Certificates are valid for five years – Droniq offers an A2 refresher course
In 2019, EU Implementing Regulation 2019/947 came into force, establishing the framework for UAS operation in Europe. Among other things, the regulation stipulates the qualifications pilots must possess depending on the UAS operating scenario. The first certificates of competence and remote pilot certificates were issued starting at the end of 2020. They are valid for five years. Therefore, the first „drone licenses“ are expiring these days. Renewing them on time saves time and money.
Anyone planning a long-distance trip should check their passport well in advance. Entry into many countries is impossible without a valid identification document. Any necessary renewal should therefore be applied for well in advance. Many other official documents also have limited validity periods. For UAS pilots, it is therefore worthwhile to review their certificates for operating unmanned aerial systems, which were often acquired several years ago.
According to section UAS.OPEN.070 (Validity period of online theory knowledge and certificates for remote pilots) of the European „Drone Regulation“, these certificates are valid for only 5 years each. Renewal is only possible until the end of these five years. Anyone who misses the deadline essentially has to start from scratch. While this might be manageable with regard to the EU Certificate of Competence A1/A3, it can quickly lead to considerable effort, avoidable additional costs, and potentially even lost earnings with the EU remote pilot certificate A2 or STS if commissioned flights cannot be carried out on the scheduled date due to the lack of authorization.
The EU Proof of Competence A1/A3 can be extended via your individual user account at the competent authority, such as the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) , and requires confirmation of the necessary basic knowledge. The cost at LBA is 15,– euros. By comparison, applying for a new certificate of competence costs 25,– euros according to the LBA fee schedule. Those who hold a higher-level EU remote pilot certificate (A2 or STS) do not need to extend their „small drone license“ (A1/A3) individually. It remains valid – regardless of the date of issue – until the expiry date of the remote pilot certificate.
If your EU remote pilot certificate A2 expires, there are two options for renewing it. Firstly, you could obtain an STS remote pilot certificate. The same principle applies here as between A1/A3 and A2: all qualifications remain valid until the higher-level certificate expires. Secondly, you can complete special refresher courses within the validity period of your A2 license.
According to its own statements, Droniq is the first company in Germany to offer the online training course called „A2 Refresher“. The training, which participants can complete at their own pace, comprises several chapters covering the content required for the A1/A3 and A2 drone pilot licenses. There is no traditional exam; however, each chapter concludes with three review questions covering the topics. The course costs 69,– euros, but the Droniq Academy is offering it at an introductory price of 39,– euros until the end of January 2026. Therefore, checking the expiration date of your remote pilot license on time can not only prevent unpleasant surprises but also save you money compared to obtaining a new A2 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Image: Droniq
