VLOS, Airspace and Reservations
Maintaining visual line of sight and recognising airspace classifications, danger, restricted and prohibited areas and other applicable restrictions.
How to prepare for the CAA GVC
Start with the current certificate and authorisation boundary, work through the five official subjects, then apply the material to mission planning, abnormal procedures and post-flight records with your approved RAE(PC).
Core concepts
Concept 1
VLOS requires the remote pilot to maintain unaided visual contact sufficient to control the aircraft's flight path, avoid collisions and retain orientation and situational awareness.
Exam cue: Test practical visibility against aircraft size, contrast, lighting, range and the need to scan other airspace.
Concept 2
Airspace classification does not by itself answer whether a UAS flight is permitted; geographical zones, FRZs, danger, restricted, prohibited and temporary restrictions must also be checked.
Exam cue: Check both permanent and temporary restrictions for the exact location, height and time.
Concept 3
A visual observer may assist only within the procedures and conditions of the authorisation; the remote pilot remains responsible and GVC privileges do not permit BVLOS.
Exam cue: If visual contact, orientation or surrounding-airspace awareness cannot be maintained, recover or stop.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Equating a live camera image, telemetry or control link with VLOS.
Guardrail: Do not treat a GVC, provider procedure, automation feature or Operational Authorisation maximum as permission to ignore current airspace, aircraft, weather, people or operator-specific conditions.
Assuming uncontrolled airspace has no UAS restrictions or other traffic.
Guardrail: Do not treat a GVC, provider procedure, automation feature or Operational Authorisation maximum as permission to ignore current airspace, aircraft, weather, people or operator-specific conditions.
Using an observer to extend the flight into a relay-style BVLOS operation.
Guardrail: Do not treat a GVC, provider procedure, automation feature or Operational Authorisation maximum as permission to ignore current airspace, aircraft, weather, people or operator-specific conditions.
Memory anchors
VLOS
See the UA well enough to control it, avoid collisions and maintain orientation and awareness.
Not Just Class
Airspace class is only one layer; check zones and temporary restrictions too.
FRZ
A Flight Restriction Zone requires the applicable permission before entry.
Reserved Airspace
Danger, restricted and prohibited areas must be checked for activity and conditions.
Observer
An observer assists within the approved procedure; the remote pilot keeps responsibility.
No Relay
GVC does not authorise observer relays or another form of BVLOS flight.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What must continuous unaided visual contact allow the remote pilot to do?
Which aid is compatible with 'unaided' VLOS?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
What is Pass Harbor?
Completely free exam prep for 247 UK exams.
- Practice questions
- Flashcards
- Study guides
- Mock exams
- No registration
- No paywall
- Start instantly
“No more expensive exam prep. Quality study tools should be accessible to everyone.”