Has anybody here taken the A2 CofC training and examination in the UK, did you find it useful?

Doesn't the benefit of the A2 CofC expire at the end of the year when the transition period ends?

DAFlys Posted at 11-8 00:19
Doesn't the benefit of the A2 CofC expire at the end of the year when the transition period ends?

if you fly a <250g then you don't need it. For anything bigger up to 2Kg UAS to be able to fly nearer than 50M from an uninvolved person you need it. It allows you to fly to within 5m of an uninvolved person (in low speed mode) when the UK and DJi finally mark the drones <4K ib for this catagory. Supposedly in 2023. If you don't CofC then flying a drone over >250g is restricted to the countryside 150 metres from parks, retail, housing etc which is a bit restrictive and the 50m from uninvolved people. So trying to film any land mark with people around would be prohibited for anything bigger than >250g. I want to fly a slightly bigger drone for the better camera..  

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-8 00:40
if you fly a 250g is restricted to the countryside 150 metres from parks, retail, housing etc which is a bit restrictive and the 50m from uninvolved people. So trying to film any land mark with people around would be prohibited for anything bigger than >250g. I want to fly a slightly bigger drone for the better camera..

I thought the A2CofC was only changing A3 to A2 categories until the end of the transition period at the end go the year.  After the transition ends you're stuck in A3 regardless.

From https://blog.uavhub.com/is-the-a2-cofc-useless-after-2023

From 2023, you cannot fly ANY legacy drones between 250g and 2kg in either the A1 or the A2 of the subcategory, even with an A2 CofC. The A2 CofC is primarily designed to allow you to fly C2 certified drones within the A2 subcategory of the Open Category (hence the name A2 CofC).

DAFlys Posted at 11-8 00:43
From https://blog.uavhub.com/is-the-a2-cofc-useless-after-2023

From 2023, you cannot fly ANY legacy drones between 250g and 2kg in either the A1 or the A2 of the subcategory, even with an A2 CofC. The A2 CofC is primarily designed to allow you to fly C2 certified drones within the A2 subcategory of the Open Category (hence the name A2 CofC).

Yep for legacy drones it is.

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-8 00:45
Yep for legacy drones it is.

But there are no C2 drones yet.

DAFlys Posted at 11-8 00:47
But there are no C2 drones yet.

Yep! But there will be in 2023 and soon as DJI do I will buy one!

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-8 01:05
Yep! But there will be in 2023 and soon as DJI do I will buy one!

If there is it mostly likely will be an enterprise drone.

Yep possibly, but does sound like the Transitional might be pushed out again. Who knows.

DAFlys Posted at 11-8 07:54
If there is it mostly likely will be an enterprise drone.

https://player.captivate.fm/epis ... 6-bf6b-5932076cece5

The CCA have recommended an extension and it sounds like the Dec 2022 transitional deadline for A2 will be moved out indefinitly or until the class marking is ready. So the CofC might still be useful.

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-8 08:35
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/75e6bc5e-5aa4-47c6-bf6b-5932076cece5

The CCA have recommended an extension and it sounds like the Dec 2022 transitional deadline for A2 will be moved out indefinitly or until the class marking is ready. So the CofC might still be useful.

They've recommended it some months ago and still it's not been ratified,  and the class marking system is ready as you can now buy drones with it.  It might be useful but probably not cost effective.

DAFlys Posted at 11-8 23:56
They've recommended it some months ago and still it's not been ratified,  and the class marking system is ready as you can now buy drones with it.  It might be useful but probably not cost effective.

Thats good news about the drones marked. Which drones out have the new rating? I don’t think DJI do yet do they?

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-9 00:03
Thats good news about the drones marked. Which drones out have the new rating? I don’t think DJI do yet do they?

Mavic 3 Classic is out of the box marked,  and the Mavic 3 Cine and Standard can be retro C marked with firmware and a process to apply for the label.

Yea I spoke to customer support this afternoon and they said that the rating is not yet available until later this year for Mavic series (although they meet the standards) and they will provide for the updates as you said. I will probably buy the Cine Premium as soon as that happens, but will wait for confirmation that it is available at purchase.

I handed back my Mini 3 Pro due to the camera blurring issue that a lot of users seem to have been plagued with. Bought the Mavic Classic and has the C1 marking on the rota arm as I have just seen unboxing it. So according to my knowledge as I now hold the A2 CofC I can fly it in the A2 category 5m's in slow mode etc. I am not restricted to 'far away from people'.or staying away from built up areas etc. I think? hahah

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-10 13:04
I handed back my Mini 3 Pro due to the camera blurring issue that a lot of users seem to have been plagued with. Bought the Mavic Classic and has the C1 marking on the rota arm as I have just seen unboxing it. So according to my knowledge as I now hold the A2 CofC I can fly it in the A2 category 5m's in slow mode etc. I am not restricted to 'far away from people'.or staying away from built up areas etc. I think? hahah

Well, It’s just been announced by the CAA that the U.K. will not recognise the EU C markings as of Jan 1st 2023.  So no 5m close distance.  

DAFlys Posted at 11-13 07:38
Well, It’s just been announced by the CAA that the U.K. will not recognise the EU C markings as of Jan 1st 2023.  So no 5m close distance.

Thats ok, the camera on the Mavic is so worth the distance!

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-13 08:50
Thats ok, the camera on the Mavic is so worth the distance!

I’ll be passing.  The 150m limit is too restrictive for where I live in the south east.  

DAFlys Posted at 11-13 08:59
I’ll be passing.  The 150m limit is too restrictive for where I live in the south east.

I think the mini is perfect for built up areas the Mavic is big and it’s extremely loud compared to the mini.

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-13 11:07
I think the mini is perfect for built up areas the Mavic is big and it’s extremely loud compared to the mini.

They are until the wind picks up.   The CAA has really screwed us over again.  

The Mavic is seriously noisy compared to the Mini, I think I would feel more comfortable with the mini in a built up area anyway.

DAFlys Posted at 11-13 11:50
They are until the wind picks up.   The CAA has really screwed us over again.

The mavic has the UK CE class marking not the EU CE class marking. I have checked the label. So you are all good to go with a Mavic in the UK A2!

Its all good!

UK Requiremets

Shifty007UK Posted at 11-14 00:27
The mavic has the UK CE class marking not the EU CE class marking. I have checked the label. So you are all good to go with a Mavic in the UK A2! [view_image]

[view_image]

There is no UK C mark yet,  we dont have the body to issue it.  The UK CA mark is for electrical safety

Haha I love all this! Naaah I’m going to fly as a C1 UK as it doesnt hold the CI EU mark. Besides passing the A2 for larger drones and the 5m 1:1 should keep me out of prison. I would keep 50 meters anyway. I don'y think that GEN POP like drones flying over their gardens and in shared parks anyway.  

Youre right

As a wrote on another post, flying near people just annoys them, flying in towns really really annoys them, plus in urban areas you struggle with VLOS. I do fancy some street photography though and I don't think anybody will be about at dawn if I sneak in and out of a town to take the photo!