Appendix 1 for standard scenarios supporting a declaration

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

CHAPTER I — 1 STS-01 - VLOS over a controlled ground area in a populated environment

UAS.STS-01.010 General provisions

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

(1) During flight, the unmanned aircraft shall be maintained within 120 m from the closest point of the surface of the earth. The measurement of distances shall be adapted accordingly to the geographical characteristics of the terrain, such as plains, hills, mountains.

(2) When flying an unmanned aircraft within a horizontal distance of 50 m from an artificial obstacle taller than 105 metres, the maximum height of the UAS operation may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.

(3) The maximum height of the operational volume shall not exceed 30 m above the maximum height allowed in points (1) and (2).

(4) During flight, the unmanned aircraft shall not carry dangerous goods.

UAS.STS-01.020 UAS operations in STS-01

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

(1) UAS operations in STS-01 shall meet all of the following conditions:

(a) be conducted with the unmanned aircraft kept in VLOS at all times;

(b) be conducted in accordance with the operations manual referred to in point (1) of point UAS.STS-01.030;

(c) be conducted over a controlled ground area comprising:

(i) for the operation of an untethered unmanned aircraft:

(A) the flight geography area;

(B) the contingency area, with its external limit(s) at least 10 m beyond the limit(s) of the flight geography area; and

(C) the ground risk buffer, which shall cover a distance beyond the external limit(s) of the contingency area that meets at least the following parameters:

(ii) for operation of a tethered unmanned aircraft, a radius equal to the tether length plus 5 m and centred on the point where the tether is fixed over the surface of the earth.

(d) be conducted at a ground speed of less than 5 m/s in the case of untethered unmanned aircraft;

(e) be conducted by a remote pilot who:

(i) holds a certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter for operations in the standard scenarios issued by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State;

(ii) holds an accreditation of completion of the STS-01 practical skill training, in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter and issued by:

(A) an entity that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3 and is recognised by the competent authority of a Member State; or

(B) an UAS operator that has declared to the competent authority of the Member State of registration, compliance with STS-01 and that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3; and

(f) be conducted with an unmanned aircraft which is marked as class C5 and complies with the requirements of that class, as defined in Part 16 of the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, and is operated with active and updated direct remote identification system.

(2) The remote pilot shall obtain the certificate of theoretical knowledge for operations in the standard scenarios after:

(a) having completed an online training course and passed the online theoretical knowledge examination as referred to in point (4)(b) of point UAS.OPEN.020; and

(b) having passed an additional theoretical knowledge examination provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter.

(3) This certificate shall be valid for five years. The revalidation, within its validity period is subject to any of the following:

(a) the demonstration of competencies in accordance with point (2);

(b) the completion of a refresher training addressing the theoretical knowledge subjects as defined in point (2) provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority.

(4) In order to revalidate the certificate upon its expiration, the remote pilot shall comply with point (2).

GM1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(c) UAS operations in STS-01

ED Decision 2022/002/R

GROUND RISK BUFFER

The values for determining the size of the ground risk buffer that are indicated in the table of point UAS.STS-01.020(1)(c)(i)(C) should be considered as minimum values. However, additional margins should be considered depending on factors that may increase the distance travelled by the UA, e.g. UA flight characteristics, such as autorotation capability, wind, remote pilot’s reaction time, etc.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(i) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(a) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

CERTIFICATE OF REMOTE PILOT THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

Upon receipt of proof that the remote pilot has successfully completed the theoretical knowledge examination, the competent authority or the entity that is designated by the competent authority should provide the remote pilot with a certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge in the format that is depicted in the figure below. The certificate may be provided in electronic form.

The remote pilot identification number that is provided by the competent authority, or the entity that is designated by the competent authority, which issues the certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge should have the following format:

NNN-RP-xxxxxxxxxxxx

Where:

—      ‘NNN’ is the ISO 3166 Alpha-3 code of the competent authority that issues the proof of completion;

—      ‘RP’ is a fixed field meaning ‘remote pilot’; and

—      ‘xxxxxxxxxxxx’ are 12 alphanumeric characters (lower-case only) defined by the competent authority that issues the proof of completion.

Example: (FIN-RP-123456789abc)

The QR code provides a link to the national database where the information related to the remote pilot is stored. Through the ‘remote pilot identification number’, all information related to the training of the remote pilot can be retrieved by authorised bodies (e.g. competent authorities, law enforcement authorities, etc.) and authorised personnel.

