UK CAA A2 Certificate of Competency Theory Examination — Information & Free Practice

About UK CAA A2 Certificate of Competency Theory Examination

UK CAA A2 Certificate of Competency Theory Examination · GB

Key exam facts

Provider

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) framework; examination delivered and certificate awarded by CAA-approved Recognised Assessment Entities for Remote Pilot Competency (RAE(PC)).

Format

Closed-book multiple-choice theory examination, electronic/online or paper based; only material specifically referred to in a question may be consulted. Self-practical training is a prerequisite, not a practical examination in this bank.

Time limit

75 minutes of examination time; an additional 15 minutes is granted on request to candidates with a recognised disability or additional needs.

Passing score

At least 75% of the overall marks.

Exam fee

Provider-set fees: CAA-approved RAEs are allowed to set their own fees for training and certification; no uniform national examination price is specified.

Topics covered

• Meteorology

  • Introduction to obtaining and interpreting weather information
  • Weather reporting resources
  • Reports, forecasts and meteorological conventions appropriate for typical UAS flight operations
  • Local weather assessments
  • Effects of weather on the UA
  • Wind – urban effects, gradients, masking, turbulence
  • Temperature – precipitation, icing, turbulence
  • Visibility factors
  • Clouds – Cumulonimbus (CB) hazards (including lightning)
  • IP43 (International Protection) IEC/EN 60529 standards with regard to water ingress

• UAS Flight Performance

  • Typical operational envelope of a rotorcraft, fixed wing and hybrid configurations
  • Basic principles of flight
  • Operating guides
  • Flight procedures/basic drills
  • Emergencies1 See GM1 UAS.OPEN.060(2)(b) Responsibilities of the Remote Pilot.
  • Maintenance of system
  • Scheduled and repairs
  • Manufacturer’s recommendations
  • Assessment ‘safe to be flown?’
  • Mass and balance and centre of gravity (CG)
  • Consideration of the overall balance when attaching gimbals, payloads
  • Understand meaning of MTOM
  • Security of the payload
  • Payload characteristics – how differences can affect the stability of a flight
  • CG – differences between different types of UA
  • Batteries
  • Understand the terminology used for batteries (e.g. memory effect, capacity, c-rate)
  • Differences in battery types
  • Understand how a battery functions (e.g. charging, usage, danger, storage)
  • Battery safety - how to help prevent potential unsafe conditions

• UAS Operating Principles

  • UAS operations
  • Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
  • Avoiding collisions – ‘See and Avoid’
  • Decision process
  • Stress/pressure from ‘customers’
  • Occurrence reporting and investigation
  • Congested area operations
  • Planning and preparation
  • Hazard identification
  • Overflight of people
  • Public/third parties – crowds and gatherings
  • Medical fitness
  • Crew health precautions
  • Alcohol, drugs, medication, medical restrictions
  • Fatigue
  • Flight duration/flight workload
  • Outdoors and lone working
  • Technical and operational mitigations for ground risk
  • Low speed mode function
  • Evaluating distance from people
  • 1:1 rule

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  QUESTIONS TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  Subject / Areas to be Covered, Meteorology row

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  Subject / Areas to be Covered, UAS Flight Performance row

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  Subject / Areas to be Covered, UAS Operating Principles row

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  PASS AN ADDITIONAL THEORY TEST

• CAA approved training providers

  CAA-approved training providers

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  PASS AN ADDITIONAL THEORY TEST, closed-book paragraph

• CAA AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(c)

  PASS AN ADDITIONAL THEORY TEST, additional needs paragraph

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.