Two of the most common drone-pilot qualifications in the UK are the A2 CofC (A2 Certificate of Competency) and the GVC (General VLOS Certificate). They’re sometimes confused, sometimes assumed to be equivalent. They are not.
The difference matters a lot for commercial survey work in towns. Here’s the short version.
A2 CofC — Open Category, with proximity
The A2 CofC is an Open Category qualification. It lets a pilot fly a C2-class drone (under 4 kg) in Open A2 — which means a 30 m horizontal stand-off from uninvolved people, or 5 m if the drone has a low-speed mode engaged.
It’s a relatively quick qualification: an online course, a multiple-choice exam, and a declaration of practical self-training. Most operators can hold one within a couple of weeks of starting.
The key word is Open Category. There’s no Operational Authorisation, no Operations Manual required, no per-site risk assessment paperwork. You operate within the Open Category rules and that’s it.
GVC — gateway to Specific Category
The GVC is the qualification that lets a pilot operate a drone under a Specific Category Operational Authorisation. It involves a more substantial training course (typically 2–3 days) covering airmanship, airspace, meteorology, navigation, human factors, and operations management. There’s a theory exam and a practical flight assessment.
On its own, a GVC doesn’t unlock anything. What unlocks Specific Category work is the combination of:
- A GVC-qualified pilot, and
- An Operational Authorisation from the CAA, granted to the operator (organisation), specifying what kinds of operations are permitted, and
- A written Operations Manual describing how the operator runs their flying.
Congested-area work — which one actually applies?
This is where the choice matters. Most UK survey work happens in “congested areas” — towns, residential streets, building sites with people on them. There are two routes that legally let you fly there.
Route 1 — A2 CofC with a C2 airframe. Pilot holds A2 CofC, drone is C2-marked (e.g. the standard Mavic 3 weighing under 4 kg). Operating in Open A2 means a 30 m stand-off from uninvolved people, or 5 m with low-speed mode. Tight, but workable in many semi-detached residential settings.
Route 2 — GVC with an Operational Authorisation. Pilot holds GVC; the operator’s OA permits operations in congested areas. The OA will specify the stand-off distances (commonly 50 m / 30 m / 20 m / 10 m progressive depending on the SAIL rating and mitigations). This is the standard route for commercial roof surveys, construction progress, claim evidence and thermal work.
Which one for what kind of job
| Job type | What's typically used |
|---|---|
| Residential roof survey, semi-detached, low neighbour density | A2 CofC + C2 airframe is often enough |
| Roof survey in a terraced street | GVC + OA — you can't keep 30 m stand-off in a terrace |
| Commercial roof / industrial unit | GVC + OA |
| Building site, multiple uninvolved people present | GVC + OA |
| Open agricultural land, no public access | A2 CofC works; A3 even with no licence works |
| Thermal anomaly scans on residential roofs | GVC + OA — thermal payload often pushes weight up |
The bottom line
A2 CofC is the “weekend prosumer” route — valid, useful, and enough for some lighter survey work. GVC + Operational Authorisation is the professional route — required for almost any meaningful commercial drone work in a UK town.
If you’re hiring an operator for anything more involved than a quick photo of an open field, you want GVC + OA, full stop. Ask to see the OA reference and confirm the scope covers what you’re commissioning.