CHRISTCHURCH AND DISTRICT MODEL FLYING CLUB
55 YEARS OF MODEL FLYING
BMFA AFFILIATION NUMBER 2581
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TAKING AND PASSING THE A TEST
A brief guide to the essentials by Martin Delaney
This is not a guide on how to fly the test manoeuvres. You should have a sound knowledge of the required manoeuvres and hopefully run through them several times in different wind conditions. A quick search for BMFA A test in you tube will come up with the BMFA guidance for the test and how to fly the required manoeuvres.
Things that you will be asked to do:
- Show your operator ID on your model
- Show you have a valid flyer ID and, hopefully, have passed the online RCC test. (If you haven’t passed the RCC, you will be asked 5 mandatory questions from the list in Annexe 2.).These details can be downloaded from the members section of the BMFA site and printed out or stored digitally.(see Annexe 3)
- Preflight check of your model. This is just a common sense check of the airframe, control surfaces and connections, motor security and prop, to ensure your model is airworthy.
- Assess flying conditions. Do you know the ‘SWEETS’ acronym from the BMFA handbook? At this point I would give serious consideration to how the wind will affect your flight. Have a think about where you will have to adjust the rate of turn to keep the figures nice and tidy. How will you adjust the profile of your deadstick landing for the current wind?
- Power up model safely. Do you know the ‘SMART’ acronym from the BMFA handbook? The BMFA handbook suggests the model should be restrained if possible at power up. As a bare minimum, if this is not possible, give consideration to what will happen and where the model will go if it unexpectedly powers up and that you keep well clear of the prop arc.
- Demonstrate failsafe operation.
- At the pilots box check controls function correctly, check with other pilots it’s safe to go and clearly state you’re taking off. I would personally recommend taxiing out to field centre and taking off in the direction you’re going to fly your first circuit.
- Fly the test. The examiner will be available to prompt you on what comes next. Make calls as appropriate to keep other pilots informed as to what you’re doing and check landing area is clear before making any approach or landing.
- Once you’ve finished the test retrieve model, de-power and check model over again. Again this is a common sense check of the model for any damage.
- You will then be asked a few questions about local site rules and safe flying. You aren’t expected to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the BMFA handbook but be able to demonstrate you have a sound knowledge of safe model aircraft operation. See Annexe 1 for a selection of possible questions.
- If you haven’t taken the RCC test(see BMFA website) you will also be asked 5 additional mandatory questions(Annexe 2). I strongly encourage you to take the RCC test before doing the A test.
- Then you can shake hands with your examiner and you now have an A certificate which will be recorded on your BMFA profile ⟃⎳
Annexe 1:
Sample questions you could be asked on your A test:Most answers can be found in the BMFA handbook, downloadable from the BMFA website.
Can you explain what the acronym SWEETS stands for?
Can you explain what the acronym SMART stands for?
What separation are you required to maintain from any uninvolved person?
For a model less than 7.5kg, could this be reduced for any reason?
For models less than 7.5kg,what horizontal distance are you required to maintain from groups of people?
What is meant by a ‘group’ of people in this context?
For models less than 7.5kg, are you allowed to fly above 400’?
What is the height limit at Oldfield?
What are the no fly areas at Oldfield?
If a receiver is capable of operating in fail safe mode, is it mandatory that the fail safe is set to operate correctly?
If you lost sight of your model, for example if it flew into low cloud unexpectedly, what would you do?
If you become aware of a low level helicopter flying towards Oldfield while you are flying, what would you do?
When taking off, your first turn should be in which direction? (relative to the pits area or flight line)
Is it safe to taxi your model in and out of the pits area?
Annexe 2:
Mandatory test Questions(if no RCC)
Mandatory Questions.
Any candidate that does not hold a current British Model Flying Association Registration Competency Certificate will be asked five (5) mandatory questions from the following list at the end of their test.
NOTE: Although holding the BMFA RCC will exempt a candidate from the mandatory questionelement of the test, this does NOT mean the examiner cannot ask any of these questions as part of their general theory questions. Therefore, it is still important a candidate learns these uestions as part of their test preparation.
Where possible the examiner/s will aim to select questions that are appropriate to the test being taken, however candidates should familiarise themselves with all the questions on the list.Candidates are not expected to be “word perfect” with their answers but they should be able to demonstrate that they are fully aware of the legal controls for flying their aircraft.
Current mandatory questions.
1. Can you fly your model aircraft or drone out of sight behind trees?
∙ No, because you must be able to see your aircraft at all times.
2. You should never fly above what height without appropriate permission or an authorisation?
∙ 400ft.
