A2 CofC and Flying Over People: What the Rules Allow

One of the biggest reasons UK pilots pursue an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) is to fly closer to people. But there is an important distinction between flying near people and flying over them. This guide sets out exactly what the A2 CofC allows.

The separation distances explained

With an A2 CofC and a C2-class drone in the A2 subcategory, you may fly as close as 30 metres horizontally from uninvolved people. If your drone offers a low-speed (slow-speed) mode, that minimum reduces to 5 metres horizontally while the mode is active. These distances are measured to people who are not involved in the operation.

By comparison, without the A2 CofC a heavier C2-class drone would be flown in the A3 subcategory, which requires keeping well clear of uninvolved people and away from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

What "uninvolved people" means

Uninvolved people are those who are not part of your operation and who have not agreed to be present or received a briefing. People who are actively involved, such as an assistant helping with the flight, are treated differently from bystanders. Crucially, you cannot simply declare strangers to be involved to reduce your separation distance.

Flying over people is never permitted in the Open Category

This is the single most important point. No Open Category qualification, including the A2 CofC, permits you to fly directly over an assembly of people or a crowd. Assemblies of people, such as concerts, sporting events, demonstrations or busy gatherings, are off-limits regardless of which certificate you hold. To operate near such situations you would need the Specific Category with appropriate authorisation.

Practical guidance

• Plan flights so you can maintain at least the required separation at all times, not just at take-off.
• Use the low-speed mode correctly if relying on the 5m minimum.
• Have a plan for people who wander into your area, including stopping or moving the drone away.
• Never overfly groups gathering below, even briefly.

Summary

The A2 CofC is about flying near people with care, not over them. Treat the 30m and 5m figures as the closest you may legally get, build in a safety margin, and remember that crowds remain prohibited throughout the Open Category.