Drone pilots remotely operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones. Drones are small or medium-sized aircraft that have no human pilot, crew or passengers. A pilot operates the drone remotely using a handheld controller. Drones are being used more and more including in surveying, search and rescue, filmmaking and aerial photography.
The Work
You could be:
effectively and safely piloting a drone from the ground using a handheld console
working in a control room using a computer to control a drone
taking aerial photographs
part of a film crew filming overhead shots for a film or TV production
searching for a missing person or animal in remote areas
surveying properties that may be too dangerous to enter
working in traffic management, getting a bird's eye view of traffic problems on busy roads
working on a farm herding sheep or other livestock.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual salaries may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
The starting salary for a licensed drone pilot may be around £21,000 to £23,000 a year. With experience this may rise to around £30,000 a year. Senior drone pilots may earn up to £40,000 a year.
Conditions
You could be working on location on a film or television set, on a construction site, out in the countryside or in a control room.
You may have to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
You may have to spend time working away from home.
You may have to work unsocial hours including weekend and evening work.
There are no specific entry requirements, and each industry will have their own set of requirements. To fly a drone commercially in the UK you must first pass a few tests to meet Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements and get operational authority. You must:
take the Drone Code Test to obtain your Flyer and Operator ID for drone operations
take a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) course, which covers the theory and practical aspects of drone piloting
pass a 60-question multiple choice online theory exam (with a pass of 75% or more)
pass a practical flight test to demonstrate your skills and competency as a drone pilot
create an Operations Manual and submit to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
As well as the GVC, you can also complete the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) – remote competency certificate for the safe operation of small drones near the public. This covers commercial and non-commercial. You will learn the fundamentals of flying a drone including navigating a busy airspace, battery safety and the environmental factors to be considered.
Some companies will offer a combined training course allowing you to earn both licenses at the same time.
2024
