@JockyB
For a GVC operational authorisation PDRA01
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Confusing when I don’t get my facts straight! The 2 hrs every 3 months min flying is for when you want, or would like to renew, an Operational Authorisation regardless of how many UA’s you own.
The above rule is for those applying for a GVC, or those who have the GVC and are renewing their Operational Authorisation (available to those who have a GVC).
If you haven’t fallen asleep yet, this is unconnected to an Op Id renewal!
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Hi, great to see somebody with an OA, been considering one myself. A few questions if you permit
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suppose you get a new aircraft which you want to fly under OA, you then start by adding it to your Operations Manual right? But you don’t need to re-submit it to CAA immediately do you? You only re-submit it to them when you’re renewing your Operational Authorization?
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did you end up subscribing for that “HubSub” service from UAVHUB or similar to help you keep your Operations Manual current? or are you somehow tracking changes and updating the manual yourself?
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did you need to take out insurance even before you got your OA? have you got year-round insurance or just for the days you’re flying? is it expensive? …and is it correct that all flights under specific category have to be insured?
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which body cam did you end up going with?
Lastly what do you consider to be the biggest advantage of having OA over A2 CofC or just flying sub-250g license-free: is it more “prestige” in the eyes of your clients? National Trust more likely to officially permit you to fly? 50m bubble versus 50m cylinder around other ppl when flying something between 250g and 2kg? Ability to fly DJI Inspire and other drones above 2kg closer than 150m to anything? Building out CAA respect with the intention to eventually apply for an OA with an Operations Safety Case?
P.S. all together, HubSub + OA extension fee + Insurance maintaining OA does cost some money; it does seem like it mostly makes sense for ppl who do get income from flying - or those who don’t mind the expense in order to fly DJI Inspire within 150m of things :]
National trust will never permit you to fly unless you are part of a massive production team, on a large project or a large media outlet. And then pay big bucks for the privilege.
I had a conversation today with a work colleague who was complaining about her neighbour flying over her garden and scaring her cat. The ‘pilot’ is 6 years old and flying a large drone, from her estimated size (might be exaggerated) , it measures approximately 2 feet and is square, her shaping was box like, it sounds like the shape of a Phantom, big x shape. The young ‘pilot’ is often flying around his garden but flies over the fence and hovers looking towards her window and occasionally tries to follow the cat in the garden, at no time is there an adult with him. I of course sympathised with her and advised her to check out the CAA website about model aircraft and UAVs and to print out the guidelines and present them to the parents, hopefully this will educate her and the parents of the young pilot. She was very upset that she could be spied on in her own home, I had a little chuckle to myself because her and her neighbours all have Ring doorbells, so who is recording who.
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@ atagunov
suppose you get a new aircraft which you want to fly under OA, you then start by adding it to your Operations Manual right? But you don’t need to re-submit it to CAA immediately do you? You only re-submit it to them when you’re renewing your Operational Authorization?
Correct. You just have to keep your manual up to date at all times with any changes you make, like getting new aircraft; and also to include any changes/updates that the CAA make regarding flying in the Specific category. Each new version of the manual has to be clearly marked on the cover page of the manual. When it comes to renewing the OA you submit the latest version of the manual.
did you end up subscribing for that “HubSub” service from UAVHUB or similar to help you keep your Operations Manual current? or are you somehow tracking changes and updating the manual yourself?
Using the “HubSub” service. Trying to continulally track the changes to the regulations from the CAA is something I haven’t got time to do and UAVHUB understands the aviation language that needs to be incorporated into the documentation to make it acceptable to the CAA.
did you need to take out insurance even before you got your OA? have you got year-round insurance or just for the days you’re flying? is it expensive? …and is it correct that all flights under specific category have to be insured?
I got a dummy quote from DroneCoverClub in the name of the business that the OA is tied to and that gets them to a create a continuous rolling non ending template with an insurance start date, no end date and an insurance account number. They send it to you automatically. That is the insurance number you insert into the CAA OA application. You don’t pay any insurance premium at that time. It’s just a template and holding account that is opened by the insurance broker in the business name. Then when you actually need to fly commercially for a day, you contact DroneoverClub with your insurance account number and tell them you want to purchase insurance for that specific day. You then pay the days premium and go and fly. The correct CAA term for this is called CONTINUOUS insurance cover. (meaning the account is continuous on file at the insurer but you pay the premium as and when you need to fly commercially). I suggest you use DroneCoverClub. Their system is 100% tied to the requirements of the CAA OA for specific category flying.
No, all flights under Specific do not need you to pay the insurance premium. You pay the insurance premium when the flight is COMMERCIAL i.e. you are flying under a business/commercial contract. If the flight is Specific, but just for enjoyment or hobby that is classed as non commercial then you don’t need the extra special insurance of 750,000 SDRs. However, I advise that you fly anyway with good basic third party fire theft coverage in case your MIni 2 or whatever lands on Karen or Kevin’s cat and maims it. Again DroneCoverClub membership is your friend.
which body cam did you end up going with?
ReWire Security RX-2S
Your general question about the advantages of the OA is that although in my case I do fly commercially (ocassionally), I own an I2 and the OA is the only thing that allow me to use it outside of being relegated to the countryside far away in wide open fields. The A2 CoC makes no difference at all to the I2 because the I2 fully loaded is over 4kg. The other reason I did the GVC is simply the challenge. I wanted to see if I could get it for the sheer hell of it but of course it comes at a cost. Is it worth it at th end of the day? Not sure! Probably not. Ask me again in 2027 when my GVC expires because I’m betting the entire drone industry and regs will have changed by then to being almost unrecogniseable compared with today.
I’m sorry but a knuckle sandwich is my answer no explanation and no witnesses 
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National Trust don’t permit anyone to do anything unless you pay them an inflated fee. Its not restricted to drones.
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Might be worth printing a one page a4 - max 25 words describing the outcome of them interrupting an approved regulated flight - maybe shove it under their nose (or somewhere else)