RPAS pilot training requirements

IMPORTANT: Update of Appendix I on Acceptable Means of Compliance relating to the Training and Certification of Pilots operating RPAS, including new acceptable training for NON EASA pilots.

This section applies only to pilots of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS/UAS) performing ‘non-EASA activities or services’, i.e. excluded from the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Art.2.3(a) and falling within the scope of Royal Decree 1036/2017, Art.2.1.

In order to pilot an RPA/AU, remote pilots must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age;
• Have the necessary theoretical knowledge detailed in section “a” of this section;
• Hold a medical certificate issued by an aeronautical medical centre or an approved air examiner; y
• Have a document stating that they have the appropriate know-how detailed in section “b” of this section.

the theoretical knowledge required of remote pilots shall be justified by any of the following means:

1. Be or have held any pilot licence, including the ultralight pilot licence, issued in accordance with the regulations in force and have not been dispossessed of it by virtue of a penalty procedure;
2. A certificate of having passed the examinations of all the theoretical knowledge required to obtain an EASA pilot licence, issued by an ATO approved by AESA, EASA or any Aeronautical Authority of an EASA Member State; or, in the case of the Spanish ultralight pilot licence, by means of an individual APTITUD certificate issued by AESA after the relevant official examination of theoretical knowledge;
3. The military manned aviation licences of pilots in the service of the Spanish Armed Forces and the Guardia Civil.
4. Hold an STS remote pilot theoretical knowledge certificate in force, in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, following completion of a theoretical knowledge examination and issued by the competent authority or an entity designated by the competent authority.
5. For aircraft with a maximum take-off mass not exceeding 25 kg, have one of the following certificates issued by a training organisation (ATO), non-engineered flight school or ultralight school:

5.1 To fly within the pilot’s visual range (VLOS), a basic certificate for the piloting of remotely piloted aircraft showing that he has the theoretical knowledge.
5.2 For flying beyond the pilot’s visual range (BVLOS) or for operations within the enhanced visual range (EVLOS), an advanced certificate for piloting remotely piloted aircraft, which includes in addition to theoretical knowledge, knowledge of air traffic services and advanced communications.

the skills required of remote pilots shall be justified by any of the following means:

1. The accreditation of practical training requirements shall be carried out by means of a certificate obtained after passing a practical training course. This certificate of practical aptitude will be issued by the organisation that teaches the course once the final flight test has been passed, in accordance with Article 33.1(d) of Royal Decree 1036/2017.
2. The accreditation of complete practical skills training for the national standard scenarios STS-ES-01 or STS-ES-02, issued by an entity recognised by AESA or a UAS operator declared in accordance with point UAS.STS-ES.040 of the Management Resolution of the State Aviation Safety Agency approving national standard scenarios (STS-ES) for UAS operations in the ‘specific’ category; for both STS-ES-01 and STS-ES-02 respectively, to provide the training and evaluation of practical training, set out in point 2 of Appendix A to this Resolution.

These new training requirements for ‘NO EASA remote pilots’ are applicable since 31 December 2021, the date of publication in the Official State Gazette of Appendix I Revision 5 on Acceptable Means of Compliance relating to the Training and Certification of Pilots operating RPAS.

(BOE publication amendment Appendix I)

Also, remember that RPAS pilot certificates must comply with Appendix P on Acceptable Means of Compliance relating to the content of certificates for remote pilots.

Both Appendices can be found in the Acceptable Means of Compliance section and guide material on the EASA website.

 

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