If the remote pilot provides the declaration of the practical-skills self-training as defined in point UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c), before passing the theoretical knowledge examination, the competent authority may include in the certificate also ‘subcategory A2’.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(ii) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(b) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

REMOTE PILOT PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR STSs

The instructor should gradually compile a ‘progress booklet’ to allow the monitoring of the training and the continuous evaluation of the practical skills of the student remote pilot.

The progress booklet should be signed by the student remote pilot at the end of each practical training cycle. A record of the booklet should be kept for 5 years.

When the student remote pilot reaches the desired level of competence, the organisation that provides the practical training issues an attestation of practical training.

GM1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(ii) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(b) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

REMOTE PILOT PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR STSs

Practical training for STSs is provided as a ‘continuous evaluation’ of the student remote pilot by:

(1) either a UAS operator that has declared compliance with:

(a) the relevant STS(s) (the one(s) for which training and assessment are provided); and

(b) the requirements of Appendix 3 to the Annex to the UAS Regulation; or

(2) an entity that has declared compliance with the requirements of Appendix 3 to the Annex to the UAS Regulation.

UAS.STS-01.030 Responsibilities of the UAS operator

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

In addition to the responsibilities defined in UAS.SPEC.050, the UAS operator shall:

(1) develop an operations manual including the elements defined in Appendix 5;

(2) define the operational volume and ground risk buffer for the intended operations, including the controlled ground area covering the projections on the surface of the earth within both the volume and the buffer;

(3) ensure the adequacy of the contingency and emergency procedures through any of the following:

(a) dedicated flight tests;

(b) simulations, provided that the representativeness of the simulation means is appropriate for the intended purpose;

(4) develop an effective emergency response plan (ERP) suitable for the operation that includes at least:

(a) the plan to limit any escalating effects of the emergency situation;

(b) the conditions to alert the relevant authorities and organisations;

(c) the criteria to identify an emergency situation;

(d) clear delineation of the duties of the remote pilot(s) and any other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation;

(5) ensure that the level of performance for any externally provided service necessary for the safety of the flight is adequate for the intended operation;

(6) define the allocation of the roles and responsibilities between the operator and the external service provider(s), if applicable;

(7) upload updated information into the geo-awareness, if the function is installed on the UAS, when required by the UAS geographical zone for the intended location of operation;

(8) ensure that, before starting the operation, the controlled ground area is in place, effective and compliant with the minimum distance defined in point UAS.STS-01.020(1)(C)(i)(C) and, when required, coordination with the appropriate authorities has been conducted;

(9) ensure that, before starting the operation, all persons present in the controlled ground area:

(a) have been informed of the risks of the operation;

(b) have been briefed or trained, as appropriate, on the safety precautions and measures established by the UAS operator for their protection; and

(c) have explicitly agreed to participate in the operation;

(10) ensure that:

(a) the UAS is accompanied by the corresponding EU declaration(s) of conformity, including the reference to class C5 or reference to class C3 and to the accessories kit; and

(b) the class C5 identification label is affixed to the unmanned aircraft or to the accessories kit.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.030(1)&(3) and UAS.STS-02.030(1)&(3) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

The UAS operator should comply with the conditions for a ‘medium’ level of robustness of AMC2 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e) as regards:

—      the operational procedures contained in the OM, indicated in UAS.STS-01.030(1) and UAS.STS‑02.030(1); and

—      the contingency and emergency procedures, indicated in UAS.STS-01.030(3) and UAS.STS‑02.030(3).

The flight test to verify the adequacy of the contingency and emergency procedures may be conducted in subcategory A3 of the ‘open’ category. In that case, the UAS operator should ensure that the UAS operation complies with the ‘open’ category requirements.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.030(4) and UAS.STS-02.030(4) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (ERP)

The UAS operator should develop an ERP in compliance with the conditions for a ‘medium’ level of robustness as per AMC3 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e).

GM1 UAS.STS-01.030(5)&(6) and UAS.STS-02.030(5)&(6) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

EXTERNALLY PROVIDED SERVICES

‘External service’ should be understood as any service that is provided by an external service provider to the UAS operator and which is:

—      necessary to ensure the safety of a UAS operation; and

—      provided by a service provider other than the UAS operator.

