority?
- Achieving the most dramatic camera angles
- Minimising flight time over uninvolved persons and congested areas (Correct answer)
- Maximising the ground area covered per battery
- Following the most direct straight-line path
Correct answer: Minimising flight time over uninvolved persons and congested areas
Safety is the overriding priority in flight planning. Routes should be planned to minimise overflying uninvolved persons, congested areas, and sensitive sites. This reduces the ground risk and is a key element of the operator's duty of care and SORA compliance.
Question 3: What is the purpose of establishing a 'flight geography' and 'contingency volume' in UAS flight planning?
- To define the marketing area for the operator's services
- To define the intended flight area and the additional airspace buffer for handling abnormal situations (Correct answer)
- To calculate the operator's insurance premium
- To determine the number of observers required
Correct answer: To define the intended flight area and the additional airspace buffer for handling abnormal situations
The flight geography defines where the UAS is intended to fly during normal operations. The contingency volume is the additional airspace surrounding the flight geography where the UAS may manoeuvre in abnormal situations (e.g., wind gusts, minor system issues) before triggering emergency procedures. Together they form the operational volume.
Question 4: How does the remote pilot's position relative to the sun affect VLOS operations?
- It has no effect on modern drone operations
- Looking toward the sun can cause glare, making it difficult to maintain visual contact with the UAS (Correct answer)
- The sun improves visibility in all cases
- The sun only affects operations above 200 metres
Correct answer: Looking toward the sun can cause glare, making it difficult to maintain visual contact with the UAS
Solar glare is a significant factor in VLOS operations. If the remote pilot must look toward the sun to observe the UAS, the glare can make it extremely difficult or impossible to maintain adequate visual contact. Flight planning should consider the sun's position relative to the pilot's viewing direction at the planned time of operation.
Question 5: What is an 'Emergency Response Plan' (ERP) and when must it be prepared?
- A plan for responding to equipment failure — only required for flights over 100 metres
- A documented plan detailing actions to take in emergency scenarios — required before every Specific category operation (Correct answer)
- A financial plan for replacing damaged equipment
- A plan submitted to the emergency services after an incident
Correct answer: A documented plan detailing actions to take in emergency scenarios — required before every Specific category operation
An Emergency Response Plan must be prepared before conducting Specific category UAS operations. It documents the procedures to follow in various emergency scenarios such as flyaway, loss of control link, loss of GNSS, battery failure, or injury to persons. It should include emergency contact numbers, hospital locations, and notification procedures.
Question 6: Why is it important to check for electromagnetic interference (EMI) sources during a site survey?
- EMI can charge the drone's battery faster
- EMI sources such as power lines, transmitters, and substations can interfere with the UAS control link and GNSS signals (Correct answer)
- EMI only affects drones painted with metallic paint
- EMI improves the drone's camera quality
Correct answer: EMI sources such as power lines, transmitters, and substations can interfere with the UAS control link and GNSS signals
Electromagnetic interference from sources such as high-voltage power lines, radio transmitters, radar installations, and electrical substations can disrupt the UAS control link (causing loss of command) and degrade GNSS accuracy (causing navigation errors). Identifying EMI sources during the site survey allows the pilot to plan mitigations or adjust the operating area.
GVC Flight Planning and Navigation 2
What does VLOS mean and what is its practical implication for UAS flight planning?