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Additional theoretical knowledge examination in subcategory A2

If you want to fly a drone with a take-off mass between 500 g to 2 kg in a populated area, the operations fall in to open category subcategory A2. It means, that in addition to completing the A1/A3 online theoretical knowledge examination, you also need to complete a self-practical training and then pass an additional theoretical knowledge examination. It is important to remember, that the self-practical training has to be completed before attending the additional theoretical knowledge examination. After passing the additional theoretical knowledge examination, you are allowed to operate a max. 2 kg drone without CE marking in a populated area until 1.1.2024, or a drone with a C2 class marking that comes on the market during the transition period. On this page, you can find information on the open category additional theoretical knowledge examination.

Where can you do the examination and how much does it cost?

Unlike the online theoretical knowledge examination in subcategories A1 and A3, the additional examination in subcategory A2 is conducted more traditionally in a classroom where the organizer is supervising the examination. The fee for attending the remote pilot's additional theoretical knowledge examination is 50 euros. Every attendance is charged separately. From the beginning of the examination, you have 45 minutes to complete it. Before attending the A2 additional examination, you need to have the A1/A3 online theoretical knowledge examination and the self-practical training completed.

Self-practical training

When attending the A2 additional examination, make sure you have first the A1/A3 online theoretical knowledge examination, and after that the self-practical training completed. Self-practical training means a training, that has been:

  • conducted in an area where the remote pilot reasonably expects that no uninvolved person will be endangered within the range where the unmanned aircraft is flown during the entire time of the UAS operation,
  • conducted at a safe horizontal distance of at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.

More specific requirements and objectives of self-practical training is described in EASA  (External link)Easy Access Rules (External link) parts AMC1 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(b) and AMC2 UAS.OPEN.030(2)(b).

Declaration for completion of the self-practical training shall be made in connection with the A2 additional examination. 

Subjects of the additional theoretical knowledge examination

The open category A2 additional examination comprises 30 multiple-choice questions aimed at assessing the remote pilot’s knowledge of mitigations for risks. There are questions only on the following subjects: meteorology, UAS flight performance and technical and operational mitigations for ground risk (self-study material , parts 10 - 12).

Certificate of competency obtained from the examination

After completion of the additional theoretical knowledge examination, you will obtain a certificate of competency which allows you to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in subcategory A2. That means you are allowed to operate a max. 2 kg drone without CE marking during the transition period until 1.1.2024, or a max. 4 kg drone with a C2 class marking, in a populated area at a safe distance from people. The certificate of competency is valid for five years, after which you need to retake the examination. Flying a drone with a mass more than 2 kg without C2 marking, or other than a C2 marked drone in a populated area is always considered as 'specific' category operations and requires an operational authorization from Traficom. Nevertheless, flying a heavier drone in sparsely populated areas is allowed according to the conditions of the 'open' category subcategory A3.

Category A2 flights allowed only after completing the additional theory exam from 1 February 2022

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has decided to allow pilots to fly drones in subcategory A2 until 31 January 2022 without needing to pass a supervised additional theory examination. There will be no extension for this exemption anymore, and so from 1 February 2022 pilots must have passed the A2 additional theory exam in order to conduct flights in subcategory A2. Before taking the A2 exam, the pilot must have completed the A1/A3 theory exam and hold a valid certificate. In addition, they must complete the required practical training. 

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