UAS.STS-01.040 Responsibilities of the remote pilot

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

In addition to the responsibilities defined in UAS.SPEC.060, the remote pilot:

(1) before starting an UAS operation, shall verify that the means to terminate the flight of the unmanned aircraft are operational and check if the direct remote identification is active and up‑to‑date;

(2) during the flight:

(a) shall keep the unmanned aircraft in VLOS and maintain a thorough airspace scan of the airspace surrounding the unmanned aircraft in order to avoid any risk of a collision with any manned aircraft. The remote pilot shall discontinue the flight if the operation poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, environment or property;

(b) for the purposes of point (a), may be assisted by an unmanned aircraft observer. In such case, clear and effective communication shall be established between the remote pilot and the unmanned aircraft observer;

(c) shall have the ability to maintain control of the unmanned aircraft, except in the case of a lost command and control (C2) link;

(d) shall operate only one unmanned aircraft at a time;

(e) shall not operate the unmanned aircraft from a moving vehicle;

(f) shall not hand over the control of the unmanned aircraft to another command unit;

(g) shall perform the contingency procedures defined by the UAS operator for abnormal situations, including when the remote pilot has an indication that the unmanned aircraft may exceed the limits of the flight geography; and

(h) shall perform the emergency procedures defined by the UAS operator for emergency situations, including triggering the means to terminate the flight when the remote pilot has an indication that the unmanned aircraft may exceed the limits of the operational volume.

ATTACHMENT A: REMOTE PILOT THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILL EXAMINATION FOR STS-01

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

1.            Theoretical knowledge examination

1.            The examination referred in point (2)(b) of point UAS.STS-01.020 shall comprise at least 40 multiple-choice questions aimed at assessing the remote pilot’s knowledge of the technical and operational mitigations, distributed appropriately across the following subjects:
   1.              aviation regulations;
   2.            human performance limitations;
   3.           operational procedures;
   4.           technical and operational mitigations for ground risk;
   5.            UAS general knowledge;
   6.           meteorology;
   7.         the flight performance of the UAS; and
   8.       technical and operational mitigations for air risks.
2.            If the student remote pilot already holds a certificate of remote pilot competency as referred to in point (2) of point UAS.OPEN.030, the examination shall comprise at least 30 multiple-choice questions distributed appropriately across the subjects in points (1)(a)(i) to (1)(a)(v).
3.             To pass the theoretical knowledge examination, the remote pilot student shall achieve at least 75 % of the overall marks.

2.            Practical skill training and assessment

The training and assessment of the practical skill for operations under any standard scenario shall cover at least the subjects and areas identified in Table 1:

Table 1

Subjects and areas to be covered for practical skill training and assessment

CHAPTER II — STS-02 – BVLOS with Airspace Observers over a controlled ground area in a sparsely populated environment

UAS.STS-02.010 General provisions

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

(1) During flight, the unmanned aircraft shall be maintained within 120 m from the closest point of the surface of the earth. The measurement of distances shall be adapted according to the geographical characteristics of the terrain, such as plains, hills, mountains.

(2) When flying an unmanned aircraft within a horizontal distance of 50 m from an artificial obstacle taller than 105 m, the maximum height of the UAS operation may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.

(3) The maximum height of the operational volume shall not exceed 30 m above the maximum height allowed in points (1) and (2).

(4) During flight, the unmanned aircraft shall not carry dangerous goods.

UAS.STS-02.020 UAS operations in STS-02

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

UAS operations in STS-02 shall be conducted:

(1) in accordance with the operations manual referred to in point (1) of point UAS.STS-02.030;

(2) over a controlled ground area entirely located in a sparsely populated environment including:

(a) the flight geography area,

(b) the contingency, which its external limit(s) shall be located at least 10 m beyond the limit(s) of the flight geography area,

(c) a ground risk buffer covering a distance that is at least equal to the distance most likely to be travelled by the UA after activation of the means to terminate the flight specified by the UAS manufacturer in manufacturer’s instructions, considering the operational conditions within the limitations specified by the UAS manufacturer;

(3) in an area where the minimum flight visibility is more than 5 km;

(4) with the unmanned aircraft in sight of the remote pilot during the launch and recovery of the unmanned aircraft, unless the latter is the result of an emergency flight termination;

