UAS/Drones remote pilot training
Training of UAS/drones pilots in European Standard Scenarios (STS)
General information
IMPORTANT: non-regulated training courses, i.e. all with the exception of training for subcategories A1/A3 (free online training and examination provided by EASA), are not official or accredited by EASA or any other public entity, whether Spanish or European. It is important to point out that, if this were to be advertised, it would be erroneous and false information that could lead to confusion for students, undermining the legitimacy of European legislation and giving them powers that do not correspond to them. More information in the following note:
The ‘specific’ category includes transactions with UAS involving an average risk, which cannot be included in the ‘open’ category. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on rules and procedures for the use of unmanned aircraft sets out in Appendix 1 the training requirements, both theoretical and practical, laid down for obtaining European Standard Stage Training (STS).
From 1 January 2024, operators wishing to benefit from the European Standard Scenarios (STS) may do so by submitting an operational statement for the STS-01 or STS-02 standard scenario. It is recalled the need to register at the EASA website and to include the registration number provided in the UAS with which it operates. (UAS Operator Registration Section).
The European Standard Scenarios (STS) are valid for carrying out operations within the territory and airspace of the European Union for the use of unmanned aircraft to which Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 applies, therefore they will not be valid in third countries.
Theoretical remote pilot training in STS
- If ‘open’ category A1/A3 pass test is available: There will be a theoretical exam of 40 questions, with a duration of 40 minutes, based on 8 subjects.
- If an ‘open’ category A2 certificate is available: There will be a theoretical exam of 30 questions, with a duration of 30 minutes, based on 5 subjects, described in the Syllabus.
- Comparece: Accessing the following Link
- Carpeta Ciudadana: Accessing the following Link
- DEHú: Accessing the following Link
Theoretical training for standard scenarios (STS) may be provided by a recognised training entity, a UAS operator, or on its own account, always following the STS theoretical knowledge syllabus as indicatedin Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947. 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.
The format of the theoretical knowledge exam in the “specific” category under a standard scenario (STS) will depend on the previous theoretical training in the “open” category available to the pilot, with two alternatives:
Registration to access the exam is done through the Virtual Office of the Electronic Headquarters of AESA; The exams have telemonitoring technology (access to webcam, microphone and screen):
Access to the exams is limited to a period of 30 days, which starts from the moment the access notification is sent. If after the period of 30 days no attempt of examination is made, the pilot of his application will be given up and consequently to regain access, he will have to make a new registration.
To obtain the certificate of a standard scenario, the remote pilot must pass the exam before AESA with at least 75% of the correct answers and will appear at the end of any attempt as Apt. Once the exam is passed, no action is necessary. When the remote pilot theoretical knowledge certificate has been issued, the user will receive a notice in the email in which he/she has registered.
IMPORTANT*
Once the request has been submitted, and if everything is correct, the user will receive an email at the address provided stating that a notification is available that he can open through:
if such notification is not accepted, the processing of the file and the issuing of decisions and certificates may be delayed by between 10 and 15 days, since the system does not process the result of the examination until such notification has been accepted or has expired.
Once you have passed the online exam, you will receive the positive resolution and the Certificate of theoretical knowledge of remote pilot through a notification at the AESA Electronic Headquarters, provided that the notification of registration in the training and exam course has been accepted.
IMPORTANT*
The student is reminded that the exam has telemonitoring technology (access to webcam, microphone and screen) and that, in case of detecting irregularities during the exam, it may require an additional review for the evidence detected, which may generate delays in the resolution of the exam due to the need to perform an additional review. In case of irregularities, the negative decision of the examination will be issued, even if it has been passed by 75%.
In the event that the 2 exam attempts are exhausted and he obtains a rating of Not Suitable, the remote pilot will receive a negative resolution and must re-register again to get two new attempts and pass the exam.
Practical remote pilot training at STS
- Practical training in standard scenario STS-01: VLOS operations over a controlled terrestrial area in an environment populated with UAS with Class C5 marking.
- Practical training in standard scenario STS-02: BVLOS operations over a controlled terrestrial area in a sparsely populated environment with UAS having class C6 marking.
After passing the theoretical exam before AESA for the operation under a standard scenario, it will be necessary to obtain specific practical training for each scenario (STS-01 and STS-02), which must be given by recognized entities or by UAS Operators declared before AESA to provide practical training in European standard scenarios (STS).
This training should consist of a continuous assessment of practical UAS remote pilot skills, as well as a subsequent delivery of the accreditation of practical UAS remote pilot skills in the standard scenario (STS) in which the training has been carried out.
UAS pilots wishing to receive practical remote pilot training for standard scenarios (STS) shall take into account the following requirements for each type of scenario:
All UAS intended to provide practical training in standard scenarios (STS) shall be equipped with a direct remote identification system (“DRI”), as indicated in the class C5 and C6 marking requirements described in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945. The system must be installed and activated during the training and evaluation of practical skills, so that the student can know how it works.
IMPORTANT* Once the training and evaluation of practical remote pilot skills has been completed, the Recognized Entity or the declared UAS Operator must periodically inform AESA of all those pilots who have obtained the accreditation of practical remote pilot skills in standard scenario, so that the student must not perform any additional procedure with AESA once the practical evaluation has been completed.
In the section of training entities has a list of entities recognized to provide training in standard scenarios that is updated periodically.
Conversion of STS-ES certificates to STS
- Have passed the theoretical examination in the standard scenarios and/or
- The training and practical evaluation of remote pilots in the national standard scenarios (STS-ES), and who have in their possession:
- The certificate of theoretical knowledge of remote pilot (STS).
- Accreditations of training and practical evaluation of remote pilots in the national standard scenarios (STS-ES).
Pilots holding the theoretical certificate and/or the accreditation of practical UAS remote pilot skills national standard scenarios (STS-ES) may convert their certificates to the European standard scenarios (STS) of the new UAS remote pilot training scheme as set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
The request for conversion of remote pilots may be made by all remote pilots who:
The following Conversion Guide_Ed.01 specifies the requirements for both UAS pilots and Recognized Entities or UAS Operators declared to AESA to provide practical training in European Standard Scenarios (STS) to perform the conversion of certificates.
Once the procedure for converting the practical remote pilot certificates has been carried out, a new accreditation model will be delivered and it will be the Recognised Entity or the declared UAS Operator who must inform AESA of the procedure for converting the certificates into the ‘specific’ category, and the student must not carry out any additional procedure with AESA.
Contact AESA UAS Division:
In case of doubt or special situations related to the ‘specific’ category training, you can direct your query to the drone mailbox (formaciondrones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es).
