EASA A2 cheat sheet

The A1 subcategory is part of the 'open' category; it covers flights with UA of maximum take-off mass below 900 g, flown in the visual line of sight and outside restricted zones.

Before flying in A1 the remote pilot must complete online training and pass the online theoretical exam administered by the national CAA (or an entity designated by it).

The A1 online theoretical exam contains 40 multiple-choice questions; a pass mark of 75% (30 correct answers) applies, and the exam has no fixed time pressure beyond the platform limit.

The A1 online training and exam are free of charge and are completed on the CAA's designated online platform; the resulting proof of completion is valid for 5 years.

A valid proof of online training completion for A1 is also accepted as proof of completion of the A3 online training, so A1 holders need not repeat the A3 training.

The online training must be completed before the first A1 flight; no practical self-training declaration is required for A1.

The remote pilot must carry proof of completion of the online training/exam when flying and present it on request to authorities.

The A1 certificate is issued to the natural person who took the exam; it is not transferable to another person or to a legal entity.

A2 flights must never overfly uninvolved people; a horizontal distance of at least 30 m must be maintained from any uninvolved person.

The 30 m distance may be reduced to a minimum of 5 m only when the UA has a low-speed function active, in which case the maximum ground speed in that mode is limited to 3 m/s.

The low-speed function must be engaged for the whole time the UA operates within the reduced 5 m distance; if it is disengaged the 30 m distance applies again.

Maximum height for A2 flights is 120 m above the surface (AGL); the distance is measured from the closest point of the earth's surface beneath the UA.

The 120 m limit may be exceeded only when the UA flies over an obstacle and stays within 15 m of the obstacle's closest point, and only if the obstacle is not in a restricted zone.

A2 flights must remain in visual line of sight (VLOS) of the remote pilot; first-person-view goggles alone do not satisfy VLOS unless a separate observer maintains direct visual contact.

The UA must not be flown in areas where uninvolved people are present in sufficient numbers that it is likely they could be overflown at any time, even if the 30 m distance is nominally maintained.

A2 operations require the UA to be in the C2 class or to be a privately built UA with MTOM below 4 kg flown under A2 privileges; the remote pilot must hold an A2 certificate of competency.

C2 class UA have a maximum take-off mass below 4 kg and are intended to be operated in the A2 subcategory, close to people but not overflying them.

C2 class UA must have a low-speed function that limits maximum ground speed to 3 m/s when selected, and must be able to limit height to 120 m AGL.

C2 class UA must carry a class identification label on the airframe and be listed in the manufacturer's EU declaration of conformity; the class marking is permanent and legible.

C2 class UA must have a remote identification system that broadcasts the operator registration number and the UA position, and must not be modifiable by the user.

The C2 class is defined in the EU drone class rules (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945); class C2 covers UA with MTOM below 4 kg.

Operators of UA in the 'open' category, including C2, must register with the national CAA and obtain an operator registration number, unless the UA is a toy below 250 g with no camera and no other data-collecting capability.

The operator registration number must be displayed on the UA (readable without tools) and, where the UA has a remote identification system, loaded into it.

The registration is valid for a period set by the national CAA (commonly 1 to 5 years) and must be renewed; the operator must update the registration data when it changes.

The A2 certificate of competency requires, in addition to the theoretical exam, a practical self-training declaration signed by the remote pilot confirming completion of the self-training flights.

The practical self-training must include at least 2 hours of flight time in the A2 context, covering the manoeuvres listed in the A2 syllabus (e.g., hovering, turns, approach, landing, emergency procedures).

The self-training declaration is a self-declaration: the remote pilot attests to the training, and the national CAA may request evidence of the flights.

The A2 practical self-training declaration must be submitted with the A2 theoretical exam application or as required by the national CAA; the resulting A2 certificate is valid for 5 years.

Remote identification (remote ID) must be active during all 'open' category flights, including A2 and C2 operations, and must transmit the operator registration number.

Remote ID broadcasts, at minimum, the UA position, altitude, ground speed, and the operator registration number; the data must be accessible to authorised authorities.

Direct remote identification uses a wireless broadcast from the UA; network remote identification uses an internet connection to a database, and the two may coexist on the same UA.

A UA without a functioning remote identification system must not be flown in the 'open' category where remote ID is required; the operator must ensure the system is operational before take-off.

