Drone operators who wish to become active in the Specific classification needs to first get an operating authorization from the Environment and Transport Inspectorate. There is a lot to do with this: for instance, one needs to prepare a functional handbook describing the designated operations. Complex topics such as ConOps, SORA, PDRA and STS are talked about. Dutch Drone Academy established a workshop that supplies trainees with the tools to start individually with the license application.

Specific category

Considering that the beginning of 2021, companies that wish to utilize drones have actually been dealing with brand-new European guidelines for drones. For low-risk flights, there is the Open category. For drone operations with a somewhat higher threat, for example due to the fact that you wish to fly over buildings with a somewhat much heavier drone, inspect items from close quarters with a drone, or since you want to perform drone flights in regulated airspace, there is the Specific classification.

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order to operate in the Specific classification, one need to initially get a license from the Environment and Transport Inspectorate, the ILT. There is a lot to this: for example, the operator needs to draw up a functional manual explaining what sort of drone flights one wants to perform, and most importantly, what procedures one wishes to utilize to do so safely. This consists of complex paperwork, such as ConOps, SORA, PDRA and STS.

Particular Category Operations Workshop

To assist companies send an effective license application to the ILT, Dutch Drone Academy has actually developed the Specific Category Operations Workshop.

Parcival Hofland (director Dutch Drone Academy) describes the function of the workshop: “During this one-day workshop, we will deal with the total permit application procedure. The goal is that brand-new drone operators can perform operations separately, effectively and lawfully through this workshop. Concerns such as: where is what exactly and how do I translate that? What is essential in a handbook and what is not? What does the complete image of needed files in fact look like? When do I select a PDRA and when should I compose a Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA)?”

This method provides a variety of extra benefits, states Hofland: “By first following this workshop and after that getting started with the handbook yourself, you can conserve a lot of money as an upcoming drone operator. After all, you don’t need to hire costly experts who will write your handbook on assignment. In addition, this method promotes safety, due to the fact that one has better knowledge of their own functional handbook.”

Free templates

Prior to the workshop, the participants will be sent out a number of customized files and templates that can be checked out and complete previous to the workshop. This includes, to name a few things, a general description of the work (ConOps) and a more elaboration of the type of work that one wants to carry out with the aid of drones. You can likewise return in the weather with the needed emergency situation procedures (part of the emergency action strategy, ERP).

The workshop begins with a general introduction on European policies for drones. After that, attention is paid to the application procedure for a permit and the different formats will be handled. The trainees will then get an intro to the subjects ConOps and PDRA/STS/SORA. Attention is paid to the application of the Operations Manual and trainees receive an example of a functional flight plan.

Do it yourself

Hofland emphasizes that the workshop is aimed at permitting trainees to think of their desired operations themselves. “During this workshop, we are not going to fill out your license application. We describe the ‘playing field’ and all extra terms to the students, give recommendations and assistance. This includes customisable templates with completed examples for a ConOps, an EU Operations Manual and a PDRA/STS, which can conserve you a lot of time. These templates have been established by Droneconsultancy and utilized numerous times in application procedures currently approved by ILT.”

Fitness Instructor Mark Hullegie (Droneconsultancy) likewise underlines the significance of doing it yourself. “I see it as a win-win: more operators can do it themselves and therefore start with a good base at a low cost. It is much safer since the threshold is now lower to fly in the Specific classification and because trainees are ending up being familiar with the treatments and guidelines themselves. And it saves time for both the operator and the ILT.”

Trainees who value this can ask for a substantive examine their handbook after conclusion of the workshop for a little fee when they are done, prior to sending the authorization application.

More details

More details about the Specific Category Operations Workshop can be discovered on the Dutch Drone Academy site. Interested celebrations can likewise go here for info about other courses that are of interest to operators in the Specific category, such as the Standard Scenario 01 training, Specific category navigation course and EASA SORA workshop.