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EASA A1/A3 practice test

The A1/A3 test is the one almost every European pilot takes first. These ten questions come from the same bank the app uses, and each answer names the article it rests on.

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Ten questions

Pick an answer and the page tells you straight away whether it was right, then shows the reasoning and the rule. There is no sign-up and no score to keep, so you can start over as often as you like.

1. 1In the open category, what is the remote pilot's general obligation with respect to manned aircraft?

   1. AThe remote pilot must give way to manned aircraft and avoid any risk of collision
   2. BManned aircraft must give way to a UAS that is already established in the area
   3. CThe give way duty begins above 120 m, since no manned traffic is expected below that height
   4. DRight of way belongs to the higher aircraft, so a UAS below may hold its course
   Show the answer

   A. The remote pilot must give way to manned aircraft and avoid any risk of collision

   The remote pilot is required to give way to manned aircraft and to take whatever action is needed to avoid a collision. This reflects the general principle that a small UAS is far more manoeuvrable and easier for its pilot to reposition than most manned aircraft.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS.OPEN.060

2. 2In simple terms, what is the key difference between controlled and uncontrolled airspace?

   1. AControlled airspace is airspace in which no aircraft of any kind at all is permitted to fly at any time of the day or night
   2. BUncontrolled airspace exists only above 10000 m, where airliners cruise without any air traffic control service at all
   3. CControlled airspace has defined boundaries where air traffic control provides a service to manned aircraft, while uncontrolled airspace generally does not
   4. DThere is no meaningful difference between the two classifications, since both of them are managed by air traffic control units
   Show the answer

   C. Controlled airspace has defined boundaries where air traffic control provides a service to manned aircraft, while uncontrolled airspace generally does not

   Controlled airspace has defined lateral and vertical boundaries within which air traffic control provides a service to aircraft operating there, while uncontrolled airspace generally does not have this service. Understanding this distinction helps a remote pilot appreciate why some areas carry additional restrictions or authorisation requirements for UAS.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 15

3. 3EU drone regulation establishes three categories of UAS operation. What are they?

   1. ABeginner, intermediate and advanced
   2. BCommercial, recreational and educational
   3. CDomestic, international and military
   4. DOpen, specific and certified
   Show the answer

   D. Open, specific and certified

   UAS operations across the European Union are performed in one of three categories: open, specific or certified, corresponding broadly to increasing levels of risk and regulatory oversight. The open category, covered by this exam, is the lowest risk tier with the fewest individual authorisation requirements.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 3

4. 4How can fatigue affect a remote pilot's ability to safely operate a UAS?

   1. AFatigue sharpens reaction time by putting the body into a more alert and focused state
   2. BIt can slow reaction time, reduce concentration and impair judgement, increasing the risk of an error
   3. CFatigue has no measurable effect on performance while the task remains a familiar one
   4. DFatigue affects a manned aircraft pilot in the cockpit but not a remote pilot, who stays on the ground throughout
   Show the answer

   B. It can slow reaction time, reduce concentration and impair judgement, increasing the risk of an error

   Fatigue is well documented to slow reaction time, reduce concentration and impair judgement, all of which increase the likelihood of an error during a flight. A tired remote pilot faces the same kind of performance degradation as any other pilot, and should treat significant fatigue as a reason to reconsider flying.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS.OPEN.060

5. 5What is the general purpose of the C0 to C4 class identification marking system for UAS?

   1. ATo indicate the country in which the aircraft was designed and manufactured, and where it was first sold
   2. BTo indicate that an aircraft meets a defined technical standard, which in turn determines which open subcategories it is eligible to fly in
   3. CTo set the retail price category into which the aircraft falls across the whole European single market
   4. DTo record how many previous owners the aircraft has had, so that a prospective buyer is able to check its full ownership history before purchase
   Show the answer

   B. To indicate that an aircraft meets a defined technical standard, which in turn determines which open subcategories it is eligible to fly in

   The class mark indicates that a UAS meets a specific technical standard defined in the product regulation, and this class in turn determines which open category subcategories the aircraft is eligible to be flown in. It says nothing about manufacturing country, price or ownership history.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/945 Part 1

6. 6A UAS operator fits a camera to their aircraft and records footage that includes identifiable people. What legal framework generally applies to this data, in addition to UAS specific regulation?

   1. AEU data protection legislation, since footage of identifiable individuals is personal data
   2. BNo framework applies beyond UAS aviation regulation, since the recording was made from the air
   3. COnly national copyright law applies, since the operator owns the footage they record
   4. DData protection law applies only once the footage is published or sold commercially
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   A. EU data protection legislation, since footage of identifiable individuals is personal data

   Footage that shows identifiable individuals counts as personal data, which brings it within the scope of EU data protection legislation in addition to whatever UAS specific aviation rules apply. Fitting a camera to a UAS therefore introduces a distinct set of legal obligations on top of the operational ones.

