Preparing the flight and surveying the site
The examination syllabus splits operational procedures into three phases: before flight, in flight, after flight. The first is the densest, and it is the only one where nearly everything is still decided without consequence.
Key points
- Point UAS.OPEN.060(1) lists five checks before every flight: hold the appropriate competency and carry the proof of competency, obtain updated information on the geographical zones, observe the operating environment, ensure that the UAS is in a condition to safely complete the flight and that direct remote identification is active and up to date, and check the mass of any additional payload.
- In subcategory A3, the safe horizontal distance is at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas (UAS.OPEN.040(2)). The criterion is the AREA, not the presence of people: a deserted housing estate on a Tuesday morning is still a residential area.
- Added to it, independently, is point UAS.OPEN.040(1): fly in an area where you can reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be endangered within the range where the aircraft is flown.
- Walking the site, where possible, is recommended by AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(c). Satellite imagery is dated; thin obstacles do not show up on it.
- Weather: conditions must stay compatible with the manufacturer's manual, at the start AND for the whole intended duration (AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(c)). The obligation to operate in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, for its part, is hard law (UAS.OPEN.060(2)(e)).
- Energy: AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(d) asks for a charge sufficient for the intended operation AND for the need for additional energy in case of an unforeseeable event. No reserve percentage is set by the regulation.
- Companions must be informed of the risks and explicitly agree to participate (UAS.OPEN.050(7)); short of that, they remain uninvolved persons, protected as such.
- The operator designates a remote pilot for each flight (UAS.OPEN.050(3)): at any moment, one person is identifiable as responsible for the operation.
The trap. The most frequent conversion, and it is wrong: turning the 150 metres of A3 into a distance from people. They are 150 metres from AREAS. Distance from people comes under another rule, which is not quantified in A3 but requires that no uninvolved person be endangered.
A diagram goes with this card: see it in the We Drone app.
Source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (CELEX 02019R0947, consolidated on 01/05/2025), Annex Part A, points UAS.OPEN.040(1) and (2), UAS.OPEN.050(3), UAS.OPEN.050(7), UAS.OPEN.060(1) and UAS.OPEN.060(2)(e); AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(c) and AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(d) (ED Decision 2019/021/R); AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(4)(b) and UAS.OPEN.040(3) (ED Decision 2022/002/R)