Specific Category STS

Description
This course is tailored for professional remote pilots who need to operate in compliance with EU Standard Scenarios (STS) and Pre-Defined Risk Assessments (PDRA).

Our course covers all the necessary remote pilot theory & practical (STS01) competencies required by EU regulation. Bonus: Open A2 Course & Exam also included.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive the 'Remote Pilot Certificate of Theoretical Knowledge' from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and an 'Accreditation for the Completion of Practical Training' from Safe Drone Academy.

The course profile includes,

1. Self-Paced Theory Course: Commence the online self-paced course modules immediately. Watch. Read. Learn with highly detailed video presentations taking you through the theory syllabus.

2. Live Theory Course: Finish the theory course during an instructor-led webinar. More complex components are best covered with an expert!

3. Theory Exam: Take the required theory exam. Again, the exam is online and takes about 1hr. We schedule exams every Monday. We have a course study guide, video lessons, and a question bank of over 400 questions to help you prepare. Our pass rate is over 98%.

4. Practical Training: Participate in a full day of Practical Training with Safe Drone Academy. A training logbook is provided, along with a practical training guide.

5. Practical Assessment: After training, complete a Practical Assessment with detailed guidance from the provided documentation and your prior training experience.

6. Learning Management System (LMS): Access all training materials, including videos, PDFs, guidance documents, progress tests, question banks, and a community of learners, through our online platform, available 24/7.

7. Training Partnership: We promise to do our best for you, but don't just take our word for it. See what others think. Reviews.

Note 1: Important: After you enroll, please commence the online lessons that are completed in your own time. Following these lessons, you will find an online calendar where you can register for the live webinar portion of the course. See course dates ⇒⇒⇒

Note 2: The Specific category STS/PDRA operations require increased technical mitigation. UAS operators may be required to affix additional equipment to their unmanned aircraft in the form of Flight Termination Systems (FTS) and ground impact dynamic reduction (e.g., parachutes).

See the FAQ Guide below for more detail.

Format

Start Date

Course Price

Certification

Duration

Approval

What's included?

Open Category Operations

A UAS Operator with a permission to conduct drone operations in the Specific Category must use Remote Pilots who meet minimum competency standards. This STS course covers the legal requirements for pilot competency in the Specific Category (STS/PDRA).

Our Guarantee

With this course Safe Drone Academy continue their renowned teaching methodology, making complex UAS theory and procedures easy to understand. Like others, our commitment to you is to provide the best learning and teaching experience possible.

"A company established by two Aviation professionals and run to the highest standards. Making the decision to undertake our training as a group of Civil Engineering /Surveying / Management Lecturers would mean that we would have to be given a solid foundation in IAA procedure. Safe Drone did just that and reinforced the training with study material second to none. The course covered all these subjects and a great deal more . The Study material is excellent , the structure of the course is all encompassing and the Instructors are 10,000 hrs ++ professionals . One of the most enjoyable and interesting professional courses I have ever attended"

Jonathan Blackmore B.Sc (Hons) M.Sc MSCSI MRICS Lecturer Chartered Surveyor

"Excellent course and very comprehensive. I've been flying for 4 years and had picked up a lot of bad habits so this course was invaluable to me. It fits a lot in to the 2 days and I found the third test day even more rewarding. Safe drone create a great awareness of overall safety and start you on the right road to a safety culture. They seem to like feedback and it's nice to have backup and an open door to ask questions afterwards. I'd highly recommend it and I found it great value for money. Thanks again to Mark and all the crew there"

Paschal Cassidy, Sugartown Films

"I can't emphasize enough what amazing service Mark at Safe Drone provided to our company. With a short deadline for gaining regulatory approval in Ireland for an upcoming customer, Mark worked quickly to review our UAS program and gave us direct steps towards compliance. Excellent communications through the process made this process smooth and straightforward. I would recommend Safe Drone to anyone hoping to work in Ireland in the UAS industry!"

Jason McNally, SkySpecs USA

"I am so excited to have just completed the 2 Day IAA SUA Ground School with Safe Drone. I have to say it was such a pleasure to be trained by Mark. The course was something I needed to do as I wanted to start flying my drone commercially and under the letter of the law. I found the course very easy to follow, exceptionally informative and I have taken away a clear understanding of my responsibilities with the planning and implementation of procedures with every planned flight going forward. I would highly recommend taking this course to anyone looking to become a better, safer and more responsible drone pilot"

Fred Kelly,

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course?

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.

UAS Operator: Entity that manages the UAS operation e.g., limited company, local authority.

Remote Pilot: Natural person who meets the minimum competency standard for the operation being flown.

What must I do to complete this Specific Category (STS) Pilot Competency Course?

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.
Complete the practical flight training (1 day).
Complete the practical flight assessment (2.5hrs). The assessment takes place on a seperate date to the training with a different instructor.

