I just got my A1/A3 certificate and I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth getting all the other certifications out there. I have a DJI Air 3s, so A1/A3 was a must. But do I really need A2 and STS if I’m only flying for fun and personal photography? I want to make sure I’m following all the rules globally so I can fly anywhere it’s allowed. Are these extra certificates worth it or are they more than I need?
In many places, like in Europe, the rules don’t really separate recreational and commercial flights. You can use your A1/A3 for both. A2 is only useful if you plan to fly heavier drones closer to people. STS, on the other hand, is more specific. STS-01 lets you fly VLOS in urban areas, and STS-02 allows BVLOS flights up to 2 km as long as there’s an observer in unpopulated areas.
Getting an STS license can sometimes make it easier to get permissions for restricted areas. For example, in Italy, the drone map shows some areas where it’s forbidden for the OPEN category but allowed for the SPECIFIC category with authorization.
@Blane
Italy is one of my main destinations for flying since I have a few trips planned there. I noticed some places only allow flights in the Specific category with authorization. It seems complicated to get the necessary permissions, especially with the extra costs for reserved airspace.
@Zane
Yeah, authorization in Italy can be really challenging and time-consuming. It’s a hassle, even with all the certificates.