(5) if no airspace observer is used in the operation, with the unmanned aircraft flying no further than 1 km from the remote pilot, with the unmanned aircraft following a pre-programmed trajectory when the unmanned aircraft is not in VLOS of the remote pilot;

(6) if one or more airspace observers are used in the operation, it shall comply with all of the following conditions:

(a) the airspace observer(s) are positioned in a manner allowing for an adequate coverage of the operational volume and the surrounding airspace with the minimum flight visibility indicated in point (3);

(b) the unmanned aircraft is operated no further than 2 km from the remote pilot;

(c) the unmanned aircraft is operated no further than 1 km from the airspace observer who is nearest to the unmanned aircraft;

(d) the distance between any airspace observer and the remote pilot is not more than 1 km;

(e) robust and effective communication means are available for the communication between the remote pilot and the airspace observer(s);

(7) by a remote pilot who holds:

(a) a certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge for operations in standard scenarios, issued by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State;

(b) an accreditation of completion of the STS-02 practical skill training, in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter and issued by:

(A) an entity that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3 and is recognised by the competent authority of a Member State; or

(B) by an UAS operator that has declared to the competent authority of the Member State of registration, compliance with STS-02 and that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3;

(8) with an unmanned aircraft which complies with all of the following conditions:

(a) is marked as class C6 and complies with the requirements of that class, as defined in Part 17 of the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945;

(b) is operated with an active system to prevent the unmanned aircraft from breaching the flight geography;

(c) is operated with active and updated direct remote identification system.

(9) The remote pilot shall obtain the certificate of theoretical knowledge for operations in the standard scenarios after:

(a) having completed an online training course and passed the online theoretical knowledge examination as referred to in point (4)(b) of point UAS.OPEN.020; and

(b) having passed an additional theoretical knowledge examination provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter.

(10) This certificate shall be valid for five years. The revalidation, within its validity period is subject to any of the following:

(a) the demonstration of competencies in accordance with point (9);

(b) the completion of a refresher training addressing the theoretical knowledge subjects as defined in point (9) provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority;

(11) In order to revalidate the certificate upon its expiration, the remote pilot shall comply with point (9).

GM1 UAS.STS-02.020(3) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

FLIGHT VISIBILITY

Point UAS.STS-02.020(3) requires a minimum flight visibility of 5 km to ensure that the remote pilot and/or the AO(s) can adequately visually scan the operational volume and surrounding airspace to detect well in advance any incoming manned aircraft and identify any risk of collision with that aircraft.

‘Flight visibility’ should be understood as the shortest distance from the remote pilot’s position, or from the position of each of the AOs (if employed), at which unlighted objects may be seen and identified at day and prominently lighted objects may be seen and identified at night. It should be considered in all directions.

Before starting the intended UAS operation, the UAS operator should gather all relevant information that may affect the UAS flight visibility.

Other aspects that should be considered are, for example, the light conditions (including the sun or other intense lights that may blind the remote pilot and/or the AO(s)), the presence of natural or artificial obstacles, the cloud ceiling level, the presence of smoke, etc.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(i) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(a) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

CERTIFICATE OF REMOTE PILOT THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

Upon receipt of proof that the remote pilot has successfully completed the theoretical knowledge examination, the competent authority or the entity that is designated by the competent authority should provide the remote pilot with a certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge in the format that is depicted in the figure below. The certificate may be provided in electronic form.

The remote pilot identification number that is provided by the competent authority, or the entity that is designated by the competent authority, which issues the certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge should have the following format:

NNN-RP-xxxxxxxxxxxx

Where:

—      ‘NNN’ is the ISO 3166 Alpha-3 code of the competent authority that issues the proof of completion;

—      ‘RP’ is a fixed field meaning ‘remote pilot’; and

—      ‘xxxxxxxxxxxx’ are 12 alphanumeric characters (lower-case only) defined by the competent authority that issues the proof of completion.

Example: (FIN-RP-123456789abc)

The QR code provides a link to the national database where the information related to the remote pilot is stored. Through the ‘remote pilot identification number’, all information related to the training of the remote pilot can be retrieved by authorised bodies (e.g. competent authorities, law enforcement authorities, etc.) and authorised personnel.

If the remote pilot provides the declaration of the practical-skills self-training as defined in point UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c), before passing the theoretical knowledge examination, the competent authority may include in the certificate also ‘subcategory A2’.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(ii) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(b) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

REMOTE PILOT PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR STSs

The instructor should gradually compile a ‘progress booklet’ to allow the monitoring of the training and the continuous evaluation of the practical skills of the student remote pilot.