3. What is the main reason for not flying above 400ft without permission or an authorisation?
∙ Because the airspace above 400ft is used by other aircraft.
4. When do you need permission from an airport to fly a model aircraft or drone?
∙ When you wish to fly in a flight restriction zone.
5. If you are flying your glider, which has a mass of more than 7.5kg but less than 14kg, from the top of a 150 ft high hill, how high can you fly from where you are standing?
∙ 400ft.
6. You arrive at a site and want to get ready to fly your model aircraft or drone. What four things must you check?
∙ That the weather is going to be suitable for your flight.
∙ That you are ‘fit to fly’
∙ That you make sure there are no airspace restrictions where you intend to fly.
∙ That your aircraft is in a safe condition to complete the flight safely.
7. When can you fly your model aircraft or drone using First Person View equipment without a competent observer?
∙ If you are flying at a drone racing event within a ‘sterile area’ and you do not fly above 160 feet (50m).
8. You are flying your model aircraft or drone using FPV equipment accompanied by a competent observer, what four conditions must you comply with?
∙ The take-off mass of your aircraft must be less than 3.5kg
∙ You must not fly above 1000 feet.
∙ You must not fly above 400 feet if you are flying a rotorcraft with more than one propellor.
∙ Your competent observer must maintain direct unaided visual contact with your aircraft.
9. You are flying your model aircraft or drone safely at a safe height but there are other people in the vicinity. You notice an air ambulance flying in your direction. What should you do?
∙ Quickly fly your aircraft out of the way of the air ambulance and either wait or land safely.
10. You want to fly in an empty field near to an airport. The field is outside the airport boundary fence, so is it OK to fly there?
∙ You must check that the field is outside the airport’s flight restriction zone before you fly.
11. Who is directly responsible for the safe operation of an aircraft?
∙ The Remote Pilot.
12. Before any flight can take place in the Flight Restriction Zone of a Protected Aerodrome, permission must be obtained from whom?
∙ The Air Traffic Control unit or owners of the Protected Aerodrome.
13. Whilst flying, as a Remote Pilot, you should always comply with what two conditions?
∙ Comply with the limitations of the Article 16 Authorisation or CAP 722.
∙ Comply with any airspace restrictions.
14. Whilst flying, as a Remote Pilot, you should always avoid what?
∙ Any risk of collision with any manned aircraft.
∙ Flying close to or inside any area where an emergency response is taking place, without permission to do so.
∙ Continuing a flight if it may pose a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, environment, or property.
15. The Article 16 Authorisation stipulates that model aircraft with a Maximum Take Off Mass between 250g and 7.5kg cannot be operated within what separation distances?
∙ Within a horizontal distance of 30m of assemblies of people.
∙ Within 30m of any uninvolved person (this may be reduced to 15m for take-off and landing).
16. The Article 16 Authorisation stipulates that model aircraft with a Maximum Take Off Massbetween 7.5kg and 25kg cannot be operated within what separation distances and above what height?
∙ Within a horizontal distance of 50m of assemblies of people (this may be reduced to 30m for take-off and landing).
∙ Within 30m of any uninvolved person.
∙ At an altitude of more than 400’ without permission from the CAA.
17. Serious Incidents or other Occurrences must be reported to the CAA as a condition of our Authorisation, if they involve any of what four circumstances?
∙ Incidents involving manned aircraft.
∙ Operating above 400 feet.
∙ Operating less than 50m from uninvolved people.
∙ Any instances of flight beyond the visual line of sight of the Remote Pilot.
18. Any model aircraft or drone Operator making use of the Article 16 Authorisation must ensure that they comply with what three requirements?
∙ They must be registered with the CAA.
∙ They must clearly display their Operator ID on (or in) their aircraft.
∙ They must be a current BMFA member.
19. The Article 16 Authorisation permits you to give a ‘trial flight’ to a non-member providing you meet what three conditions?
∙ They are under your direct instruction and supervision.
∙ You meet the competency requirements, and a valid Operator ID is on the aircraft.
∙ You must be a current BMFA member.
20. What does the Article 16 authorisation state with regards to the dropping of articles from a model aircraft or drone?
∙ The Remote Pilot must not cause or permit any article or animal to be dropped from an unmanned aircraft so as to endanger persons or property.
Annexe 3
Downloading your details from the BMFA site.
- Login to the BMFA membership portal (google BMFA and it’ll be the 2nd or 3rd option - “bmfa.justgo.com”
- Select “profile” or “my profile”
- Select “print member document “
- Download and print
Martin Delaney - September 2026