Training

Welcome to Survey Drones Ireland

As an IAA approved DUTO (Declared Unmanned Training Organisation). Our Instructors have over 15 years professional experience flying Unmanned Aerial Systems and 14 years training people to fly drones and are perfectly placed to advise clients on all drone operations spanning the Survey, Construction, Surveillance and Delivery Industries.

With our vast experience, we have the ability to design, train and supply all of the equipment & software required for a complete solution. All of which will maximise your company’s ROI.

With a deep understanding of Drones, Sensors & Data Processing Software we will provide you with the best training Ireland has to offer including ongoing support throughout each stage of your drone operations

Get The Complete Solution For All You Drone Operations.

Select Your Training Course

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EU OPEN CATEGORY A2

This course is for the EU A2 Open Category, valid for 5 years and allow users to operate anywhere in the EU under the A2 Open Category. The course is designed to suit hobbyist and commercial operations.

EU SPECIFIC CATEGORY COURSE

This course is for operations that have higher risk factors associated with them than the type of Drone operations that are normally conducted in the open category. This is a 2-day course, we run once a month.

DRONE MAPPING COURSE

This Course covers starting from basics of Drone surveying to advanced levels and how drones have revolutionised this process.

FLIGHT TRAINING COURSE

The Flight Training Course can be tailored to fit your needs. We can design the Flight Training to your level of training

PIX4D SOFTWARE TRAINING

Part 1 Covers the Functions & Fundamentals of Pix4D Software. We explain every section and its function. We cover Camera Parameters, How to Chose the correct Geoid, We explain Point Cloud Data and We cover Grid Conversion From WGS84 to ITM.

EU LIGHT UNMANNED CERTIFICATE

This is a voluntary certification, after which the Irish Aviation Authority may allocate some privileges to the UAS operator. UAS operators may ask the Irish Aviation Authority to assess their organisation to evaluate whether they are capable of assessing the risk of an operation themselves.

EU BEYOND VISION LINE OF SIGHT (BVLOS)

This Course is designed by Drone Operators that have completed BVLOS operations in the Commercial Industry. We recognise that such a Course requires a lot of attention, this is why we have designed the course to be 5 days long.

What Drone do I need to fly in the Open Category?

Any Drone that is less than 25kgs. However the weight of your Drone will put you into one of the Sub-Categories of the Open Category, whether it be A1, A2 or A3.

Is the A2 Open Category Course online or in person?

The A2 Open Category course consists of extra Subjects that you will not have in the A1/A3 Proof of online training course that you have completed on the IAA MySRS portal. There is a written exam of 30 Multiple choice questions with the A2 Open Category Course. Once you have successfully passed the course you will receive a course completion certificate.

What are my next steps after I have successfully passed the A2 Open Category Course?

We have a set of instructions at the end of the A2 Open Category course.

Go into your MySRS account, Make sure you have completed the registration application and paid your €3, on your Home page Click on Start Application under the UAS Remote Pilot Competency A2/STS.
The key part of this process is that you click on the little box that states “I Hereby Declare…….”
Once you click on Complete Application a RPC number is then generated. This will be displayed with a Go Home button. Once you are back in your home page. The Application status should read “Awaiting DUTO review”
Record your RPC Number and then click on Mr Sun this is the icon on the top right hand side of the page. under here you will find your IAA Number. Starting with IAA.
Send both of these to info@surveydrones.ie and we will then endorse you to complete your Application.
After we have endorsed you, MySRS portal will send you an Email asking you to complete the application.
Once you make your payment the IAA will endorse you with the A2 Tab on your Remote Pilot Competency Licence.

Does your A2 Open Category Course have a Mock Exam?

Yes. We Have it named as a Progress Exam, it is a mirror of how the Final Written will be displayed. The Progress Exam has 10 questions and the questions are posed in the same manner as the Final Written Exam.

If I am unsuccessful on the written exam do I have another chance to sit it?

Yes, We have allowed all students the ability to resit the Written Exam, if they are unsuccessful. We would ask that you get in touch before you resit the Exam and we will discuss with you where you went wrong in answering the questions.

Are drones with class identification label presently available on the EU market?

Drones bearing a class identification label are progressively appearing on the market. However, the presence of a class identification label on the drone does not guarantee its compliance to Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (R945). Compliant drones are expected to appear slowly towards the end of the year.

Until at least March 2022, it will not be possible to have compliant drones of classes C1, C2 and C3 on the market, due to the absence of the procedures necessary to demonstrate their conformity. In addition, the absence of standards supporting the requirements of R945 until at least the end of the year makes difficult for manufacturers to ensure compliance of their products. This is especially the case for classes C0 and C4 to C5. Therefore, we recommend great caution at least until the end of the year when buying drones with a class identification label.

Market surveillance authorities are responsible for ensuring that the drones placed on the Union market with a class identification label are compliant to R945. However, you, as individual, should also take measures to get sufficient confidence that you are operating a compliant drone.

I fall under the ‘specific’ category, so how do I obtain an authorisation?

