A2 CofC flashcards
A2 CofC · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- See-and-avoid
- The remote pilot's responsibility to visually scan for other aircraft and obstacles and manoeuvre to avoid collision; Open-category drones have no certified detect-and-avoid system.
- Manned aircraft priority
- Manned aircraft always have right of way over unmanned aircraft; the remote pilot must give way and avoid airspace where a collision risk exists.
- Mandatory Occurrence Report
- A report to the CAA about a serious incident or near miss involving an unmanned aircraft; the pilot should preserve flight logs and footage.
- Emergency landing area
- A pre-identified safe place to land or ditch the aircraft after a failure; choosing one before flight reduces risk to people and property.
- Flight Restriction Zone
- UK airspace within 5 km of a protected aerodrome plus runway extensions; flying there requires permission from the aerodrome air traffic service or CAA.
- UAS geographical zone
- Airspace designated by a state that restricts, limits or permits UAS operations; pilots must check current zones before flight.
- NOTAM
- A notice distributed to airspace users about temporary changes or hazards such as airshows, parachuting or emergency closures; check before flying.
- Controlled airspace
- Airspace of defined dimensions where an air traffic control service is provided; in the UK, Classes A–E are controlled and UAS entry normally needs clearance.
- A2 subcategory
- Open category operations with a C2 aircraft under 4 kg and an A2 CofC; the pilot keeps at least 50 m horizontally from uninvolved people.
- A3 subcategory
- Open category flights with C3, C4 or legacy aircraft at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas, with no uninvolved people at risk.
- Class C1 marking
- A UAS class mark for aircraft under 900 g; it may be flown in A1 but must not intentionally overfly uninvolved people and must avoid crowds.
- A2 CofC validity
- The UK A2 Certificate of Competency is gained by passing the CAA online multiple-choice exam and remains valid for five years.
- Hypoxia
- A shortage of oxygen in the body that impairs judgement, vision and coordination; symptoms can include euphoria, so the affected person may not recognise the danger.
- Fatigue
- A state of tiredness that slows reaction time and increases errors; remote pilots should not fly when fatigued and should plan rest breaks.
- Spatial disorientation
- A mistaken perception of the aircraft's position or motion, often when visual cues are poor; maintaining visual line of sight and using instruments helps prevent it.
- Complacency
- Overconfidence from routine operations that reduces vigilance; using checklists and varying routines helps counter it.
- Lost link procedure
- A pre-programmed failsafe that makes the aircraft hover, land or return to home if the control signal is lost; the pilot must monitor and be ready to intervene.
- Site survey
- A pre-flight inspection of the operating area to identify people, obstacles, wires, emergency landing sites, airspace and local restrictions.
- Return to home altitude
- The height the aircraft climbs to before returning automatically; set it above obstacles but below the 120 m maximum, and check it before flight.
- Post-flight inspection
- Check the aircraft for damage, motor temperature, propeller condition and battery state; record defects and log the flight.
- LiPo storage voltage
- Lithium polymer batteries should be stored at about 3.8 V per cell, roughly 30–50% charge, to reduce ageing and fire risk.
- C rating
- The maximum continuous discharge current of a battery, calculated as C rating multiplied by capacity in amp-hours; exceeding it can damage the battery.
- GNSS multipath
- Errors caused by satellite signals reflecting off buildings or terrain, producing inaccurate position; avoid flying close to tall structures.
- Density altitude
- The altitude the aircraft effectively feels after accounting for temperature, pressure and humidity; high density altitude reduces lift, thrust and battery performance.
- Personal data
- Information about an identifiable living person, including images and video; UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 apply when a drone captures it.
- Data minimisation
- A UK GDPR principle requiring that only personal data necessary for a specified purpose is collected and kept; avoid filming private areas unnecessarily.
- DPIA
- Data Protection Impact Assessment: a process to identify and reduce privacy risks before high-risk processing, such as systematic aerial surveillance.
- Retention period
- The time personal data is kept; drone footage should be stored securely and deleted when no longer needed for the stated purpose.
- Third-party liability insurance
- Cover for injury or damage the drone causes to other people or their property; it does not normally cover damage to the drone itself.
- Hull insurance
- Optional cover for damage to or loss of the unmanned aircraft itself, including theft, crash or water damage, subject to policy terms.
- Geofencing
- Software that prevents a drone from entering defined areas or exceeding altitude limits; it is a safety aid, not a substitute for pilot planning.
- Data breach reporting
- Under UK GDPR, a personal data breach likely to risk people's rights must be reported to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware.