EASA A1/A3 — the open-category exam for drone pilots
Flying a drone in a country where the EASA rules apply — the EU, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland? For most flights you need the open-category certificate, and the first step is the A1/A3 online training and theory exam. Here is what the rules say and how to get ready.
What the open category is
Regulation (EU) 2019/947 splits drone operations into the open, specific and certified categories. The open category covers the lowest-risk flights and needs no prior authorisation from the aviation authority, provided that:
- the drone's maximum take-off mass is below 25 kg;
- you keep it within visual line of sight (VLOS);
- it stays within 120 m of the closest point of the ground;
- it carries no dangerous goods and drops no material.
The companion Regulation (EU) 2019/945 introduced the drone class marks C0–C4 (mass and technical requirements), which decide the subcategory a drone may fly in.
A1 and A3 — where you may fly
- A1 — “over people”: the lightest drones (C0 below 250 g, C1 below 900 g). With a C1 you avoid flying over uninvolved people, and flying over assemblies of people is never allowed.
- A3 — “far from people”: drones up to 25 kg (including C2, C3 and C4). You fly where no uninvolved people are expected and at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.
- To fly a heavier drone (class C2) closer to people there is the A2 subcategory with an extra exam — see the EASA A2 guide.
Who needs it
You need the A1/A3 certificate to fly a class C1 drone, a C2, C3 or C4 drone in A3, or a drone of 250 g or more without a class mark. Below 250 g there is no exam, but a drone with a camera (other than a toy) still means registering as a UAS operator. The minimum age for remote pilots is 16, and some countries set it lower.
What the exam looks like
The certificate is obtained through online training and an online theory exam with the national aviation authority of the EASA country where you register as a UAS operator — usually the one you live in. The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and you pass with 75 %. It covers:
- air safety and airspace restrictions;
- aviation regulation;
- human performance limitations;
- operational procedures;
- general knowledge of the UAS;
- privacy and data protection, insurance and security.
The certificate is valid for five years and recognised in every EASA country.
Sample questions
Every practice question comes with an explanation of the correct answer, like these two.
What is the maximum take-off mass (MTOM) allowed for a drone in the open category?
- Less than 10 kg
- Less than 25 kg ✓
- Less than 20 kg
- Less than 50 kg
What is the maximum height above the surface for an unmanned aircraft in the open category?
- 50 m
- 120 m ✓
- 150 m
- 300 m
Preparing on Aviotex Drones
- 170 practice questions with explanations, in English and Serbian;
- a timed simulation: 40 questions, 60 minutes, pass at 75 %;
- results by subject, a review of every attempt and a free weak-spot trainer.
Get ready for A1/A3 without the stress
Packs of 1, 5 or 10 practice tests (€4.20, €17, €25.50), no subscription, and tests never expire. The same account works on the web and in the iOS and Android app.
Start practising →Preparing for a national exam? Serbia is not an EASA member state, so flying there takes the Serbian CAD exam — we cover it too, with the complete official question list (guide in Serbian).