Nigel Heather Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 I've just had an email from the BMFA saying that my competency certificate has expired and that I will need to do the test again. That's fine but what is confusing me is that I have definitely done the test twice, once when it was first introduced and once around Dec 2023/Jan 2024. I believe that both times I did it directly with the CAA but I've hunted through my emails and I cannot find evidence that I ever took it - I know full well I have done it twice so it is that I can't find the evidence. How long does it last for - being told 5 years, has it always been 5 years? Any idea idea where I would see evidence - would I get an email, would I be able to see it in the CAA portal, or see it in the BMFA portal. I'm okay doing it again but I have a strong feeling that I've already done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heather Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 Just thinking - is it tied to the Flyer ID - passing the exam gives you a Flyer ID - the dates on my Flyer ID correspond to when I when I think I did the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryW Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 (edited) It is 5 years .... got me thinking reading your question which got me checking mine which i did in december 2022 and it runs out in 2027 and mine is tied to my operator id although i hold both operator and flier id's which not only covers me for flying my own models but also covers me for flying other peoples when teaching other members to fly or test flying their models for them Edited August 28 by GaryW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 If done directly with the CAA you should be able to see your details on their Website: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/my-registration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heather Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 Worked it out - it is the Flyer ID - you don't get confirmation of passing the test as such - you get a Flyer ID. So it is the Flyer ID that is evidence of passing the test and mine is valid until 10th Dec 2027. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryW Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Nigel Heather said: Worked it out - it is the Flyer ID - you don't get confirmation of passing the test as such - you get a Flyer ID. So it is the Flyer ID that is evidence of passing the test and mine is valid until 10th Dec 2027. I got confirmation email for both operator & flyer Id's when i did mine along with confirmation of my competency certificate Edited August 28 by GaryW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heather Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 1 hour ago, GaryW said: I got confirmation email for both operator & flyer Id's when i did mine along with confirmation of my competency certificate I got confirmation of the Operator and Flyer ID but never an explicit confirmation of the competency certificate - I did mine directly with the CAA - I don't think they have the concept of a Competency Certificate. As far as I can tell from the way the CAA do things is telling you that you have a Flyer ID is confirmation that you passed the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 As I understand it, if you want to take an Achievement Scheme Test you need to pass the BMFA's Competency Test otherwise you will need to answer the 5 mandatory questions. The reason is that the CAA's competency test does not cover Article 16. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 (edited) The BMFA Quick Start Guide hasnt been updated since July 2023 but I havent had an email saying the exemption has expired, my current CAA record doesnt show a flyer ID although I know I did pass the test (before I realised it wasnt strictly necessary) Edited August 29 by Phil Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 There is a difference between being legal to fly a model aircraft and taking a BMFA Achievement Scheme Test. Andy Symons has stated that if you don't show a pass of the BMFA's RCC then you will be asked the 5 mandatory questions on an Achievement Scheme Test. That is because the CAA competency test does not require knowledge of the Article 16 exemption which is specifically for the BMFA, LMA and the other 2 bodies. For example, Article 16 allows members of the 4 organisations covered to fly a model aircraft above 400 ft provided the take off weight does not exceed 7.5 kg and does not have more than 1 rotor provided you are not infringing any airspace restriction. The CAA test does not cover Article 16 but the BMFA's RCC does and is designed for model aircraft pilots as opposed to other UAS operators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 (edited) Panicking now as I didnt seem to have a Flyer ID, but I did some digging and eventually found my RCC, 5 years from January 2021. Phew! also completely forgot that I'd already uploaded it to the BMFA achievements... brain getting old 🙂 My 'A' doesnt show a date on the portal but it was many years before 2021 so I think I can relax! Edited August 30 by Phil Green 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottenRow Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 No need to panic Phil. If you took the BMFA RCC test (as you did), and registered with the CAA via the BMFA, you will have received an Operator ID but not a flyer ID. It was stated a couple of years ago now that a Flyer ID would be required as well but that this would be automatically generated by the BMFA or CAA and would be shown on members’ profiles in the membership portal. As far as I can tell this has never happened. As far as the ‘vintage’ of your BMFA A certificate is concerned, it doesn’t really matter as your RCC supersedes this as far as CAA competency is concerned. The woolly area comes when one’s RCC expires. Some people have taken what the Quick Start Guide says quite literally and stated that their (pre December 2020) A or B certificate covers them and there is no need to retake the RCC. I brought this up with Andy Symons a couple of years ago now and his answer was that they should just take the RCC again. Convincing some to do this is rather difficult when the BMFA’s own publication states otherwise. Anyone relying on their A or B as proof of competency also needs to tick the box on the opt-ins page of their portal profile. Brian. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 The rcc test is free and can be "sat" many many times, until you achieve 100 percent ten times in a row, if you wish. Do you read the 'highway code' book from time to time as a "refresher" ? If you do, jolly good show.... If you don't......some of you may never have....... Just take the rcc test and get that all important bit of paper.....and file it. NO, not in the bin..... Take care out there, safe flying is no accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Tests dont worry me Rich, I've sat and set enough - my concern/panic was that I suddenly realised I dont have a Flyer ID yet I remembered doing the RCC. All clarified now thanks 🙂 I do read the Highway Code but it seems few people are aware of the recent changes to pedestrian priorities 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Symons - BMFA Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Those BMFA members with either a valid RCC or A/B cert from before 1/1/2021 will soon be issued with a Flyer ID, you don't meed to do anything. We have just about finished testing the system and I will be emailing those concerned in the next week or so. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john davidson 1 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 4 hours ago, Phil Green said: Tests dont worry me Rich, I've sat and set enough - my concern/panic was that I suddenly realised I dont have a Flyer ID yet I remembered doing the RCC. All clarified now thanks 🙂 I do read the Highway Code but it seems few people are aware of the recent changes to pedestrian priorities 🙂 Reading the latest Highway Code there is a condition where you can cross double white lines , leave you to look for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 No need, I'm aware 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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