drone training
Training and examination
| If you fly a drone with a take-off weight of 250g and above, you are required to complete a training course and test. The scope and format of the training and exam depends on the subcategory (A1, A2, A3) in which you fly your drone. The UAS.gate is the official training and examination platform of Switzerland. Certificates already completed on the official UAS.gate platform before the EU drone regulation came into force in Switzerland remain valid. Pilots can download an updated version of the certificate with EU logo in their UAS.gate profile. Platform UAS.gate |
Test your knowledge
The SAFEDroneFlying online test includes questions on European legislation. Take the opportunity to prepare for the examinations at the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) with our free test.
Solve the 32 current FOCA exam questions! If you have answered at least 70 percent correctly, you will receive a test evaluation and confirmation. Only one answer is correct at a time. During the test, you can go to another page to check your answer. When you return, you will automatically continue from where you left the test. You can delete your profile at any time. Test examination
General requirements and limitations in the Open and Specific class
Numerous freedoms are restricted with the Open class compared to the previous national legislation...
Previously: Compliance with distances from airfields.
Previously: No flight over crowds.
New: Horizontal distance to uninvolved persons, depending on the drone used.
New: Maximum flight altitude 120m.
New: Minimum age 12 years.
New: Operator registration with the FOCA, affixing of UAS operator number.
New: Training & examination for the A1/A3 certificate of competence online.
New: Training in theory and practice & examination for the remote pilot licence A2.
In the Specific class, drone operations must be approved by the FOCA. The following aspects are taken into account in the assessment:
What is the risk to uninvolved persons and critical infrastructure on the ground?
What is the risk to other airspace users?
How safe and reliable is the drone system used - possibly supplemented by additional safety devices?
How well trained is the crew?
How safe and reliable is the crew - documented by safety and quality management processes?
Authorisation requests are based on standard scenarios (STS), predefined risk assessments (PDRA) or the SORA approach.
You are a recreational pilot and want to keep flying with your DJI Air or DJI Mavic?
Requirements for 2023 (transitional provision)
The general Open requirements must be met, see above.
A distance of 150m to non-involved persons must be maintained.
If the A2 remote pilot exam is taken, the distance can be reduced to 50m.
Requirements from 2024
If the drone is C1 certified: Flight in subcategory A1: No minimum distances.
If the drone is not certified: Flight according to transitional provision with 50m or 150m distance.
