RPC-L1(R) Rotorcraft

GROUND INSTRUCTION

Ground instruction considering take-off and landing area selection, UA preparation, ground hazard analysis, route planning, avoidance of uninvolved people, and airspace.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTION

The RPC-L1(R) flight instruction syllabus considers the principles of safe UA operations including:

  1. Ability to apply operational procedures (normal, contingency, and emergency procedures, flight planning, pre-flight and post-flight inspections).

  2. Ability to manage aeronautical communication.

  3. Manage the unmanned aircraft flight path and automation.

  4. Leadership, teamwork, and self-management.

  5. Problem solving and decision-making.

  6. Situational awareness.

  7. Workload management.

  8. Coordination or handover, as applicable.

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE TOPICS

In the tables of Appendix B, the applicable learning objectives (LOs) for each certificate are marked with an ‘X’.

An RAE(PC) should use the LOs when developing the theoretical knowledge elements of the appropriate course. But the LOs do not provide a ready-made ground training syllabus for individual RAE(PC)s and an RAE(PC) should not rely on the LOs as a substitute for thorough course design.

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT

An RPC-L1(R) trainee must demonstrate a level of knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted in the following subjects:

  1. Air law.

  2. Aircraft general knowledge.

  3. Human performance.

  4. Meteorology.

  5. Operational procedures.

PRACTICAL FLIGHT ASSESSMENT GENERAL

  1. A trainee for a practical flight assessment for the RPC-L1(R) must have received instruction on the same category and type of UAS to be used in the assessment.

  2. A trainee must pass all the relevant sections of the practical flight assessment, in accordance with the following:

    1. If a trainee fails any item in a section, they have failed that section.

    2. If a trainee fails only one section, they must retake only that section.

    3. If a trainee fails more than one section, they must retake the entire practical flight assessment.

    4. If a trainee fails any section of the retaken practical flight assessment, including any section that was passed on a previous attempt, they must retake the entire practical flight assessment.

  3. All relevant sections of the practical flight assessment must be completed within 6 months of the date on which the trainee attempted the first section of the practical flight assessment.

  4. If a trainee fails any individual section of the practical flight assessment, the RAE(PC) may require them to undertake further training. If a trainee fails to achieve a pass in all sections of the practical flight assessment in two attempts, they must undertake further training.

  5. There is no limit to the number of practical flight assessments that a trainee may attempt.

CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSMENT

  1. Should the trainee choose to terminate a practical flight assessment for reasons considered inadequate by the PFA, the trainee must retake the entire practical flight assessment. If the assessment is terminated for reasons considered adequate by the PFA, only those sections not completed must be tested in a further flight. Adequate reasons include, but are not limited to, illness, poor weather conditions, equipment failure, and other risks to persons or property.

  2. At the discretion of the PFA, any manoeuvre or procedure of the assessment may be repeated once by the trainee. The PFA may stop the assessment at any stage if they consider that the trainee’s demonstration of flying skills requires a complete retest.

  3. A trainee must indicate to the PFA the checks and duties carried out. Checks must be completed in accordance with the checklist for the UA on which the assessment is being taken. During pre-flight preparation for the assessment, the trainee must configure the command unit (CU).

  4. The PFA must take no part in the operation of the UA except where intervention is necessary in the interest of safety.

CONTENT OF THE PRACTICAL FLIGHT ASSESSMENT FOR THE ISSUE OF AN RPC-L1(R)

  1. The UAS used for the practical flight assessment must meet the requirements for training UAS as set out in the relevant CAA publication.

  2. The practical flight assessment must comprise of a general handling assessment in a range of flight modes including non-positioning mode lasting a minimum of 30 minutes.

  3. Every section of the practical flight assessment must assess the use of checklists, situational awareness, control of the UA either manually or by use of the CU, and principles of risk management.

