The GVC

The GVC is a pilot competency course designed to provide you with everything you need to obtain an Operational Authorisation (OA) from the CAA. It consists of some online study, an exam conducted under formal conditions, the creation of an operations manual, and finally a practical flight test. Once you've completed the course, you're awarded both the GVC and A2 CofC (our courses are modular!) and you can then use your shiny new certificate to apply to the CAA.

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Having a GVC brings a lot of flexibility and professionalism to your drone operations. You learn about flight operations, meteorology (the weather), flight performance, as well as the practicalities of planning and conducting safe and legal drone flights. Depending on your circumstances, the course can be finished in as little as a week, however most students complete it over the course of 4 to 6 weeks on a part time basis.

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The theory part of the course is completed online via our virtual learning environment; super easy to use and navigate and there are lots of quizzes and knowledge checks to keep you on track. Once you're ready, the exam is online and on-demand 24/7/365 (literally!). You'll connect with a proctor (a human being) who'll help you get set up and ready. The exam is multiple choice and covers the same areas as the knowledge checks. Because of the way our courses are structured we have a near 100% first time pass rate, however if you happened to have a bad day we provide you with some additional support and retakes of the exam are always free.

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With the exam complete you'll be able to log in to Flight Docs, our very own automated system for creating your operations manual. It takes around 30 minutes, after which you'll have a full compliant and formatted document sitting in your inbox. The final step is your practical flight test.

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We have a network of flight examiners across the whole of the UK from which you can choose the one closest and most convenient to you. We also provide you with the details of how the flight test is performed right at the start of your course so you can practice whilst you study. The test itself consists of planning for the flight, setting up, completing the various manoeuvres, responding to simulated emergencies and closing your operation down. It may seem a little daunting but we guide you every step of the way.

The A2 CofC

The A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC) was introduced as a way to provide greater freedoms to drone pilots of lightweight drones who complete some introductory training. It consists of three study modules, completed online, followed by a formal exam taken under exam conditions. The average time to complete the A2 course can range between 1 and 3 days, depending on the student.

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What the A2 CofC allows you to do can appear a bit complicated if you're new to the subject. Basically there is a limited "transitional period" during which you can fly what the CAA calls "legacy drones" with reduced separation distances from people, and there is a "continuing period" where you can fly the new "class marked" drones with reduced separation distances from people.

From 31st December 2022 all drones on sale in the UK (and Europe) must be compliant with the new class marking system. This would mean they have been designed and manufactured to meet certain safety standards. A legacy drone is a drone that doesn't have one of the new class markings. The problem is that manufacturers aren't producing any class marked drones. During a podcast in August 2021, AV8's CEO Jon Anderson asked the then CEO of Autel what their plans were to start offering class marked drones; Autel's CEO wasn't aware of any. DJI have tried to convince the UK CAA and EASA to retrospectively recognise their existing product range under the class marking system, but have so far not been successful.

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If you have an A2 CofC today, you're allowed to fly your lightweight legacy drone (under 2kg) within congested and built up areas and to within 50m of people (horizontally), however this privilege expires on the 31st December 2022. After this date, regardless of whether you have an A2 CofC, all legacy drones weighing 250g or more can only be flown in the A3 (far from people) subcategory. This means that you can't fly in congested or built up areas and there can't be anyone in the general area you're flying in.

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For this reason we're exercising caution in recommending the A2 CofC to both recreational and commercial drone pilots until its future is a little clearer.