The progress booklet should be signed by the student remote pilot at the end of each practical training cycle. A record of the booklet should be kept for 5 years.

When the student remote pilot reaches the desired level of competence, the organisation that provides the practical training issues an attestation of practical training.

GM1 UAS.STS-01.020(1)(e)(ii) UAS operations in STS-01 and UAS.STS-02.020(7)(b) UAS operations in STS-02

ED Decision 2022/002/R

REMOTE PILOT PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR STSs

Practical training for STSs is provided as a ‘continuous evaluation’ of the student remote pilot by:

(1) either a UAS operator that has declared compliance with:

(a) the relevant STS(s) (the one(s) for which training and assessment are provided); and

(b) the requirements of Appendix 3 to the Annex to the UAS Regulation; or

(2) an entity that has declared compliance with the requirements of Appendix 3 to the Annex to the UAS Regulation.

UAS.STS-02.030 Responsibilities of the UAS operator

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

In addition to the responsibilities defined in UAS.SPEC.050, the UAS operator shall:

(1) develop an operations manual including the elements defined in Appendix 5;

(2) define the operational volume and ground risk buffer for the intended operations, including the controlled ground area covering the projections on the surface of the earth of both the volume and the buffer;

(3) ensure the adequacy of the contingency and emergency procedures through any of the following:

(a) dedicated flight tests;

(b) simulations, provided that the representativeness of the simulation means is appropriate for the intended purpose;

(4) develop an effective emergency response plan (ERP) suitable for the operation that includes at least:

(a) the plan to limit the escalating effects of the emergency situation;

(b) the conditions to alert the relevant authorities and organisations;

(c) the criteria to identify an emergency situation;

(d) clear delineation of the duties of the remote pilot(s) and any other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation;

(5) ensure that the level of performance for any externally provided service necessary for the safety of the flight is adequate for the intended operation;

(6) define the allocation of the roles and responsibilities between the operator and the external service provider(s), if applicable;

(7) upload updated information into the geo-awareness, if the function is installed on the UAS, when required by the UAS geographical zone for the intended location of the operation;

(8) ensure that, before starting the operation, all appropriate measures to reduce the risk of intrusion of uninvolved persons in the controlled ground area compliant with the minimum distance defined in point UAS.STS-02.020(2) have been taken and, when required, coordination with the appropriate authorities has been conducted;

(9) ensure that, before starting the operation, all persons present in the controlled ground area:

(a) have been informed of the risks of the operation;

(b) have been briefed and, if applicable, trained on the safety precautions and measures established by the UAS operator for their protection; and

(c) have explicitly agreed to participate in the operation;

(10) before starting the operation, if airspace observers are used:

(a) ensure the correct placement and number of airspace observers along the intended flight path;

(b) verify:

(i) that the visibility and the planned distance of the airspace observer are within acceptable limits as defined in the operations manual;

(ii) the absence of potential terrain obstructions for each airspace observer;

(iii) that there are no gaps between the zones covered by each of the airspace observers;

(iv) that the communication with each airspace observer is established and effective;

(v) that if means are used by the airspace observers to determine the position of the unmanned aircraft, those means are functioning and effective;

(c) ensure that the airspace observers have been briefed on the intended path of the unmanned aircraft and the associated timing;

(11) ensure that:

(a) the UAS is accompanied by the corresponding EU declaration of conformity, including the reference to class C6;

(b) the class C6 identification label is affixed to the unmanned aircraft.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.030(1)&(3) and UAS.STS-02.030(1)&(3) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

The UAS operator should comply with the conditions for a ‘medium’ level of robustness of AMC2 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e) as regards:

—      the operational procedures contained in the OM, indicated in UAS.STS-01.030(1) and UAS.STS‑02.030(1); and

—      the contingency and emergency procedures, indicated in UAS.STS-01.030(3) and UAS.STS‑02.030(3).

The flight test to verify the adequacy of the contingency and emergency procedures may be conducted in subcategory A3 of the ‘open’ category. In that case, the UAS operator should ensure that the UAS operation complies with the ‘open’ category requirements.

AMC1 UAS.STS-01.030(4) and UAS.STS-02.030(4) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (ERP)

The UAS operator should develop an ERP in compliance with the conditions for a ‘medium’ level of robustness as per AMC3 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e).

