What is the Specific Category (STS) Remote Pilot Competency Course?

This course is designed specifically to train remote pilots for Standard Scenario (STS) operations, while also fulfilling the competency requirements for PDRA and SORA operations within the Specific Category. It provides the essential skills and knowledge needed to meet the minimum pilot competency standard for Specific Category UAS operations.

Does this course authorize me to operate in the Specific Category?
Its a first step. Completing this course certifies you as a competent remote pilot but does not grant operational authorization. To operate legally in the Specific Category, a trained remote pilot must work under a UAS Operator who has obtained "operational authorization" from a competent authority.

Who needs operational authorization?
A UAS Operator—the entity managing the UAS operations, such as a company or local authority—must apply for and obtain operational authorization to conduct Specific Category operations. This process involves submitting risk assessments, operations manuals, and verifying that their remote pilots meet required competency standards.

This course requires you to,

• Complete the online self-paced elearning.
• Complete the 1-day live theory course. 
• Complete the online exam take during a scheduled exam session. 

Theory Course. 
 - The theory course complies with the requirement of EU regulation for Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) flying in the Specific Category.

 - Course dates are as advertised. Take the first lesson online and at the end of this short lesson book you place on the live webinar of your choice. 

 You can start the self-paced section immediately upon payment.

 At the top of this page you will see our currently scheduled courses with count down timers.  Please complete the online self-paced section prior to attending the live session. 

Very simple.

Once you have enrolled and paid for a course you will be able to take the online self-paced elements of the course. At the end of self-paced section, you can choose to register on one of the scheduled live webinar training dates. Just select the date you require on the online booking system. 

The course price is €499 (Theory Only Course).

Payments are completed with our online payment provider (Stripe). Safe Drone Academy will never have access to, or store, your card details. All payment details are highly secured with appropriate security certificates. 

On the payment plan, you can start the course after your initial payment. We will simply and automatically bill your card for the remaining two payments over the following two months. No paperwork or lengthy credit arrangements. 

EU regulation divides drone operations into 3 main categories.

• The Open Category is for low risk operations.

• The Specific Category is for medium to high risk operations.
• The Certified Category is for the highest risk operations.

A remote pilot in the Specific category is permitted to conduct flying operations for a UAS Operator that has an  'operational authorisation' to conduct specific operations by a competent authority. 

Unlike the Open category, an UAS Operator is required to have an 'operational authorisation' to operate their unmanned aircraft. The UAS Operator must use a remote pilot who has a certificate to fly in the Specific category. 

By EU definition a UAS Operator 'means any legal or natural person operating or intending to operate one or more UAS'. What this actually means is a person, sole trader, limited company, partnership, research body, academic agency or other legal entity that wants permission to operate drones. 

A UAS Operator may wish to operate drones both for commercial and recreational purposes. 

By EU definition a Remote Pilot (RP) means 'a natural person responsible for safely conducting the flight of a UA by operating its flight controls, either manually or, when the UA flies automatically, by monitoring its course and remaining able to intervene and change its course at any time'.

The remote pilot can either manually control the drone or monitor the drone if it is flying on auto-pilot. The remote pilot must always be ready to take control in case the drone goes out of control or a situation requires the remote pilots intervention. The RP is responsible for all the actions and outcomes of the flight. 

A UAS Operator is the entity with permission to operate a drone but the remote pilot physically conducts the flying. A one man operation can be both the Operator and the remote pilot. 

Example 1: I am a Sole Trader. I wish to operate in the Specific Category. I must Register as a UAS Operator and get an 'operational authorisation' from the competent authority to operate in the Specific Category. I must then take pilot training to meet the minimum pilot competency standard to operate as a RP in the Specific Category. 

Example 2: I run a business. My business needs to operate drones with the least restriction possible and so it must operate in the Specific Category. I register my business as an Operator and get an 'operational authorisation' from the competent authority allowing my business operate in the Specific Category. I have 4 staff members who will complete the actual flying for my business. I must send all 4 of these staff members to take the required pilot competency training allowing them operate as RP's in the Specific Category.  

To acquire a permission to operate in the Specific Category a UAS operator must demonstrate they can implement approved operating procedures. There are three ways a UAS Operator can apply. Each method requires more competence on the part of the UAS Operator.  

