RePL exam-day guide
RePL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Your name must match your booking. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept (driver licence and passport are common, but this is provider-specific).
Booking confirmation and any pre-course paperwork
Bring the confirmation email, receipt, and any forms the provider asked you to complete or sign beforehand (e.g. enrolment or medical declaration).
Aviation Reference Number (ARN) details, if you have one
Some providers ask for your ARN at enrolment or before the practical. Confirm with the provider whether it is needed on the day or can be supplied later.
Completed pre-reading / online theory modules
Many providers require online content to be finished before the practical. Check your account status and bring proof if requested. Confirm with the provider.
Logbook or record of previous flying (if you have one)
Not always required for a standard RePL course, but useful if you have prior experience. Confirm with the provider whether it must be presented.
Sun-safe clothing and closed-in shoes
The practical is usually conducted outdoors on a flight line. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and sturdy footwear are standard. Long hair should be tied back and loose clothing secured.
Water, snacks and lunch
Sessions can run long with waiting time between candidates. Bring more water than you think you need.
Corrective lenses if you need them
If you wear glasses or contacts for distance vision, bring them. Confirm with the provider whether any vision standard applies to your enrolment.
Notepad and pen
For briefing notes, checklists you want to rewrite from memory, and debrief feedback.
Charged phone with the provider's contact number
For last-minute changes, weather calls, or finding the site. Keep it silent and out of use during the assessment unless instructed.
The aircraft and equipment
In most RePL courses the provider supplies the RPA, batteries, controller and site. Do not assume you must bring your own aircraft - confirm with the provider what is supplied.
Transport and arrival plan
Know the exact site, gate, parking and walking route in advance, and aim to arrive with buffer time. Flight-line sites are often in remote or industrial locations with poor signage.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the session time, site address, meeting point, and what equipment is supplied. Re-read your provider's operations manual or course notes, especially pre-flight checks, emergency procedures, airspace rules for excluded RPA operations, and the site's local procedures. Check the forecast and ask the provider about their weather-rescheduling policy.
Practise your flows out loud: site survey, pre-flight inspection, radio calls (if applicable), take-off, standard manoeuvres, lost-link and emergency drills, and shutdown. Verbalising your checks is usually marked favourably and reduces errors under pressure.
Sort logistics: pack your bag, charge your phone and any devices, confirm transport, and clear your calendar for the day. Avoid cramming new material in the final days; consolidate what you already know.
Light revision only - skim your weak areas, review the practical competency list, and re-read the site's hazards. Lay out ID, paperwork, clothing, water and food. Set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep and avoid alcohol.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate. Check the forecast and your messages for any cancellation or time change. Arrive with buffer time, present your ID and paperwork, and introduce yourself to the examiner or chief remote pilot.
Listen without interrupting, take notes, and ask clarifying questions before you start - asking is not a penalty. Confirm the boundaries of the flying area, the emergency stop word, and who has authority over the site.
Work methodically and verbalise your checks. Fly within the stated boundaries and never rush a manoeuvre. If you make an error, stabilise the aircraft safely and continue - most assessors are watching for safe decision-making, not perfection. If conditions or your own state make the flight unsafe, say so; this is usually treated as good airmanship.
Ask for a debrief on what went well and what did not, and confirm what documentation or next steps follow (e.g. any certificate or notification to the regulator). Confirm the provider's reassessment policy before you leave if the outcome is not what you hoped.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID whose name matches your booking. If your ID does not match, you may not be permitted to sit the assessment - confirm the provider's policy in advance.
Follow the directions of the examiner, chief remote pilot and any site supervisor at all times. They can stop or end your assessment if you act unsafely or interfere with another candidate's flight.
Do not power up, arm or launch the aircraft until you have been given explicit clearance. Keep clear of propellers and maintain the site's separation rules even when the aircraft is grounded.
Assessment is generally competency-based: you must demonstrate every required competency, and a serious safety breach can end the attempt regardless of how well other tasks went. Confirm with the provider how scoring and any reattempt are handled.
The assessment may be postponed or cut short for unsuitable weather, airspace activity or equipment issues. Ask about the provider's rescheduling terms before the day.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are permitted between components (for example between the theory and practical sessions) and what the time limits are for each.
Keep phones silent and put away during the assessment unless the examiner instructs otherwise. Recording video or audio of the session usually requires permission.
If you are unsure of an instruction or a procedure, ask before acting. Clarifying a brief is acceptable; guessing at a safety-critical step is not.