The General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) is a remote pilot competency qualification. This qualification allows Drone/UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) pilots to conduct VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) operations within the Specific Category set by the CAA (Civilian Aviation Authority).
Flying any drone weighing over 250g where there will be uninvolved people or in a built up area you will need to gain a qualification, hence the GVC. Obtaining the GVC has allowed Aerofilms to obtain an Operational Authorisation from the CAA, this allows us to operate a drone/UAS with a maximum take-off mass (weight) of up to 25kg. It also allows us to fly in a built up area, with a limit that we fly no closer than 50m from uninvolved people. This distance is reduced to 30m on take-off and landing.
As GVC holders we will soon be able to add new specialist ‘bolt-on’ modules to our Operational Authorisation. The first of these new modules will allow us to fly up to 2km from the remote pilot (EVLOS), with more modules coming to make it possible to fly in city environments, closer to people and even beyond visual line of sight.