Heliguy Becomes Recognised Assessment Entity For Drone Training

• Heliguy, the UK's largest drone provider, has been granted Recognised Assessment Entity status from the Civil Aviation Authority;

• The permission means that Heliguy will be able to deliver A2 CofC and GVC drone training courses, as part of new European rules coming to the UK;

• Heliguy will be delivering these courses through our new online drone training portal - Heliguy Blackbox - as well as at our traditional UK Ground School venues. Courses can be booked now;

• Heliguy is a renowned and experienced training provider, having helped pilots from the likes of Balfour Beatty, the BBC and Manchester City FC obtain their PfCO.

UPDATE (June 8, 2020): The European drone regulations which were set to start in the UK in July, and then in November, have been delayed for a second time and will now start on December 31, 2020. Read more about it and how it affects you here.

Drone training specialist Heliguy has been granted approval by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to become an official Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE), permitting us to deliver A2 CofC and GVC courses.

These new qualifications will be introduced as part of European regulations starting in the UK in December and will apply to many pilots across the drone industry.

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Heliguy is an experienced and trusted training NQE, having delivered PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) courses to more than 1,500 candidates, and is delighted to have made the transition to an RAE.

The RAE approval comes as Heliguy unveils Heliguy Blackbox – our new online drone training and industry resource portal. This remote e-learning solution allows candidates to complete their A2 CofC or GVC from the comfort of their own home. You can find out more here.

The A2 CofC and GVC courses are available to book now, by clicking here.

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Heliguy’s Head of Training, Ben Shirley, said: “We are delighted to have been granted RAE status by the CAA, as this will allow us to continue our renowned training provision under the new regulations.

“The PfCO is to become legacy terminology and will be replaced by an Operational Authorisation, and as part of the new rules, many drone operators in the UK will need either an A2 CofC or GVC to realise the true potential of their aircraft. These new training standards will allow pilots to profit from their drone and, in some cases, grant more freedom than current permissions.

Heliguy's Head of Training, Ben Shirley, with colleague Tom Anderson during a drone training session with Network Rail.

“Over the years, we have built a fine reputation for our PfCO delivery and we are relishing the chance of evolving this into the A2 CofC and GVC training courses.

“To expand our training provision, we have launched Heliguy Blackbox to take our esteemed learning online and give candidates the chance to become a qualified drone pilot remotely.

“It is an exciting time for the Heliguy training team and the drone industry as a whole.”

Why Do You Need An A2 CofC or GVC?

In a nutshell, the GVC is a fairly similar course to Heliguy's current PfCO training. Under the new rules, the PfCO will be replaced by an Operational Authorisation. Therefore, the GVC course is aimed at the majority of enterprise drone users who are flying aircraft such as the DJI M200 Series.

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Heliguy no longer runs its PfCO course, so until December 31, 2020, GVC candidates will be taught a hybrid syllabus, comprising the current and future drone regulations for the UK.

Upon successful completion of the GVC course, candidates can apply to the CAA for Standard Permissions to operate commercially.

From December 31, 2020, holders can continue to operate under the terms of their current permissions, but on renewal, these will convert to an Operational Authorisation.

As a side note, while the term PfCO will end when the new regulations start, pilots who have a valid PfCO when the new rules start will still be able to operate under these permissions, which will convert over to an Operational Authorisation.

In contrast, the A2 CofC is geared more towards recreational users and some professional pilots who are operating aircraft such as the DJI Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom, the Phantom series, or the Mavic Mini.

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For more information about the A2 CofC and the GVC, the differences between them, which one applies to you, and what to do if you have a valid PfCO, read our in-depth comparison blog here.

Why Choose Heliguy For Drone Training?

Heliguy is one of DJI’s largest and trusted European channel suppliers and is recognised as a Gold Partner, certifying our expert knowledge and services to interested enterprise customers.

Our expert training team has led tuition for a substantial number of pilots, including operators from major companies and organisations, such as Balfour Beatty, the BBC, Network Rail, Manchester City FC, Sellafield Sites, and Derbyshire Police. The team is also accredited to deliver Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training courses.

Network Rail staff undergo Heliguy drone training. Read more here.

A total of 99.6% of Heliguy candidates would recommend our drone training to a friend or colleague.

With more than a decade of experience, Heliguy prides itself on being a one-stop-shop provider and a leading authority in the drone industry. This means that our experienced team can support every step of your drone journey, from training through to offering a vast inventory of hardware, spares and specialist parts, drone rental and leasing, DJI-authorised drone repair and creating innovative and bespoke solutions through our R&D department.

To find out more about how Heliguy can help you, speak to one of our expert team by giving us a call or sending an email.