Theory Course.
- The theory course complies with the requirement of EU regulation for Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) flying in the Specific Category. - Additional 'bolt on courses' will be available shortly to further enhance your pilot permission e.g BVLOS.

- 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.

Practical Flight Assessment.
- Once you have completed the Theory Course you will be invited to complete you practical flight assessment.
- Practical Flight Assessments are conducted in Counties Meath, Kildare and Kilkenny.
- Full guidance on what to expect during the flight assessment is provided during the live webinar course.

What is the schedule of the live session?

0900 - 1700 Daily.
1300-1400 (Break for lunch)

Usual breaks for tea/coffee.

When can I start the course?

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

When is the next 'live webinar' part of the course?

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.

How do I book a particular course date?

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.

What is the Course Price?

The course price is €995 if paid upfront in full or €1039 if paid over 3 monthly installments (€449 1st Month, €295 2nd Month, €2953rd Month).

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.

What are the Open, Specific and Certified Categories?

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.

Depending on the risk your flying poses to those around you, a pilot will need to train to operate in one of the 3 categories. The higher the risk the more training the pilot requires.

This course covers the legal requirements a pilot needs to fly in the Specific Category under Standard Scenario and Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA) based 'operational authorisations'. Additionally, this pilot course can be used for other types of 'operational authorisation' where the minimum remote pilot competency is based on this course.

See Regulation (EU) 2019/947 for guidance.

How do I determine which category I fall under: Open, Specific or Certified?

A drone can be operated in the “Open" category when it:

bears one of the CE class marks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4;

is privately built and with a max take-off weight of <25kg;

it is purchased before the 1st of January 2024, with no C class marking with a max take-off weight of <25kg;

and

will not be operated directly over 'uninvolved persons', unless it bears a C class mark '0' or is lighter than 250g. (Please refer to subcategories of operations: A1, A2 and A3 to find out where you can fly with your drone).
will never be flown over 'assemblies of people' (see FAQ further down for definition).
will be maintained in Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) or be assisted by a UA observer;
is flown at no more than 120 metres above the closest point of the surface;
will not carry dangerous goods and not drop any material.
remains outside the required 'geographic area'. See Safe Drone Airspace Map (Airspace Map). Also, see additional FAQ

In all other cases it must be operated in the Specific category.

What is a remote pilot allowed do in the Specific Category?

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.

Who or What is an Operator?

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.

You can be both a UAS operator and a remote pilot if you are also the person that actually flies the unmanned aircraft.

However, it can be the case where you are the remote pilot without being a UAS operator. For example, if you are a remote pilot working for a company that provides services with unmanned aircraft, the company is the UAS Operator and you are the remote pilot. The company needs to register as a UAS Operator. You, the remote pilot, need to complete the minimum amount of training in the category you will fly. Like an airline operator, a UAS Operator can have many remote pilots flying for them.

If you bought a drone to fly it in your leisure time, you are both the UAS Operator and the remote pilot. You wear two hats and have a responsibility to manage the legal requirements for UAS Operators and remote pilots.

If you bought an unmanned aircraft to give away as a gift, the person who will receive the gift and then fly the unmanned aircraft will be the UAS operator and the remote pilot.

Who is the Remote Pilot?

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.

How does a UAS Operator get permission to fly 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.

What is A Standard Scenario (STS)?

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).

What is A 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.

What is a Authorisation?

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.

What is a Flight Termination System (FTS)?

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.

How long is my 'Remote Pilot Certificate' valid for?

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

How do I re-validate my Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC)?

There are two scenarios,

Scenario 1: Re-validation before the expiry date of the RPC:

Take the short online refresher theory course.
Conduct the theory exam.

Scenario 2: Re-validation after the expiry date of the RPC:

Complete the entire theory course.

Can I fly wherever I like when operating in the Specific Category?

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.

Does this course allow me fly in other EU member states?

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.

Do I need to register?

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.

You register once, independently of how many drones you operate or whether you operate in the Open or Specific category. Your registration will be valid for a period defined by your national Aviation Authority after which you need to renew it. In Ireland, registration is valid for two (2) years.

See FAQ 'Who is a drone operator' for detailed explanation as to who an operator is.

You do not need to register yourself if your drone(s):

weighs less than 250g and has no camera or other sensor able to detect personal data; or
even with a camera or other sensor, weighs less than 250g, but is a toy (this means that its documentation shows that it complies with ‘toy’ Directive 2009/48/EC);

Operator registration can be completed on the IAAs website www.mysrs.ie.

When you register you will receive an individual 'Operator Registration Number'. This number must be displayed on every drone you as an operator utilise (own or lease/rent). The number must be easily readable and may take the form of a QR code. Affixing the label to the inside of a battery compartment is also acceptable where it cannot be clearly displayed externally.

Are there any age restrictions for operating in the Specific Category?

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.

Some aviation authorities across the EU may have lower age limits. In Ireland the minimum age is 16.

There is no minimum age for flying CE Class C0 marked drones, when they become available, under subcategory A1.