The A1 subcategory is part of the 'open' category; it covers flights with UA of maximum take-off mass below 900 g, flown in the visual line of sight and outside restricted zones.

Before flying in A1 the remote pilot must complete online training and pass the online theoretical exam administered by the national CAA (or an entity designated by it).

The A1 online theoretical exam contains 40 multiple-choice questions; a pass mark of 75% (30 correct answers) applies, and the exam has no fixed time pressure beyond the platform limit.

The A1 online training and exam are free of charge and are completed on the CAA's designated online platform; the resulting proof of completion is valid for 5 years.

A valid proof of online training completion for A1 is also accepted as proof of completion of the A3 online training, so A1 holders need not repeat the A3 training.

The online training must be completed before the first A1 flight; no practical self-training declaration is required for A1.

The remote pilot must carry proof of completion of the online training/exam when flying and present it on request to authorities.

The A1 certificate is issued to the natural person who took the exam; it is not transferable to another person or to a legal entity.

A2 flights must never overfly uninvolved people; a horizontal distance of at least 30 m must be maintained from any uninvolved person.

The 30 m distance may be reduced to a minimum of 5 m only when the UA has a low-speed function active, in which case the maximum ground speed in that mode is limited to 3 m/s.

The low-speed function must be engaged for the whole time the UA operates within the reduced 5 m distance; if it is disengaged the 30 m distance applies again.

Maximum height for A2 flights is 120 m above the surface (AGL); the distance is measured from the closest point of the earth's surface beneath the UA.

The 120 m limit may be exceeded only when the UA flies over an obstacle and stays within 15 m of the obstacle's closest point, and only if the obstacle is not in a restricted zone.

A2 flights must remain in visual line of sight (VLOS) of the remote pilot; first-person-view goggles alone do not satisfy VLOS unless a separate observer maintains direct visual contact.

The UA must not be flown in areas where uninvolved people are present in sufficient numbers that it is likely they could be overflown at any time, even if the 30 m distance is nominally maintained.

A2 operations require the UA to be in the C2 class or to be a privately built UA with MTOM below 4 kg flown under A2 privileges; the remote pilot must hold an A2 certificate of competency.

C2 class UA have a maximum take-off mass below 4 kg and are intended to be operated in the A2 subcategory, close to people but not overflying them.

C2 class UA must have a low-speed function that limits maximum ground speed to 3 m/s when selected, and must be able to limit height to 120 m AGL.

C2 class UA must carry a class identification label on the airframe and be listed in the manufacturer's EU declaration of conformity; the class marking is permanent and legible.

C2 class UA must have a remote identification system that broadcasts the operator registration number and the UA position, and must not be modifiable by the user.

The C2 class is defined in the EU drone class rules (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945); class C2 covers UA with MTOM below 4 kg.

Operators of UA in the 'open' category, including C2, must register with the national CAA and obtain an operator registration number, unless the UA is a toy below 250 g with no camera and no other data-collecting capability.

The operator registration number must be displayed on the UA (readable without tools) and, where the UA has a remote identification system, loaded into it.

The registration is valid for a period set by the national CAA (commonly 1 to 5 years) and must be renewed; the operator must update the registration data when it changes.

The A2 certificate of competency requires, in addition to the theoretical exam, a practical self-training declaration signed by the remote pilot confirming completion of the self-training flights.

The practical self-training must include at least 2 hours of flight time in the A2 context, covering the manoeuvres listed in the A2 syllabus (e.g., hovering, turns, approach, landing, emergency procedures).

The self-training declaration is a self-declaration: the remote pilot attests to the training, and the national CAA may request evidence of the flights.

The A2 practical self-training declaration must be submitted with the A2 theoretical exam application or as required by the national CAA; the resulting A2 certificate is valid for 5 years.

Remote identification (remote ID) must be active during all 'open' category flights, including A2 and C2 operations, and must transmit the operator registration number.

Remote ID broadcasts, at minimum, the UA position, altitude, ground speed, and the operator registration number; the data must be accessible to authorised authorities.

Direct remote identification uses a wireless broadcast from the UA; network remote identification uses an internet connection to a database, and the two may coexist on the same UA.

A UA without a functioning remote identification system must not be flown in the 'open' category where remote ID is required; the operator must ensure the system is operational before take-off.