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Subjects covered in this article:
a. Why Do You Need A Practical Flight Assessment?
b. The Assessment Process
c. About Flight assessments
d. About Concessions
e. When Should You Call For A Practical Flight Assessment?
f. Information about the AJSSL SUA Pilot Assessment
This article is based on the guidance provided on the CAA website. Please use the source information as the authoritative guidance.
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Why Do You Need A Practical Flight Assessment?
Anyone who wishing to fly a drone for commercial work needs a Permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) the permission is referred to as a Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO). To obtain a Permission, applicant will need to:
a. be at least 18 years of age
b. demonstrate a sufficient understanding of aviation theory (airmanship, airspace, aviation law and good flying practice)
c. pass a practical flight assessment (flight test)
d. develop basic procedures for conducting the type of flights you want to do and set these out in an Operations Manual
e. obtain an adequate level of insurance
There are a number of CAA recognised assessment organisations called National Qualified Entities (NQE) that can help applicants meet these requirements. The NQE will generally help the applicant to develop an operations manual and will offer advice on completing any additional paperwork.
Once the applicant can meet the requirements they can make an application using form SRG 1320 to UAVenquiries@caa.co.uk. The applicant needs to allow up to 28 working days for the permission to be processed.
The Assessment Process
The CAA does not organise or run assessment courses but they approve commercial organisations called National Qualified Entities (NQE) or Restricted National Qualified Entities (R-NQE) to do this.
NQE organisations will:
a. Run full or restricted modular courses
b. Make a recommendation to the CAA about the pilot’s competence
c. This recommendation provides the basis for the CAA granting a PFCO.
Most NQEs provide the full course and this is suitable for those with no previous aviation training or qualifications.
A typical NQE full-course involves:
a. pre-entry/online study
b. 1-3 days of classroom lessons and exercises
c. a written theory test
d. a flight assessment
After successfully completing the theory element, the pilot will:
a. develop their own operations manual
b. practice aircraft operation/flying skills for the practical flight assessment.
About Flight assessments
These are completed at your own pace and:
a. usually arranged separately but may be available on the last day of the course
b. have no structured syllabus or sequence of numbered exercises
About Concessions
You may already have qualifications that cover the teory part of the critical evidence in that case there are concessions. Concessions against the theory part of the course are possible if you have:
a. flying experience (including model aircraft)
b. a licence or certificate that allows you to fly in un-segregated airspace (PPL, glider rating)
See Section 2, Chapter 4 of CAP 722 for full details.
Critical evidence elements aligned to existing aviation qualifications as part of your evidence to obtaining a Permission For Commercial Operation (PFCO):
|
Existing Aviation Qualification: |
Critical Element: |
Critical Element: |
Critical Element: |
|
|
Theoretical Knowledge Requirement / General Airmanship (no requirement for annual renewal) |
Initial Practical Flight Assessment Requirement (no requirement for annual renewal) |
Experience Requirement (annual renewal)
|
||
|
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
|
|
1 |
Nil |
Completion of a Full Category NQE course |
2 hours total flight experience logged within the last 3 calendar months on the class of SUA for which a Permission is sought. Pilots may self-certify through logbook entries. |
|
|
2 |
Current EASA Fixed-Wing, Helicopter or Microlight license |
Nil |
Pilot flight skills assessment verified to the CAA by a Full or Restricted Category NQE in at least one of the following four classes: a) SUA multirotor with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) not exceeding 7 kg. b) SUA multirotor with a MTOM greater than 7 kg but not exceeding 20 kg. c) SUA fixed-wing with a MTOM not exceeding 7 kg. d) SUA fixed-wing with a MTOM greater than 7 kg but not exceeding 20 kg. |
|
|
3 |
Current UK National Fixed-Wing, Helicopter or Microlight license |
Nil |
||
|
4 |
UK Military pilot / remote pilot or RPAS operator qualification (applicable where basic flight training has been carried out in non-segregated UK airspace) RAF VGS Instructor qualifications commencing at G1 Instructor level are also acceptable |
Nil |
||
|
5 |
British Gliding Association (BGA) – Bronze ‘C’ and above (or EASA equivalent) |
Nil |
||
|
6 |
BMFA ‘A’ or ‘B’ Certificates |
Nil |
Nil. Helicopter certificate accepted for multirotors |
|
|
7 |
Non-UK SUA/RPAS qualification/license Other lapsed pilot licences or certificates |
Case-by-case CAA assessment |
Table 1 – Pilot Competency Criteria for Small Unmanned Aircraft Permission under ANO articles 94 and 95
When Should You Call For A Practical Flight Assessment?
A SUA Pilot, after successfully completing the theory element with an NQE or as part of a previous aviation qualification (Concessions); will develop their own operations manual and practice aircraft operation/flying skills for the practical flight assessment.
At this point as a UK CAA R-NQE we can take you through your assessment and if successful we will make a recommendation to the CAA against their practical assessment criteria. This will form the final part of your evidence towards your application to the CAA for a PFCO.
We would advise contacting us as early as possible in your development of your evidence for your PFCO.
For more about the assessment with AJSSL see here.
Or contact us if you have any queries.