GM1 UAS.STS-01.030(5)&(6) and UAS.STS-02.030(5)&(6) Responsibilities of the UAS operator

ED Decision 2022/002/R

EXTERNALLY PROVIDED SERVICES

‘External service’ should be understood as any service that is provided by an external service provider to the UAS operator and which is:

—      necessary to ensure the safety of a UAS operation; and

—      provided by a service provider other than the UAS operator.

UAS.STS-02.040 Responsibilities of the remote pilot

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

In addition to the responsibilities defined in UAS.SPEC.060, the remote pilot shall:

(1) before starting an UAS operation:

(a) set the programmable flight volume of the unmanned aircraft to keep it within the flight geography;

(b) verify that the means to terminate the flight and the programmable operational volume functionality of the unmanned aircraft are operational; and, check if the direct remote identification is active and up-to-date.

(2) during flight:

(a) unless supported by airspace observers, maintain a thorough airspace scan of the airspace surrounding the unmanned aircraft in order to avoid any risk of a collision with any manned aircraft. The remote pilot shall discontinue the flight if the operation poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, environment or property;

(b) have the ability to maintain control of the unmanned aircraft, except in the case of a lost command and control (C2) link;

(c) operate only one unmanned aircraft at a time;

(d) not operate the unmanned aircraft from a moving vehicle;

(e) not hand over the control of the unmanned aircraft to another command unit;

(f) inform the airspace observer(s), when employed, in a timely manner of any deviations of the unmanned aircraft from the intended path, and the associated timing;

(g) perform the contingency procedures defined by the UAS operator for abnormal situations, including when the remote pilot has indication that the unmanned aircraft may exceed the limits of the flight geography;

(h) perform the emergency procedures defined by the UAS operator for emergency situations, including triggering the means to terminate the flight when the remote pilot has an indication that the unmanned aircraft may exceed the limits of the operational volume.

UAS.STS-02.050 Responsibilities of the airspace observer

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

An airspace observer shall:

(1) maintain a thorough airspace scan of the airspace surrounding the unmanned aircraft in order to identify any risk of a collision with any manned aircraft;

(2) maintain awareness of the position of the unmanned aircraft through direct airspace observation or through assistance provided by electronic means;

(3) alert the remote pilot when a hazard is detected and assist in avoiding or minimising the potential negative effects.

AMC1 UAS.STS-02.050(2) Responsibilities of the airspace observer

ED Decision 2022/002/R

MAINTAINING AWARENESS OF THE UA

The airspace observer should be provided with clear and concise information on the geographical position of the UA, its speed, and its height above the surface or take-off point.

The airspace observer may use the same system provided to the remote pilot to comply with the requirement in Part 17 point (3) of the UAS Regulation.

ATTACHMENT A: REMOTE PILOT THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILL FOR STS-02

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

(1) Theoretical knowledge examination

The examination shall be defined in accordance with point 1 of Attachment A to Chapter I.

(2) Practical skill training and assessment

In addition to the areas defined in point A.2 of Attachment A to Chapter I, the following areas shall be covered:

Table 1

Additional subjects and areas to be covered for practical skill training and assessment for STS-02

Appendix 2 — Operational declaration

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

GM1 Appendix 2 Operational declaration

ED Decision 2022/002/R

OPERATIONAL DECLARATION FORM: UAS MANUFACTURER, UAS MODEL AND UAS SERIAL NUMBER

If the UAS operator intends to conduct UAS operations that are covered by the STS that uses different UASs (not used at the same time in the same location and all bearing the appropriate class identification label), the UAS operator is not required to submit a separate operational declaration form for each UAS.

In such a case, the information on the ‘UAS manufacturer’, the ‘UAS model’, and the ‘UAS serial number’ for each UAS should be provided in the corresponding fields of the operational declaration form. For example, for two different UASs from different manufacturers:

If the UAS operator intends to provide practical-skills training and conduct practical-skills assessments of remote pilots that operate in an STS, information on the manufacturer, the model, and the serial number of the UAS that is used for such training and assessment should also be included in the operational declaration form even if the UAS is used only for training and assessment purposes.

Appendix 3 — Additional requirements for entities recognised by the competent authority and UAS operators that conduct practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots for operations covered by STS

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

An entity that intends to be recognised by the competent authority for conducting practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots for an STS, shall declare to the competent authority compliance with the following requirements using the declaration form in Appendix 6.