Firstly check whether your operation can be accommodated within a standard scenario. If it can, you do not need an authorisation, but you do need to submit a declaration to the National Aviation Authority. A standard scenario is an operation defined in the Appendix to the drone regulation (EU Regulation 2019/947). You need to use a drone marked with the appropriate class identification label (5 or 6). After submitting the declaration to the National Aviation Authority, you will receive the confirmation of receipt and completeness from the National Aviation Authority and operate following the limitations of the standard scenario. Otherwise, there are other means to obtain an operational authorisation under the ‘specific’ category, depending on the level of risk the operation poses. The drone operator can apply for:

An operational authorisation by conducting a risk assessment of the intended operation using a methodology for the risk assessment; one possible method is the SORA (specific operation risk assessment) that you can find as AMC1 to Article 11 to Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This methodology helps to identify the risk level of the operation and to identify the mitigations and operational safety objectives needed to make the operation safe. When the drone operator believes they have put in place satisfactory measures to ensure the safety of the operation, they send all the information to the National Aviation Authority and apply for an operational authorisation. When the National Aviation Authority is satisfied, it provides the drone operator with the authorisation, and the operation can be started.
An operation authorisation through a predefined risk assessment’ (PDRA) as a simplification of the drone operator conducting a risk assessment. For those operations that will be the most common in Europe, EASA will carry out the risk assessment and will publish, as an acceptable means of compliance with the drone regulation, the list of the actions that the drone operator needs to put in place in order to conduct the operation safely. An application for an authorisation to the National Aviation Authority is still needed, however, both the drone operator and the National Aviation Authority will benefit from the standardised measures defined in the PDRA. The PDRAs are published by EASA as AMC to Art 11 to Regulation (EU) 2019/947; more are already under development.
Light UAS operator certificate (LUC): this is a voluntary certification, after which the National Aviation Authority may allocate some privileges to the drone operator.Drone operators may ask the National Aviation Authority to assess their organisation to evaluate whether they are capable of assessing the risk of an operation themselves. The requirements to be demonstrated by drone operators are defined in Part C of Regulation (EU) 2019/947. When the National Aviation Authority is satisfied, they will issue a light UAS operator certificate (LUC) and they will allocate privileges to the drone operators based on their level of maturity.

The privileges may be one or more of the following:

To conduct operations covered by standard scenarios without submitting a declaration;

To self-authorise operations conducted by the drone operator and covered by a PDRA without applying for an authorisation.

To self-authorise all operations conducted by the drone operator without applying for an authorisation.

Regulatory reference: article 12 of EU regulation 2012/947.

What are my responsibilities as a drone operator in the 'specific' category?

As a drone operator flying in the ’specific’ category, you must:

ensure that the drone displays the drone operator registration number (e.g. with a sticker) and the same number is uploaded into the remote identification;
develop operational procedures (written procedures are required when the drone operator employs more than one remote pilot, otherwise it is enough that the remote pilot follows the procedures defined by the manufacturer in the user’s manual);
ensure that there is no radio interference that may affect the command and control link of the drone;
designate a remote pilot for each operation; it is important that it is clear who is the person responsible for each flight;
ensure that the remote pilot and the personnel supporting the operation of the drone are familiar with the user’s manual and with the drone operator’s procedures, have appropriate competency, and are provided with the relevant information concerning any geographical zones published by the MS;
ensure that the maps in the geo-awareness system of the drone are up to date, unless you are flying in a geographical zone where geo-awareness is not required;
ensure that, unless you are using a privately built drone, it has a declaration in conformity to the CE class mark and its class label (0 to 4) is affixed to the aircraft; and
ensure that the persons involved in the operation of the drone is aware of the risks involved in operations under subcategories A2 and A3.
carry out each operation within the limitations defined in the declaration or operational authorisation;
develop procedures to ensure the security of the operation;
establish measures against unlawful interference and unauthorised access;
ensure that the privacy of people is protected, and there may also be a requirement to conduct a data protection impact assessment if requested by the National Aviation Authority;
provide the remote pilot with guidelines on how to minimise the nuisance caused by noise and emissions;
ensure that the pilot conducting the operation and the other personnel in charge comply with all the conditions required for operating in the ’specific’ category;
keep a record of the drone operation; and
maintain the drone in a suitable condition to ensure safe operation.

Regulatory reference: UAS.SPEC.050 of EU Regulation 2019/947

What are my responsibilities as a remote pilot in the 'specific' category?

As a remote pilot you must: Before the flight:

complete the training and examination required for the type of operation you will be involved in;
have relevant up-to-date information about any geographical zones published by the National Aviation Authority;
check for obstacles and the presence of people not involved in the operation of the drone (unless operating in the A1 subcategory with a privately built drone or a drone with a CE class 0 mark;
check that the drone is fit for flight and the operation it will undertake;
check that the remote control works properly (if applicable); and
ensure that the weight of the drone is within the limit of the category or subcategory of the intended operation.
ensure that the operating environment is compatible with the authorised or declared limitations, and
ensure that Air Traffic Services , airspace users and other stakeholders are informed of the intended operation.
During the flight in the ’specific’ category, you must:
not operate the drone when you are unfit either due to the consumption of psychoactive/ hallucinogenic substances or alcohol, or unfit due to sickness;
keep the drone at a distance such that you can clearly see it; you may use a UA observer to scan the airspace when you want to fly in first person view. UA observers must be located alongside you such that they can immediately communicate in case they see an obstacle and give you instructions such as to immediately land the drone.
if you or the UA observer see a manned aircraft, give way to it, and make sure you are far away from it. If you have any doubt about the operation, you should land the drone immediately.
comply with the limitation of the geographical zones;
operate the drone according to the manufacturer’s user manual;
comply with the operator’s procedure; and
do not operate where an emergency response service is ongoing (e.g. in the case of an accident, keep away from that location since an emergency helicopter may be required to be used);
Comply with the authorised or declared limitations.

Regulatory reference: UAS.SPEC.060 of EU Regulation 2019/947