   Regulation (EU) 2016/679

7. 7What is the general purpose of Regulation (EC) 785/2004 in relation to aircraft, including UAS, operating within its scope?

   1. ATo set minimum insurance requirements so that victims of an accident have access to adequate compensation
   2. BTo set the maximum operating speed for all aircraft flown within the European Union
   3. CTo regulate the approval process for schools that train and examine remote pilots
   4. DTo define the technical class marks that a UAS must carry before it may be placed on the European Union market
   Show the answer

   A. To set minimum insurance requirements so that victims of an accident have access to adequate compensation

   Regulation (EC) 785/2004 sets minimum insurance requirements for aircraft operators so that anyone harmed in an accident has access to adequate compensation. It is an insurance regulation, not one that governs speed limits, pilot training certification or technical class marking.

   Regulation (EC) 785/2004

8. 8Why should a remote pilot take reasonable steps to prevent their UAS and controller from being stolen or accessed by unauthorised people?

   1. APhysical security is a matter for the manufacturer, since the operator's duty ends at registration
   2. BA stolen UAS stays traceable to the thief through its serial number, so the registered operator carries no further responsibility
   3. CAn unsecured aircraft or controller could be used irresponsibly or unlawfully by someone other than the registered operator
   4. DOnly the aircraft needs securing, because a controller is useless to anyone without the matching aircraft
   Show the answer

   C. An unsecured aircraft or controller could be used irresponsibly or unlawfully by someone other than the registered operator

   An aircraft or controller that is stolen or accessed without authorisation could be used irresponsibly or unlawfully by someone who is not the registered operator, potentially creating safety or security problems that would then be traced back to the original owner. Reasonable physical security measures, such as not leaving equipment unattended, reduce this risk.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS.OPEN.020

9. 9Why should airspace scanning for other traffic continue throughout an open category flight, rather than being treated as a single check performed before launch?

   1. AA check made before launch stays valid for the whole flight, because traffic patterns in an area settle within the first few minutes
   2. BContinuous scanning is required only during the climb, and may stop once the UAS is established in level flight
   3. CManned aircraft broadcast their position to nearby UAS, so the remote pilot is alerted without needing to scan
   4. DOther aircraft can enter the area at any point during the flight, so ongoing awareness is needed to maintain safe separation
   Show the answer

   D. Other aircraft can enter the area at any point during the flight, so ongoing awareness is needed to maintain safe separation

   Traffic conditions can change at any moment during a flight, with other aircraft entering the area well after takeoff, so a one time check before launch does not remain valid for the whole flight. Continuous scanning is part of the remote pilot's ongoing duty to maintain safe separation.

   Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS.OPEN.060

10. 10Why is following a consistent pre-flight checklist considered good operational practice, rather than relying on memory alone each time?

    1. AA checklist is useful only for a pilot flying a particular aircraft for the very first time
    2. BWorking from memory is the more reliable method, because a written list distracts the pilot from looking at the aircraft itself
    3. CA checklist reduces the chance of forgetting an important step, even when the pilot is experienced or distracted
    4. DA written checklist is a legal requirement for any open category flight planned above 120 m
    Show the answer

    C. A checklist reduces the chance of forgetting an important step, even when the pilot is experienced or distracted

    A consistent checklist provides a reliable structure that reduces the chance of forgetting an important step, regardless of how experienced the pilot is or how distracted they might be on a given day. Memory alone is more prone to lapses, particularly under time pressure or after many repetitions of a familiar task.

    Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS.OPEN.060

Where the EASA A1/A3 questions come from

The bank behind this page holds 120 questions on this track, written against the published syllabus and spread over the subject areas below. Every one of them names the paragraph it tests. The whole track was last checked against its source on 2026-08-06.

The test is run by the aviation authority of the country you registered in, usually online and free to retake. Your operator registration number stays with you across the Union.

Questions people ask

Is this EASA A1/A3 test free?

Yes, and there is nothing to sign up for. The ten questions, the explanations and the citations are all on this page.

Are these the real exam questions?

No. Nobody may publish the live question bank, and any site that claims to have it is either wrong or breaking the rules. Every question here is written against the published syllabus, and each one names the rule it tests so you can verify it.

How many questions does the real exam have?

40 questions, and you need 75% to pass.

What happens if I want more than ten questions?

The app carries 120 questions on this track, all of them free, with the same explanations and citations. One payment adds the full mock exams at the real length and clock.

The rest of the bank is in the app, and it is free

Every one of the 120 questions on this track is free in the app, with the same worked explanation and the same citation. One payment of 24.99 adds the full mock exams, at the real length and the real clock, on all seven tracks at once. It does not renew.

The other six tracks

• FAA Part 107 practice test
• EASA A2 CofC practice test
• UK A2 CofC practice test
• Transport Canada Basic operations practice test
• Transport Canada Advanced operations practice test
• CASA drone exam practice test

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