An UAS operator that intends to conduct practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots for an STS, in addition to submitting the operational declaration for that STS, shall declare to the competent authority compliance with the following requirements using the declaration form in Appendix 4.

If the competent authority or the UAS operator intends to conduct practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots for an STS in a Member State other than the Member State of registration, a copy of the declaration form in Appendix 4 shall be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State where the training is conducted.

If an entity recognised by the competent authority intends to conduct practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots for an STS in a Member State other than the Member State of recognition, a proof of the recognition shall be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State where the training is conducted.

(1) The entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator shall ensure a clear separation between the training activities and any other operational activity to guarantee the independence of the evaluation.

(2) The entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator shall have the capability to adequately perform the technical and administrative activities linked with the entire task process, including the adequacy of personnel and the use of facilities and equipment appropriate to the task.

(3) The entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator shall have an accountable manager, with the responsibility for ensuring that all tasks are performed in compliance with the information and procedures identified in point (8).

(4) The personnel responsible for the practical skill training and practical skill assessment tasks shall:

(a) have the competence to conduct these tasks;

(b) be impartial and shall not participate in assessments if they feel that their objectivity may be affected;

(c) have a sound theoretical knowledge and practical skill training experience, and satisfactory knowledge of the requirements for the practical skill assessment tasks they carry out as well as adequate experience of such processes;

(d) have the ability to administer the declarations, records and reports that demonstrate that the relevant practical skill assessments have been carried out and to draw the conclusions of those practical skill assessments; and

(e) not disclose any information supplied by the operator or remote pilot to any person other than the competent authority upon their request.

(5) The training and assessment shall cover the practical skills corresponding to the STS for which the declaration is made, included in Attachment A to the relevant Chapter.

(6) The practical skill training and assessment location(s) shall be conducted in an environment representative of the conditions of the STS.

(7) The practical skill assessment shall consist of a continuous evaluation of the student remote pilot.

(8) The entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator shall produce an assessment report after completing the practical skill assessment, which shall:

(a) include at least:

(i) the student remote pilot’s identification details;

(ii) the identity of the person responsible for the practical skill assessment;

(iii) the identification of the STS for which the practical skill assessment has been performed;

(iv) performance marks for each action performed by the student remote pilot;

(v) an overall practical skill assessment of the student remote pilot’s competencies; and

(vi) practical skill assessment feedback providing guidance on areas for improvement where applicable;

(b) be appropriately signed and dated by the person responsible for the practical skill assessment once complete; and

(c) be recorded and made available for inspection by the competent authority upon request.

(9) An accreditation of completion of the practical skill training for the STS shall be delivered to the student remote pilot by entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator if the assessment report concludes that the student remote pilot has achieved a satisfactory level of practical skill.

(10) The issuance of the accreditation of completion of point (9) shall be notified to the competent authority of the Member State where the practical skill training and assessment are conducted including the student remote pilot’s identification details, the STS covered, the date of issuance and the identification details of the entity recognised by the competent authority of a Member State or the UAS operator issuing it.

(11) The entity recognised by the competent authority or the UAS operator shall include in the operations manual, developed in accordance with Appendix 5, a separate section covering the training elements, including the following:

(a) the nominated personnel conducting practical skill training and assessment, including:

(i) descriptions of the respective personnel’s competence;

(ii) the personnel’s duties and responsibilities; and

(iii) a chart of the organisation showing the associated chains of responsibility;

(b) the procedures and processes used for practical skill training and assessment, including the training syllabus covering the practical skill corresponding to the STS for which the declaration is made, defined in Attachment A to the relevant Chapter;

(c) a description of the UAS and any other equipment, tools and environment used for the practical skill training and assessment; and

(d) a template for the assessment report.

