A1/A3 drone exam questions

1. Question 1

   A farmer wants to use his class C1 drone in the ‘open’ category to release grass seed over a field while flying. Is this allowed?

   • AYes, as long as no uninvolved persons are present in the field
   • BYes, if the seed is not classified as dangerous goods
   • CNo, unless the drone is flown below 30 m during release
   • DNo, in the ‘open’ category the UA must not drop any material
   Show answer

   Correct answer: D. No, in the ‘open’ category the UA must not drop any material

   Article 4(1)(f) requires that during flight in the ‘open’ category the UA does not carry dangerous goods and does not drop any material. Dropping harmless material such as seed is therefore still outside the ‘open’ category.

2. Question 2

   You plan a 30-minute flight. The forecast shows the wind will rise above your drone’s maximum wind limit about 15 minutes after take-off. What is the best decision?

   • AStart now and fly with extra care when the wind begins to rise
   • BPostpone, or plan a flight that ends before the wind rises
   • CStart now, since wind forecasts are often quite inaccurate
   • DStart now and stay at a lower height when the wind rises
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   Correct answer: B. Postpone, or plan a flight that ends before the wind rises

   The weather expected for the entire period of the operation should be compatible with the manufacturer’s limits (AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(c)). Planning to fly into conditions beyond those limits is not a safe start decision.

3. Question 3

   You will fly near a row of 35 m tall trees. The return-to-home height on your drone is set to 20 m. What should you do before take-off?

   • ANothing, because return-to-home always detects and avoids all obstacles
   • BNothing, because return-to-home is only used in an emergency
   • CSet the return height so that the UA clears the trees on its way back
   • DDisable return-to-home so it cannot fly into the trees
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. Set the return height so that the UA clears the trees on its way back

   AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(d) says the pilot should ensure that the loss-of-data-link recovery function allows a safe recovery for the envisaged operation, and may have to set its parameters to fit the operation, such as a return height above nearby obstacles.

4. Question 4

   You want to film the audience at a large music festival. The organiser offers to announce the drone over the public address system. Does this make the audience ‘involved persons’?

   • AYes, provided the announcement is repeated every hour
   • BYes, provided the same notice is also printed on every ticket
   • CNo, each person must give consent and be told of the risks
   • DYes, provided the festival has more than 1 000 visitors
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   Correct answer: C. No, each person must give consent and be told of the risks

   GM1 Article 2(18) gives this example: informing the audience by public address, ticket text, email or text message is not sufficient. Each person should be asked for their permission and be made aware of the possible risks.

5. Question 5

   On a Saturday at noon you want to film a busy shopping street with all shops open, using a class C0 drone in subcategory A1. What applies?

   • AIt is allowed, because a C0 drone may overfly uninvolved persons
   • BIt is allowed if you keep the drone below 30 metres above the street
   • CIt is not allowed, because the street counts as an assembly of people
   • DIt is allowed as long as the follow-me mode is not used during the flight
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   Correct answer: C. It is not allowed, because the street counts as an assembly of people

   A commercial street during shop opening hours is an example of an assembly of people (GM1 Article 2(3)). Even a C0 drone, which may overfly uninvolved persons, must never overfly assemblies of people (UAS.OPEN.020(2)).

6. Question 6

   You plan an A1 flight in an area that the published zone information shows as requiring a prior flight authorisation. You have a valid proof of online training. What must you do?

   • AFly, because the proof of online training replaces the need for any zone authorisation
   • BFly, as long as the drone stays below 120 m and within VLOS at all times
   • CObtain the flight authorisation from the designated entity before the flight
   • DFly first and then notify the competent authority within 72 hours
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. Obtain the flight authorisation from the designated entity before the flight

   Under Article 15(1)(a) a Member State may require a prior flight authorisation for UAS operations in a zone, and the remote pilot must comply with the zone’s limitations (UAS.OPEN.060(2)(c)). Competency and the general open-category limits do not replace that authorisation.

7. Question 7

   A remote pilot is asked to film inside a stadium during a football match, flying over the crowd. What does the ‘open’ category allow?

   • AThe flight is never allowed in the ‘open’ category
   • BThe flight is allowed with a class C0 drone
   • CThe flight is allowed if the spectators are informed by loudspeaker
   • DThe flight is allowed in subcategory A2 with low-speed mode active
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   Correct answer: A. The flight is never allowed in the ‘open’ category

   Article 4(1)(c) forbids flying over assemblies of people in the ‘open’ category. GM1 Article 2(18) adds that spectators at mass events are uninvolved persons and a public address announcement does not make them involved.

8. Question 8

   At a barbecue, a remote pilot drank two beers an hour ago. They feel fine and a friend asks them to film the party with their drone. What should they do?

   • AFly, but keep the UA much closer than usual
   • BDecline, as they are under the influence
   • CFly only if the friend acts as UA observer
   • DFly, but only for a few minutes
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   Correct answer: B. Decline, as they are under the influence

   A remote pilot must not perform duties under the influence of alcohol (UAS.OPEN.060(2)(a)). Feeling fine is not a reliable test, because alcohol itself impairs judgement.

9. Question 9

   Your planned take-off point is 20 m from a high-voltage power line and close to a large radio antenna. Which pre-flight concern does the AMC specifically ask you to consider here?

   • AShadows from the masts that may reduce the camera quality
   • BNoise from the power line that may disturb the uninvolved persons
   • CElectromagnetic interference that may affect the UAS equipment
   • DHeat from the power line that may reduce the local air density
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   Correct answer: C. Electromagnetic interference that may affect the UAS equipment

   AMC1 UAS.OPEN.060(1)(c) asks the remote pilot to make a reasonable effort to identify sources of electromagnetic energy that may cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) or physical damage to the UAS equipment. Power lines and transmitting antennas are typical sources.

10. Question 10

    In subcategory A3 a person walks into the area. Your UA is flying at 25 m height and has a maximum speed of 19 m/s. What minimum horizontal distance from the person does the EASA estimate give?

    • A25 m
    • B30 m
    • C50 m
    • D38 m
    Show answer

    Correct answer: D. 38 m

    Take the largest of 30 m, the height (25 m) and the 2-second distance at maximum speed (2 x 19 = 38 m). That gives 38 m.

11. Question 11

    Your C0 drone weighs 243 g in its standard configuration. You want to attach a small light weighing 9 g. What does this mean?

    • AIt is allowed, because the payload is not counted in the class limit
    • BThe UA would reach 252 g and exceed the C0 class MTOM
    • CIt is allowed, if you lower the maximum height to 60 m
    • DIt is allowed, as long as you fly in subcategory A1 only
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    Correct answer: B. The UA would reach 252 g and exceed the C0 class MTOM

    The C0 limit of less than 250 g includes the payload. Before flight with an additional payload the remote pilot must check that the mass exceeds neither the manufacturer's MTOM nor the MTOM limit of its class.

12. Question 12

    You film a garden party from your drone and a guest’s face is clearly recognisable in the video. Under the GDPR, what is this recording?

    • APersonal data, as it relates to an identifiable person
    • BAnonymous data, because the guest’s name is not recorded
    • CAeronautical data, because it was collected from an aircraft
    • DPublic data, because the party took place outdoors in daylight
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A. Personal data, as it relates to an identifiable person

    Article 4(1) GDPR defines personal data as any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. A recognisable face identifies a person even when no name is attached.

These are practice questions written to the syllabus, not copies of the official exam. Read more about taking the exam in the guide to the drone exam, or see the sample A2 exam questions.