Activities or services not EASA with UAS
Training of remote pilots UAS/Drones NO EASA
IMPORTANT: The following information is subject to the provisions of the Second Transitional Provision of Royal Decree 517/2024 of 4 June, which develops the legal regime for the civil use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), whereby operators carrying out non-EASA activities or services, either directly by the body vested with public authority responsible for the respective activity or service, or indirectly, on behalf of that body, will have one year from the entry into force of this Royal Decree to fully adapt to the provisions of this Royal Decree.
In accordance with Article 12 of Royal Decree 517/2024, non-EASA activities or services carried out directly by a body vested with public authority responsible for the respective non-EASA activity or service shall be covered by the Basic Regulation, the Delegated Regulation and the Implementing Regulation.
Likewise, pilots who carry out these activities indirectly on behalf of the body vested with public authority responsible for the respective activity or service must comply with the training requirements required for EASA operations described in the section Training of remote pilots UAS / Drones
Open-category training
The ‘open’ category covers low-risk UAS transactions that do not require authorisation or declaration. This is divided into three subcategories; A1, A2 and A3, and the training required by the pilot will depend on the characteristics of the aircraft with which he intends to carry out the operations. The following table summarises the operating conditions in the ‘open’ category;
The theoretical remote pilot certificate in Subcategory A1/A3 can only be obtained by completing an online training, followed by an equally online exam given by AESA. The registration, training and examination procedure is completely free of charge.
The ‘open’ A2 subcategory training is intended for all UAS pilots who wish to carry out their operations with UAS only with Class C2 Marking, not being able to operate with a UAS with different characteristics.
To obtain the remote pilot certificate in subcategory A2, the pilot must previously pass the theoretical remote pilot exam in subcategory A1/A3, and declare to AESA, at the time of registration of the exam, that a self-training of practical skills has been completed.
It has all the information related to training in the open category, as well as guides and links to the different procedures in the section Training of UAS / drones in the ‘open’ category.
‘Specific’ training in National Standard Scenarios (STS-ES)
Until 31 August 2024, the scenarios defined in the Resolution of the management of the State Aviation Safety Agency approving national “standard” scenarios (STS-ES) for UAS operations in the “specific” category under an operational declaration in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures applicable to the use of unmanned aircraft shall apply for non-EASA activities.
Therefore, as far as training is concerned,
Theoretical training for STS-ES can be provided by a training entity, a UAS operator, or on its own account, always following the agenda defined in the Resolution of the Directorate of AESA approving the STS-ES. It shall be the responsibility of EASA to carry out the theoretical knowledge examination of the standard scenarios and to issue, where appropriate, the theoretical knowledge certificate.
After passing the theoretical examination before AESA for the operation under a standard scenario, specific practical training is required for each scenario, and must be given by the Entities defined in the Resolution of the Directorate of AESA approving the STS-ES.
You can find the link for the application for access to the exam, as well as guides and support material in the section Training of UAS/drones pilots in ‘specific’ category in National Standard Scenarios (STS-ES).
The national standard scenarios (STS-ES) are only valid for operations within the territory and airspace of Spanish sovereignty, therefore they will not be valid in the other EASA Member States or in third countries.
‘Specific’ category training under operational authorisation
- The student must pass the theoretical knowledge exam prior to the assessment of practical skills.
- In no case may the student be evaluated by people who have provided more than 25% of the training in practical skills.
Pilots wishing to conduct ‘specific’ category operations upon application for an operational authorisation require theoretical and practical training based on the concept of operation (‘ConOps’).
The training that is necessary to carry out will be determined within the operational authorization, being necessary in any case previously to have the self-training in practical skills of the subcategory A2 , for which it is necessary to be in possession of the Proof of passing online training A1/A3.
Such training shall be provided by the operator together with a Designated Entity. To obtain a certificate of theoretical knowledge and an accreditation of practical skills for performing UAS operations in the ‘specific’ category subject to an operational authorisation:
You have all the information relating to these entities in the Designated Entities section .
Direct Distance Identification System (“DRI”) requirement
As of 1 January 2024, it is a prerequisite that UAS intended to carry out “specific” Category Training operations have a Direct Remote Identification System ("DRI").
The training entities and UAS Operators declared to provide the practical training in the "specific" category shall ensure compliance with the corresponding declaration submitted to EASA, which indicates that they undertake to comply with the operational requirements applicable to the operational category in which they provide training, among which is the requirement to have a Direct Distance Identification System ("DRI").
It will be recommended that the Training Entities and the declared UAS Operators indicate and show the student, within their training activities, the operation and methodology of using the Direct Distance Identification System (“DRI”) to ensure that the future remote pilot knows the application, installation and operation of this device. It has all the information in the section of Remote identification system and class markings