RPC-L1(R) PRACTICAL FLIGHT ASSESSMENT

RPC-L1(R) PRACTICAL FLIGHT ASSESSMENT
Section 1 - Pre-Flight
1.1

Conducts a pre-flight including flight planning, documentation, mass and balance consideration, flight briefing, NOTAMS
1.2

Rotorcraft inspection and technical logbook
1.3

Take-off

1.4

Performance considerations

Section 2 - General Handling
2.1

Control of the aeroplane by use of the transmitter/CU in both positioning and non-positioning flight modes including:

1) level flight, control of heading, altitude, and airspeed

2) climbing and descending turns

3) recoveries from unusual attitudes
2.5 Hover manoeuvres
2.6 Autorotation (if equipped)
Section 3 - Approach and Landing
3.1

Approach procedures

3.2

Go-around TOLA blocked
3.3

Normal Landing

3.4

Post flight actions
Section 4 - Abnormal and Emergency Procedures
4.1

Simulated engine/motor failure

4.2

Equipment malfunctions
4.3

Forced landing

4.4

Oral questions

 

RPC-L1(R) PRIVILEGES AND CONDITIONS

  1. Privileges. The privileges of the holder of an RPC-L1(R) are to act as remote pilot in command or flight crew of a UA where all the following apply:

    1. The flight is being undertaken in the Specific Category.

    2. The primary means of lift of the UA is rotating wing(s).

    3. The flight is being conducted VLOS

    4. The operational authorisation under which the flight is being conducted states the RPC-L1(R) is the minimum remote pilot competence.

  2. Conditions.

    1. The remote pilot maintains a minimum certificate currency of 2 hours of live flight within the last 90 days.

    2. The remote pilot holds a valid flyer ID.

    3. BVLOS flight is prohibited.

RPC-L1(R) EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS AND CREDITING

  1. An RPC-L1(R) trainee must have completed a minimum of 2 hours of instruction at a CAA approved RAE(PC).

  2. An RPC-L1(R) trainee that holds a valid GVC must be exempt from the theoretical assessment.

RPC-L1(R) VALIDITY, REVALIDATION, AND RENEWAL

  1. Validity. An RPC-L1(R) is valid for 5 years from the date notified on the certificate.

  2. Revalidation. An RPC-L1(R) may be revalidated within the 3 months immediately preceding its expiry date if the remote pilot undertakes a revalidation proficiency check at an RAE(PC).

  3. The RAE(PC) must determine on a case-by-case basis what steps the revalidation proficiency check requires, having regard to the remote pilot’s certificate currency, experience, flight logs, last use of RPC privileges and any other relevant factors RAE(PC).

  4. An RAE(PC) should exempt a remote pilot from a live revalidation check where:

    1. the remote pilot has maintained at least minimum certificate currency for the complete duration of the certificate validity period; and

    2. the remote pilot demonstrates that certificate currency has been maintained through a personal flight log.

  5. An RAE(PC) may exempt a remote pilot from a live revalidation check where certificate currency has not been maintained in accordance with (d) if the RAE(PC) is satisfied that an exemption is appropriate, having regard in particular to:

    1. the remote pilot’s experience; and

    2. the amount of time elapsed since the date on which the remote pilot last used privileges of the RPC-L1(R).

  6. The remote pilot must undertake a revalidation proficiency check consisting of at least 1 hour of supervised flying covering general handling and emergency procedures where the RAE(PC) considers this to be necessary.

  7. If a remote pilot chooses to fulfil the revalidation requirements earlier than prescribed in point (b), the new 5-year validity period will be set by reference to the date of the successful revalidation proficiency check. 

  8. A remote pilot who fails to revalidate their RPC-L1(R) before it expires must not exercise any RPC-L1(R) privileges unless they renew their RPC-L1(R) in accordance with the provisions below.

  9. Renewal. If an RPC-L1(R) has expired, a remote pilot may renew their privileges, by complying with all the following requirements:

    1. The remote pilot must complete a refresher training at an RAE(PC), if the RAE(PC) considers that refresher training is necessary for the remote pilot to reach the level of proficiency needed to pass an RPC-L1(R) proficiency check.

    2. The remote pilot must pass an RPC-L1(R) proficiency check at an RAE(PC), including any theoretical knowledge or practical skills checks the RAE(PC) considers necessary.

  10. The RAE(PC) must determine on a case-by-case basis what amount of refresher training and what theoretical and practical skills checks are necessary to assess a remote pilot’s RPC-L1(R) proficiency, having regard in particular to:

    1. the experience of the remote pilot; and

    2. the amount of time elapsed since the remote pilot last used the privileges of the RPC-L1(R); and

    3. the complexity of the remote pilot’s experience.

RPC-L1(R) PROOF OF COMPETENCE

Upon satisfactory completion of the training, the RAE(PC) will advise the CAA as to the competencies demonstrated by remote pilots which must include as a minimum, the trainee’s name, CAA flyer ID, the RAE(PC) approval number, the competence level and category satisfactorily demonstrated.

The RAE(PC) must issue a proof of competence to the RP in a form and manner determined by the CAA.