Appendix 4 — Declaration of UAS operators that intend to provide practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots in STS-x

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

Appendix 5 — Operations manual for Standard Scenario

Regulation (EU) 2020/639

The operations manual for STS defined in Appendix 1 shall contain at least the following:

(1) a statement that the operations manual complies with the relevant requirements of this Regulation and with the declaration, and contains instructions that are to be complied with by the personnel involved in flight operations;

(2) an approval signature by the accountable manager or the UAS operator in the case of a natural person;

(3) an overall description of the UAS operator’s organisation;

(4) a description of the concept of the operation, including at least:

(a) the nature and description of the activities performed in the UAS operations, and the identified associated risks;

(b) the operational environment and geographical area for the intended operations, including:

(i) the characteristics of the area to be overflown in terms of the population density, topography, obstacles, etc.;

(ii) the characteristics of the airspace to be used;

(iii) the environmental conditions including at least the weather and the electromagnetic environment;

(iv) the definition of the operational volume and risk buffers to address the ground and air risks;

(c) the technical means used and their main characteristics, performance and limitations, including the UAS, external systems supporting the UAS operation, facilities, etc.;

(d) the required personnel for conducting operations, including the composition of the team, their roles and responsibilities, selection criteria, initial training and recent experience requirements and/or recurrent training;

(5) the maintenance instructions required to keep the UAS in a safe condition, covering the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and requirements, if applicable;

(6) operational procedures, which shall be based on manufacturer’s instructions provided by the UAS manufacturer, and shall include:

(a) consideration of the following to minimise human errors:

(i) a clear distribution and assignment of tasks; and

(ii) an internal checklist to check that staff are performing their assigned tasks adequately;

(b) consideration of the deterioration of external systems supporting the UAS operation;

(c) normal procedures, including at least:

(i) pre-flight preparations and checklists, covering:

(A) the assessment of the operational volume and related buffers (the ground risk buffer, and air risk buffer when applicable), including the terrain and potential obstacles and obstructions that may reduce the ability to keep the unmanned aircraft in visual line of sight or to scan the airspace, the potential overflight of persons who are not involved and potential overflight of critical infrastructure;

(B) the assessment of the surrounding environment and airspace, including the proximity of UAS geographical zones and potential activities by other airspace users;

(C) the environmental conditions suitable for conducting the UAS operation;

(D) the minimum number of personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation who are required to perform the operation, and their responsibilities;

(E) the required communication procedures between the remote pilot(s) and any other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation and with any external parties, when needed;

(F) compliance with any specific requirements from the relevant authorities in the intended area of operations, including those related to security, privacy, data and environmental protection, and the use of the RF spectrum;

(G) the required risk mitigations in place to ensure the safe conduct of the operation; in particular, for the controlled ground area:

(a) determination of the controlled ground area; and

(b) securing the controlled ground area to prevent third parties from entering the area during the operation, and ensuring coordination with the local authorities, when needed;

(H) the procedures to verify that the UAS is in a suitable condition to safely conduct the intended operation;

(ii) launch and recovery procedures;

(iii) in-flight procedures, including those to ensure that the unmanned aircraft remains within the flight geography;

(iv) post-flight procedures, including the inspections to verify the condition of the UAS;

(v) procedures for the detection of potentially conflicting aircraft by the remote pilot and, when required by the UAS operator, by airspace observer(s) or unmanned aircraft observer(s), as applicable;

(d) contingency procedures, including at least:

(i) procedures to cope with the unmanned aircraft leaving the designated ‘flight geography’;

(ii) procedures to cope with persons who are not involved entering the controlled ground area;

(iii) procedures to cope with adverse operating conditions;

(iv) procedures to cope with the deterioration of external systems supporting the operation;

(v) if airspace observers are employed, the phraseology to be used;

(vi) conflict avoidance procedures with other airspace users;

(e) emergency procedures to cope with emergency situations, including at least:

(i) procedures to avoid, or at least minimise, harm to third parties in the air or on the ground;

(ii) procedures to cope with the unmanned aircraft leaving the ‘operational’ volume;

(iii) procedures for the emergency recovery of the unmanned aircraft;

(f) security procedures as referred to in point (1)(a)(ii) and (iii) of point UAS.SPEC.050;

(g) the procedures for the protection of personal data referred to in point (1)(a)(iv) of point UAS.SPEC.050;

(h) the guidelines to minimise nuisance and environmental impact referred to in point (1)(a)(v) of point UAS.SPEC.050;

(i) occurrence reporting procedures;

(j) record-keeping procedures; and

(k) the policy defining how the remote pilot(s) and any other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation can declare themselves fit to operate before conducting any operation.

Appendix 6 — Declaration of the entity intending to be recognised by the competent authority to provide practical skill training and assessment of remote pilots in STS-x

Regulation (EU) 2020/639