GVC UK Drone Legislation & CAA Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What minimum age must a pilot be to hold a GVC in the UK?
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 16 years old
- 21 years old
- 14 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
The minimum age for GVC holders is 18 years old. This higher threshold than the open category (16) reflects the increased responsibility and complexity of specific category operations, which often involve commercial clients, public areas, or more complex airspace.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key responsibility of a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) under UK specific category regulations?
- Final authority for all decisions regarding the safety of the flight (Correct answer)
- Delegating all safety decisions to the Ground Observer
- Ensuring the drone is insured but having no operational responsibility
- Complying with all client instructions regardless of safety implications
Correct answer: Final authority for all decisions regarding the safety of the flight
The RPIC (often called the Remote Pilot) is the person responsible for the safe conduct of the UAS operation. They have final authority over all safety decisions and cannot delegate this responsibility to a client, observer, or employer. If a client instruction would compromise safety, the RPIC must refuse.
Question 3: A commercial drone operator is contracted to film infrastructure from a helicopter pad. What additional operational consideration does this create?
- The helipad may be part of a restricted zone — the operator must check airspace restrictions and coordinate with the helipad operator (Correct answer)
- Helipads are always in Class G airspace so no additional checks are needed
- Drone flight from a helipad is banned under UK law
- The operator only needs to ensure their drone is painted to match aviation safety colours
Correct answer: The helipad may be part of a restricted zone — the operator must check airspace restrictions and coordinate with the helipad operator
Helipads associated with hospitals, offshore platforms, or other facilities may be within controlled airspace or FRZs. The drone operator must verify the airspace status of the specific location, obtain any required permissions, and coordinate with the helipad operator to avoid conflict with helicopter movements.
Question 4: What does 'Duty of Care' mean for a commercial GVC drone operator?
- The legal and ethical obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of people and property affected by the operation (Correct answer)
- The obligation to carry public liability insurance only
- The duty to file a flight plan before every commercial operation
- The responsibility to pay compensation if the drone is damaged
Correct answer: The legal and ethical obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of people and property affected by the operation
Duty of care requires operators to actively manage risks to third parties — uninvolved persons on the ground, members of the public, and adjacent property owners. This includes site surveys, risk assessments, briefing ground observers, and ensuring all participants understand their roles.
Question 5: When must a commercial drone operator update their operations manual?
- Whenever procedures, equipment, or operating conditions change, and before conducting operations that differ from those previously authorised (Correct answer)
- Only at licence renewal every 5 years
- Once per year regardless of changes
- Only when the CAA requests a review
Correct answer: Whenever procedures, equipment, or operating conditions change, and before conducting operations that differ from those previously authorised
An operations manual must remain a live document that accurately reflects current equipment, procedures, and personnel. Any material change to operations — new drone type, new operating areas, new procedures — must be reflected in the manual, and the CAA must be notified of significant changes that may affect the Operational Authorisation.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a pre-flight briefing in a commercial drone operation?
- To ensure all crew members and observers understand the plan, hazards, emergency procedures, and their individual responsibilities (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance requirements by creating a paper trail
- To formally hand over command to the senior ground observer
- To check weather conditions from the drone's on-board sensors
Correct answer: To ensure all crew members and observers understand the plan, hazards, emergency procedures, and their individual responsibilities
A pre-flight briefing ensures crew coordination and shared situational awareness. All participants — remote pilot, visual observers, ground assistants — must understand the flight plan, identified hazards, communications protocol, and emergency actions. This directly reduces the risk of human error.
GVC UK Drone Legislation & CAA Regulations 2
What minimum age must a pilot be to hold a GVC in the UK?