The GVC Operations Manual: How to Write One in the UK

Of the four components of the General VLOS Certificate (GVC), the Operations Manual is the one candidates most often underestimate. Unlike the exam or flight assessment, it is not something you pass in an afternoon — it is a document you author, describing exactly how you will fly safely. Your Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) must accept it, and it later becomes part of your CAA Operational Authorisation application. This guide explains what goes into one and how to write it well.

What the Operations Manual is for

The Operations Manual is your safety blueprint. It sets out the procedures you will follow, the limits you will work within, and how you will manage risk during every stage of an operation. It demonstrates to the RAE — and later the CAA — that you have thought through how to operate safely rather than relying on improvisation.

What it typically contains

While templates vary, a GVC Operations Manual generally covers the following areas:

• Introduction and scope — who you are, the operations you intend to conduct and the limits you will observe.
• Organisation and responsibilities — the roles within your operation, including the remote pilot and any crew.
• Operating procedures — pre-flight planning, site assessment, checklists, in-flight procedures and post-flight actions.
• Equipment — the aircraft and systems you will use, with their relevant characteristics and limitations.
• Maintenance — how you keep your equipment airworthy and record its condition.
• Emergency procedures — your responses to events such as loss of control link, low battery, fly-aways or injury.
• Risk assessment — how you identify, evaluate and mitigate the hazards of your operations.

Use your RAE's template

Most RAEs provide a template aligned to CAA expectations. Starting from this template is sensible — it ensures you cover everything required and present it in a recognised structure. Your RAE will review your draft and give feedback until it meets the standard.

Make it specific to you

A common mistake is submitting a template barely adapted from its generic state. The Operations Manual should reflect your actual operations: your aircraft, your typical sites, your crew arrangements and your real procedures. Generic, copied content is easy to spot and will usually be sent back for revision.

Keep it clear and usable

This is a working document, not just a hoop to jump through. Write it so that you — or a crew member — could pick it up and follow it. Use plain language, clear checklists and logical structure. A manual you can actually use in the field is worth far more than one written purely to satisfy an assessor.

Keep it current

Your operations will evolve over time. As you add new aircraft, take on different types of work or refine your procedures, update the Operations Manual to match. The CAA expects your manual to remain an accurate description of how you operate, and you may need to reflect changes when you renew your authorisation.

Why it matters beyond the GVC

The Operations Manual is not just a GVC requirement. When you apply to the CAA for an Operational Authorisation, your accepted manual underpins that application. Investing care in it during the GVC process pays dividends, because a strong manual supports a smoother authorisation and safer real-world operations.