University Drone Management

The University of St Andrews is committed to enabling safe access to Small Unmanned Aircraft (drones) for staff and students where appropriate to support University activities and research. We will ensure that the systems deployed are maintained and prepared in accordance with industry best practice. This includes providing support and advice on training, risk assessment and operations.

Becoming a drone pilot for the University

To become a drone pilot for the University, you should follow the below steps in order. If you have any questions about the process or require further advice, please contact Environmental Health and Safety Services at ehss@st-andrews.ac.uk.

  1. Register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and complete a short theory test based on the Drone and Model Aircraft Code to obtain a Flyer ID for free. If you are hoping to fly drones for the University, you should not need to register as an operator as the University acts as the operator of all University drones. 

  2. Contact the contact Environmental Health and Safety Services at ehss@st-andrews.ac.uk to register your interest in drone operations within the University. 

  3. Complete a General Visual Line Of Sight Certificate (GVC) course. This course allows potential drone pilots to have the minimum competency to operate on behalf of the University. The course will provide the knowledge and training required to be able to operate a drone competently within complex operations. 

    In order to complete this course, you will need access to a University drone. It is recommended that you coordinate with your line manager/supervisor prior to signing up to the course. The accountable manager shall be able to ensure you have access to a drone prior to the practical assessment for the course.

  4. Read the University Drone Operations Manual. This document is the standard which sets out the roles and responsibilities for drone operations at the University and the procedures which must be followed in order to become a drone pilot for the organisation. This document is considered to be a "live document" to ensure the University remains up to date with any changes in best practice or legislation and it is required for the University to obtain its permissions for drone operations from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Further training

The A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC) course is not essential to become a drone pilot on behalf of the University however, this qualification can be a useful addition to further improve your competency. The A2 CofC, is designed for flying drones in the open category which is aimed at drone operations which are lower risk and less complex.

Flying drones on behalf of the University 

Operator ID

All University drone pilots operating on behalf of the University will use the University’s operator ID. This will be provided by the Accountable Manager once you have achieve the standards of competency required to operate on behalf of the University. The pilot must ensure the operator ID is clearly displayed on the aircraft prior to the flight commencing.

Dronedesk

As a drone pilot, you will be expected to carry out risk assessments for the operations that you wish to carry out. The University has purchased a software called Dronedesk which will support you when planning and organising this work. The University will ensure that you have had a training session on the platform prior to commencing any works on behalf of the organisation.

Insurance

All University drone pilots will be covered by the University’s insurance when carrying out drone operations provided that the pilot is operating within their permissions and are in compliance with the University Drone Operations Manual.

Procurement

In many cases, University would recommend that hiring an aircraft may be preferable to purchasing a drone as the individual may be able to gain access to a higher quality of aircraft and be less restricted by budgets. Prior to procuring an aircraft or drone related equipment, the Accountable Manager should be informed of the purchase to ensure the University has an awareness of the aircraft under its control.

Flying drones on or around University grounds

The University operates a permit to work system around drone operations on or around University grounds. The requirement for a permit is applicable to anyone flying a drone from or over University land, and this includes staff, students and 3rd party organisations or contractors. This means, the pilot should complete the risk assessment for the operation and submit this to the Accountable Manager for review. Once the review has been approved, a permit will be issued to you as the authorised person who has responsibility for the flight.

The following information must be provided in order for a permit to be obtained:

  • Proof of competence
  • Proof of insurance
  • Make and model of the aircraft
  • Risk assessment and methods of work

Flying drones including privately owned aircraft for leisure or personal purposes from or over University land is not currently permitted however, the University is working to offer drone pilots a suitable location to carry out drone flights safely in the near future.