In December 2014 i began my BNUC-s UAS Pilots Licence training through EuroUSC. I was a complete newbie to the industry, and had only flown RC Craft, from childhood, to child adulthood!
On Wednesday this week, i came one step closer to being able to realise the last years dream. I passed my BUNC-S Flight Examination. YAY. I live in the North, so i picked Congleton as my location.
When you are booked onto your exam, you will be sent an info pack, and the co-ordinate for the location you are being examined. This will be Lat and Long, so make sure your up-to date. Your expected to find your own way there, and do your Assessments based on that location.
So how was it? Firstly, before i talk about what occurred, it important to discuss to basics of the examination.
The exam is designed to test your Piloting Skills, you Crew Management Ability and Pre-Flight Assessments and Observations of potential Hazards.
Like, with the Ground School, i was unable to find much info at all on what is expected in the Flight Exam, other than the basic info EuroUSC give you. And the reason is clear why, they expect you to treat the exam like it is a business appointment. You client isn’t going to hold your hand, so your on your own!
So, i decided i would put together a collection of things to consider, and give you a basic idea of what to expect. There is no point in telling you everything that occurs or the things that might catch you out. Why? Well firstly, its best to learn from your own mistakes. Secondly, as long as you have done your prep, and you can fly safely, you don’t need to stress yourself too much.
Remember, this isn’t your driving test. Yes, you are expected to listen to instructions, and carry out objectives, but unlike the ‘parallel park or emergency stop’ in your driving test, if you make a mistake you can have another go. The examiner is looking to see that you have the basic fundamental knowledge of how to control an Aircraft safety, he will also offer suggestions to improve, should you need it.
I would like to state now, that i learnt more from listening to the examiner, making suggestions to my approach to flying, in that 3 hours i spent with him, than in the last year flying on my own.
You are expected to complete a series of manoeuvres during the examination. These are detailed by EuroUSC. When you have passed Ground School, submitted your Ops Manual and paid the £420 Flight Exam fee, they will send you “Pilot Instructions for BUNC-s Flight Examination”.
It is common knowledge what is typically expected. So practice this when your next out.
- Perform a figure of 8, moving the Aircraft at each turn.
- Fly the Aircraft in a Rectangle shape, in ATTI Mode, turning at each corner.
- An accelerated accent at 45 degrees or Decent at 45 degrees.
- In addition you will be given a short flight plan, and expected to complete tasks along the way.
What helped me the most was having an Observer with me, my Dad. He was able to inform me of things going on behind me, or out of my eye shot, so i could concentrate on the task in hand. AS you treat the exam like a business contract, you really begin to see how ‘effective’ UAS Aerial Photography companies, have a Crew of at least 2.
Had it not be an examinations, it would have been fun. I had acres and acres of open land to fly over, the sun shining and a 3mph southerly wind. Not quiet shorts weather but almost!
My examiner was a chap called Paul Carr. Those of you reading this will no-doubt be beginners so you might not have heard that name before. If you have, you know your stuff. Paul is one of the most qualified UAS Pilots in the country. He has over 13 platforms in his Ops Manual and have more than 20 years flying under his belt. It also helps that he is a really friendly guy. He is there to exam you, but also assist you. He won’t give you any answers, but might give you a cheeky suggestion. He won’t criticise a mistake you make, he will offer a friendly pointer and let you have another go.
I have a few tips that i think are invaluable.
- Batteries. Take enough batteries with you. You have 3 hours there, and that included Prep and briefing, so you can have at least 60 minutes flight time. Have you got enough power for that? I took 2 TB47 and 1 TB48. I rinsed my TB48, one TB47 and have 3 cells left on my final TB47. If you run out of power before you complete all your objectives, you fail.
- Make sure you have a VFR Chart for the area your being examined.
- Use all the Resources available to you, when completing you ‘Pre Site Assessment’. Dont just use you VFR and Google Maps.
- Wear suitable clothing. I sent my Dad off to the middle of a field to do some observing for me. He got stuck in a bog… hahaha he was not impressed.
- Practice
- Practice
- Practice
There is some confusion at the moment regarding Pilot ‘Class’ or ‘Tiering’. The booklet suggests you are classified level 1 to 3, depending on how you fly in your exam. Level 1 fly in ATTI, Level 2, complete exam in GPS and 3, using waypoint. I practiced all my manoeuvres in ATTI, hoping to pass my exam, Class 1 ATTI. However, i was only asked to complete one manoeuvre in ATTI (not telling which) and the rest in GPS. At the end i asked what Level i passed at, and Paul told me, the CAA don’t classify UAS Pilots at the moment. It is a EuroUSC internal policy, so they know how competent we all are, should the CAA ever bring in a Classification scale, they know where to put us.
Secondly, there is also confusion regarding CAA changers in Policy regarding what platforms you can include in your Ops Manual, without having to pay EuroUSC to be tested on each platform. In December at Ground School, this was brought up, as a money making exercise, but we were informed it was CAA Policy. This appears to have no changed, and i’m not sure how EuroUSC are reacting to it. I have a Phantom that i didn’t get examined on, but i do want to use as past of my business, do i just add it to my Ops Manual now? I don’t know all the facts, so ill get on the case and post accordingly.
I hope this helps. Im hoping to get back out to see Paul again, and he agreed to do a short interview with me. I want to find out more about his background, how he has seen the indusrty change, how and what he flies in his spare time, and his predicitons for the future of our indusrty, so stay tuned for more info on that.
If you need any help, suggestions or points, please feel free to get in touch, im no expert, but im willing to help.
TU!
Unmanned Aerial Systems - A Beginners Guide 