GM1 UAS.OPEN.060(4) Responsibilities of the Remote Pilot

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 16

ROLE OF THE UA OBSERVER AND FIRST-PERSON VIEW

RPs may be assisted by UA Observers in helping them to keep the UA away from other aircraft and obstacles. The UA Observer must be situated alongside the RP and observers may not use any form of aided vision (e.g. binoculars) other than corrective spectacles or contact lenses.

UA Observers may also be used when the RP conducts UAS operations in first-person view (FPV), which is the method of controlling the UA primarily by referencing the UA's video downlink, either via watching the UA controller's screen or via goggles. The UA Observer must be situated alongside the RP and may not use aided vision other than corrective spectacles or contact lenses. 

In all cases, the RP is still fully responsible for   the safety of the flight.

The UA Observer’s purpose is not to extend the range of the UA beyond the VLOS distance from the RP. However, in emergency situations, such as the need to perform an emergency landing away from the RP’s position, binoculars may be used to assist the RP in safely performing the landing.

The UA Observer needs to be briefed by the RP or UAS Operator, in regard to keeping the UA within VLOS, and the definition of VLOS set out in GM1 Article 2(7). Whilst no minimum age, or competence level, is set out in law for a UA Observer, in order to meet the regulatory requirements that do exist, it is recommended that the UA Observer completes the Flyer ID test and learning, as set out in section AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(4)(b) and UAS.OPEN.030(2)(a) and UAS.OPEN.040(3) UAS Operations in Subcategories A1, A2 and A3 and UAS.OPEN.030 UAS operations in subcategory A2 (2)(a) and UAS.OPEN.040 UAS operations in subcategory A3 (3).