1. Standard Scenario (STS)
2. Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA)
3. Authorisation

A requirement of all 3 methods will be the use of Remote Pilots (RPs) who have met the minimum competency standard for the Specific category. 

Standard Scenario S01 (STS01) permits a UAS operator fly drones operations in Urban areas and in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace utilising drones that can weight up to 25kg. These types of operations can be legally difficult to achieve in the Open category. 

When an UAS Operator wishes to conduct operations under the STS, they must use a pilot who has a permission to fly in the Specific Category. A pilot successfully completing this course meets this requirement.  

Note: A requirement of these scenarios is they require that a certain CE Class of drone must be used, CE Class 5 for STS01. Currently there is no CE Class 5 drone on the market. Therefore the Standard Scenario is not currently usable. Operators will need to move to the next level, the Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA).

The Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA) permits an UAS Operator to apply to an aviation authority for a 'authorisation' to operate drones. The PDRA is a pre-formatted risk assessment. UAS Operators conducting operations under this risk assessment are obliged to implement pre-defined operational and technical mitigations prior to conducting operations. 

The PDRA risk assessment permits an operator to fly operations that are the exact same as Standard Scenario S01 (STS01) except that a C5 labelled drone need not be used. Like STS01, the UAS Operator will be 'authorised' to conduct operations in Urban areas and in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace utilising drones that can weight up to 25kg.

An 'authorisation' is a permission from an aviation authority a UAS Operator requires to operate in the Specific Category when they need to conduct operations that are not covered by Standard Scenarios.

The permission allowed is based on the scope of the PDRA, or if a PDRA does not adequately cover the Operators requirements, they can submit a different risk assessment for the operation they wish to conduct.  

The PDRA and any other risk assessment must comply with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This can be achieved using EASA's Specific Operating Risk Assessment (SORA) tool. Following completion of the SORA process, the outcome can be submitted to the aviation authority for their assessment. If they agree with your proposal they can issue you with an 'authorisation' to conduct your drone operation. 

When an operator wishes to conduct operations under an 'authorisation', they must use a pilot who has a permission to fly in the Specific Category. A pilot completing this course meets this requirement. 

In the Specific category, there is a requirement for your unmanned aircraft to be equipped with a system that can terminate the flight (stop motors). This system must be independent from the unmanned aircraft's 'autopilot and flight guidance system', i.e., it cannot rely on the unmanned aircrafts primary flight system to activate. 

Both the PDRA process requires unmanned aircraft have this equipment and for some aircraft it can mean attaching additional equipment to the aircraft prior to flight. 

The purpose of the FTS is to prevent a technical or human related error that might see the unmanned aircraft fly away out of the control of the remote pilot and leave the area it should have been contained within. 

The Remote Pilot Certificate with STS certification is valid for 5 years.

There are two scenarios, 

Yes, within reason, but with far more permission than Open Category pilots. 

A pilot qualified to fly in the Specific Category may fly in almost all 'geographic zones' not completely denied to drones (eg overflying some security installations). 

Some locations require that you advise controlling authorities that you are flying e.g. Air Traffic Control, Prison Service, Military, but in general this permission is achievable by Specific Category pilots. 

The most powerful permission a Specific Category drone pilot has is a permission to fly in Controlled Airspace. 

Check out Safe Drone Academy's airspace map to see Controlled Airspace and other locations that are out of bounds to Open Category pilots. 

This course meets the EU requirements for flying Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations in the Specific Category. As such it will allow you fly Specific Operations in other EU countries. 

Unlike the Open category however, due to the increased risk and complexity of Specific Category operations, an operator and pilot wishing to fly in another EU member state must advise the other member states competent authority (aviation authority) of their intention to conduct Specific Category operations prior to commencing them.  

Drones do not need to be registered but you, as a drone operator/owner, must register yourself or your business. You do so with the Aviation Authority of the EU country you have a residence in. Registration is required under Atricle 14 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947.

The minimum age is 16 years for remote pilots in the Open and Specific categories when flying by themselves (solo). There is no minimum age if the remote pilot is being supervised by another suitably qualified remote pilot who is 16 years or older.