The Story Behind Category A1 Rules Can Haunt You Forever!
Category A1 Rules For Motorcyclists
Category A1 rules are for those who wish to ride small motorcycles. These vehicles have a capacity of cylinders up to 35kW. They cannot be derived from vehicles with more than twice their power.
The open drone operation category can be subdivided into three categories A1 through A3. You can fly drones using the class label C0 or the A1 in the subcategory A1 (flying over people) until January 2024.
A1
Category A1 is one of the three EASA drone categories that applies to aircraft with a maximum take-off weight (MTOM) of up to 25 kilograms. It requires a flight schedule and a flight log, as well as an identification system for remotes and geoawareness systems. The drone must be within the constant sight of the pilot. It is not permitted to fly over groups of people or in areas utilized for industrial, commercial or recreational reasons. The drone should also remain below 120 meters above ground level.
If you are planning to fly a drone that is not included in the categories above, you will need an exclusive license from the Civil Aviation Authority. This is referred to as an operational authorisation. You can find more information about how to apply for this here.
A1 applicants must have a minimum of 16 years experience in riding two-wheeled vehicles. They must also have completed the compulsory basic training and have passed an exam in theory and a practical test. They must also have a valid medical certification.
A1 license holders can drive two-wheeled mopeds, as long as their capacity of cylinder is not more than 125cc and their power to weight ratio is not more than 0.1 kW/kg. They can also drive motorcycles with an cylinder capacity of not greater than 125cc as also quad bikes and trikes.
The category A1 licence is designed to allow drivers to get to the next vehicle category. This permits them to drive vehicles that have an maximum mass of 35 kW. This allows you to gain experience driving less powerful vehicles prior to transitioning to higher categories of licence.
Drones that are in use but don't have the CE mark can be operated under the subcategory "A1" until January 1st, 2024. This is because they are considered low risk and don't pose a significant risk to the public. They must, however, be at least 150 meters away from buildings, industries and recreational areas. They must also not fly over crowds or within 5 kilometers of airfields or airports.
A2
If you've completed your CBT training and are looking to get an motorcycle license, you may be qualified for a category A1 licence. This permits you to drive an unrestricted motorcycle without any sidecar. The bike must have a maximum cylinder capacity of 125cc, as well as the maximum power output of 11 kW. You must also be 16 years old in order to get this license. Online viewing of your driving licence will allow you to learn more about the categories and rules.
You can also fly drones with the maximum weight of 4kg in the A2 category However, they must be kept at a safe distance away from other people when taking off and landing. The drones should be at least 30m in horizontal distance from people when in low-speed mode, or 5m when they are not in use. You also must pass the A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC) test to fly in this category.
If you plan to fly larger drones, you will need to apply for an operator's permit for a specific category and this requires completion of the General VLOS Certificate (GVC) training and flight assessment, as well as preparing an Operations Manual. The process for applying for a specific category permit is very similar to the PfCO and you can learn more about the requirements by reading our comprehensive guide.
A2 also enables you to fly transitional drones that aren't yet CE registered, but have been modified to reduce the risk of collisions with humans. kategoria a1 will only be able to fly these drones in A2 until 2022 deadline, after which they'll need to comply with the A3 regulations.
The A1 and A2 categories are designed to aid you in becoming a safer and confident motorcyclist. The number of lessons you'll require depends on your skill and progress, but a predetermined amount of special rides should be undertaken. This is a minimum of five lessons on country road and four on highways and three lessons at dawn or at night.
A3
This category allows drones with an maximum takeoff mass of 25 kg. Although it is a lower risk operation, strict measures must be taken to minimize potential incidents. A safe distance of 150 metres is required from industrial, commercial, residential and recreational areas. This also requires drones to be equipped with an identification system for remotes and geoawareness systems.
Similar to the Open category, this tier is divided into sub categories A1, A2 and A3. The A1 subcategory allows drones sporting Class Identification Label C0 or C1 to fly above people who are not involved. It is required to be at least 30 meters from third parties while flying at a flight height, or 5 metres in slow flight mode.
Drones that are class-identified with the label C2 are able to be operated in subcategory A2 in the event that the drone is in compliance with the dimensions required and the remote pilot is able to pass an additional theoretical knowledge exam. This exam is designed to test the remote pilot's understanding of the operational and technical mitigations to mitigate the risks associated with flying slightly larger drones (class C2, weighing less than 4kg mass) close to people. A successful passing of this exam is rewarded with the 'certificate of competence required to fly category A2'.
Due to the lack of certified drones in this category, there are 'transitional' arrangements that allow non-certified "legacy drones to operate in categories A1 and for a period of two years following the new EU regulations take force. Legacy drones cannot be flown over persons and must carry an A2 CofC.
To operate a drone in this category, you must first complete the online test for identification of flyers and then complete a theory test. You must also prove that you have some real-world knowledge about your drone, and submit a written declaration of competence. These requirements are similar to the model of a driving license, whereby a driver who first obtains their licence for a vehicle in a lower category can then be upgraded to a higher category.
A4
The DOH is currently preparing guidelines for category A4. They will be in line with other procedures and include specifics like the number of dressing changes each day. These guidelines will be presented to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infections, (IATF-EID) and the DOH National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. Before they are finalized the guidelines will be vetted and approved by both the DOH National Immunization Technical Advisory Group and the IATF EID.
In this category, drones that have an identification label for class C0 and C1 are allowed to fly within a minimum distance of 50 metres from individuals who aren't involved. This is a low-risk class, but strict precautions are still required to prevent incidents. Drones that aren't classified in either A1 or A2 must have passed an additional test of knowledge in order to be operated in this subcategory.
This test is designed to assess your understanding of the additional risks that come when flying drones are in close proximity to humans. A successful passing of the test results in a certificate of competence for this subcategory. The operator must maintain a minimum distance of 30 metres between the aircraft and all other persons not involved or 5 metres when flying in slow-flight mode.
You must take an amount of lessons to pass the theory test and then the practical test. This number varies based on your age, ability and learning progress. A minimum of 12 90-minute lessons must be completed.
In these classes you will become familiar with your vehicle and traffic laws. Additionally, you will get useful tips for driving in difficult areas. In addition to the required lessons, you must attend certain number of special rides.
The new category E integrates classes A1 (retail) as well as class A2 (financial and professional services), class B1 (offices) and class A4 (restaurants/cafes) and classes A5 and B5 (hot food takeaway). It also includes health/medical uses as well as creches and nurseries, as well as indoor sports/recreation facilities. The change is expected to simplify the licensing process and reduce costs. It will also allow landlords to utilize their buildings in ways that are not currently allowed.