Anyone flying a drone weighing between 250g and 25kg will need to take and pass on Online Test via the CAA’s DAMARES website. The test has 40 multiple choice questions, you can take the test as many times as you need.

When you pass the test, you will get a Flyer ID is specific to you as a Remote Pilot.

You are not allowed to fly a drone between 250g and 25kg without a Flyer ID.

The Flyer ID is currently free and is valid for 5 years. You can obtain this via the CAA’s CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Education Scheme (DAMARES) website.

As an Operator of a drone, which the CAA definition is ‘the person responsible for managing a drone or model aircraft’, they are usually the person or organisation that owns the drone or model aircraft, but not always.

You must be 18 or over to register for an Operator ID.

The cost of the Operator ID is currently £10 and is valid for 1 year. You can obtain this via the CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Education Scheme (DAMARES) website.

Currently, our courses are based in our Newport South Wales office. Our Flight Assessments and Flight Training are run at our flying facility located approximately 20 minute drive from our Newport office.

The CAA’s definition of this states, if you are flying a drone or model aircraft below 20kg for recreation, sport, or as a hobby, you can choose whether to have insurance.

However, if you fly for any other reason, you must have third party insurance.

Flying a drone or model aircraft over 20kg, you must always have third party insurance regardless of the operations.

You can get aviation-specific insurance from companies such as Coverdrone and Moonrock Insurance.  There are two main types of insurance – annual cover and pay as you fly.

The A2 CofC and GVC are recognised UK CAA courses, therefore the certification is only valid in the UK and Northern Ireland.

If you would like to fly a drone outside of these locations, you will have to contact the relevant countries CAA to request their regulations.

The three categories are: Open, Specific and Certified. To find out which category and course is the right one for you please contact a member of the RUAS Training Academy team on 01633 746170 or [email protected].

Below are the requirements from the CAA website which details in full if a Flyer and Operator ID is needed.

Unfortunately, we do not offer a payment scheme at the moment, although we do have offers available throughout the year offering a discount on some of our courses, so please check out our website.

Our A2CofC Course is an Online Course consisting of 4 modules (Introduction, Meteorology, UAS Flight Performance & Operating Principles). Once completed you are required to complete a virtual exam invigilated via Microsoft Teams.

To complete this course, a Self-Declaration must be signed to state that you are able to prepare your UAS for flight and have a minimum of 2 hours of flight (this must be evidenced through an online logbook).   The full declaration can be found here

Our GVC Course consists of the following process:

• Six Online Learning Modules (approximately 6-8 hours, depending on an individual’s retention of information)
• 1 Day Theory Classroom Based Learning, with the theory examination at the end of the day.  This will be based at our Newport training facility.
• Production of an Operations Manual at your own leisure (full templates and guidance are provided)
• Practical Flight Assessment, located at our Flying site, approximately 20 minute drive from our Newport facility.

The student must also complete the CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Education Scheme (DAMARES), gaining a Flyer/Operator ID’s.   The Flyer ID is currently free of charge and has an expiration of 5 years, the Operator ID must be renewed annually at currently cost £10.

Once all of the above elements are completed, you can then apply to the CAA for the Operational Authorisation, which is currently £253, this is paid directly to the CAA.

To fly in the A2 Sub-category of the Open category the RP must hold a Flyer/Operator ID as well as an A2 CofC – this will enable the flight of a non Class marked drone <2kg during the transitional period which has recently been extended to 1^st January 2026. The RP must not fly directly over, and must maintain a distance of at least 50m from any uninvolved persons.

When operating in the Open A2 Sub-category the CAA have permitted the flight of a <2kg drone without a Class marking under the following conditions:

• To a maximum height of 400ft
• The Remote Pilot must maintain unaided Visual Line of Sight at all times
• No overflight of uninvolved persons is permitted at any time
• No flight within 50m of uninvolved persons is permitted at any time
• The Remote Pilot must hold an A2 CofC

The transitional period has recently been extended to 1^st January 2026.

The current validity of both the A2 CofC and GVC qualifications are 5 years.

It has recently been announced that from 1^st January 2023 class marks issued within the EU will not automatically be recognised as equivalent to UK class marks – there are currently no designated standards established within the UK.

Any UAS operated within the Open Category, regardless of whether it holds a class mark issued in the EU must be flown in the ‘non class mark’ open category, and abide by its limitations and conditions.

Holders of an A2 CofC that references transition and legacy period dates of 31^st December 2022, may continue to use these privileges until either the expiry date of the certificate, or the end of the new transition/legacy period of 1^st January 2026, whichever is sooner. A re-issue of the certificate is not required.