Drone Training
courses in the UK
The CAA Approved Drone Training Course in the UK.
Invest your time training with the best. Our unparalleled flying and training experience will give you the best start to a career as a drone pilot.
Welcome to Flyby PfCO Drone Training UK
You will attend a state of the art groundschool and we will welcome you in to the Flyby family. Some of the World’s best pilot instructors will deliver our engaging course in a unique, innovative style that helps you to retain the knowledge you need to operate safely and professionally. Their wealth of knowledge, charisma and fantastic anecdotes will keep you thoroughly entertained! The confidence you will gain from our course will set you apart and help you succeed as a drone pilot.
Distinguished Drone Pilot Training
Flyby’s course will not only gain you your Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO) but will go above and beyond and teach you to think like a pilot. Fast! This is what will give you the edge against your competitors and be your recipe for success. Your clients will feel instantly at ease knowing you have the IDPS (International Drone Pilot Standard) which will be recognised as the mark of a top pro pilot.
Powerful Drone Pilot Support
Your investment in your future also includes the ultimate support package. Flyby will give you invaluable support as you progress in your career. We will be on hand to answer any queries, help with the yearly PfCO renewal process, keep you updated on changes in legislation and put you in touch with a powerful network that will help you prosper.
Drone Experts
We’re fortunate to have the World’s top experts on the Flyby team. We have aircraft designers, drone builders and consultants, training system designers, military helicopter pilots and fighter pilots.
We are the go to experts for the media, including Sky News and the BBC and we are involved at ground level in drone legislation and industry standards. You could not be in better hands!
Meet our instructors and see their extraordinary credentials >
The IDPS Drone Training Course to qualify for your PfCO
Flyby’s course ticks all the boxes...
We’re the CAA approved drone training course in the UK
Flyby have been awarded the CAA’s National Qualified Entity status
Qualify for your PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations)
We’ll get you qualified as quickly as possible
A great value course with no hidden costs
Training locations across the UK
Pre-course study guide
Elite instructors
Retain knowledge for your future success
Multiple choice theory test
Operations Manual guidance
Flight skills test
Powerful graduate support
Access to our Safety Management System (SMS)
DJI Distributors
0% Finance available
Flexible course options
Drone Training Course Structure
PART 1 - Groundschool
The first part of the course consists of 2 days of groundschool to learn the theory. You will cover maps and charts, airlaw, airspace, drone components and systems, risk management, operating processes and planning, meteorology and much more. Unique to our course is the life lesson of how to think like a pilot, react fast and become the best drone pilot you can be.
Day 2 culminates in a multiple choice theory test.
PART 2 - Operations Manual
We will guide you through completing your operations manual. This consists of details about how you intend to operate, your business, procedures and your drone. You will be able to complete this confidently with our help, it will be bespoke to you, well written and you will understand everything in it after completing our groundschool.
PART 3 - Flight Test
Your Flight Skills Test will demonstrate your ability to operate your drone confidently and safely. It will test the procedures set out in your operations manual.
The examiner will approach your Flight Skills Test with professionalism but will be encouraging and approachable throughout. We see this as a training opportunity as well as a test.
You will be advised of the result after the test and your examiner will offer any advice he feels would further improve your flying.
Part 4 - Apply for your PfCO
Flyby will guide you through the process of applying for your PfCO. You will collate all the necessary documents and test results, check your operations manual is perfect and then apply to the CAA for your PfCO yourself. There is a processing charge payable direct to the CAA which is currently £247. Please note this is subject to change. Once you receive your certificate, you can then work commercially as a drone pilot.
How much will it cost?
Our prices are competitive and a wise investment in your future as a drone pilot. We're confident you won’t find training like this anywhere else. You can pay upfront via our secure online payment option, or over the phone. We also offer finance options so you can spread the cost of your training.
“The information given was clear and easy to learn. More importantly it was relevant to Drones and interesting. The location of the course was impressive and gave a welcoming atmosphere. It really felt like I was joining the flying fraternity.”
“What a journey! Having booked Flyby Technology for my drone training I can now safely say it was 100% the right choice. From the very first phone call right through to passing my flight skill test (FST) yesterday it was fantastic. The course material, level of delivery and quality were excellent. Both Jon & Graham were a pleasure to train with and were able to teach a very technical subject in a way that you can understand quickly and efficiently. The course I chose was the 5 day fast track, which as it suggests is a course designed to get you through both ground school the FST and submission to the CAA for the PfCO. As long as you accept that this course requires you to work hard then you will be fine and will have loads of fun!”
“This is the best money I have spent. This course is the one to pick. The groundschool was well presented and the team helped me write an Operations Manual I could only have dreamed of. I even enjoyed the time spent with the examiner on the Flight Skills Test. Incredible course, by incredible people.”
Succeed as a drone pilot with us!
You can achieve so much in such a short amount of time to give you the confidence to operate your drone safely and within the rules. Ultimately we can help you to gain your Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) and complete your Initial Drone Pilot Standard (IDPS). Holding the IDPS will be an indicator of the high standard that you have achieved and of the professionalism with which you approach your flying.
We pride ourselves on the support network we offer our graduates. We can continue to assist and guide you as you take your new skills out in to the world.
Take the first step on your journey as a drone pilot today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully the following will answer any questions you may have. If you can't find what you are looking for, please call us on FREEPHONE 08081680626
Which course should I choose?
We offer 2 course options, giving you complete control over the elements you need to study based on the time you have, your experience and the flexibility to take the course on weekdays or weekends.
The question is, are you experienced or a beginner?
BEGINNERS
If you have under 10 hours flying experience we would advise you opt for the extra flight skills training in order to pass the flight skills test.
The 5 Day course covers everything you need to apply for your PfCO, plus 2 days of flight skills training with an expert instructor, so you'll go in to your flight skills test as a confident operator.
EXPERIENCED DRONE PILOTS
If you have more than 10 hours flying time, hold a CAA recognised qualification as a manned-aviation pilot, or have advanced drone flying skills that will enable you to pass the flight test with no guidance from us then the 3 day course is perfect for you. You can read about what the flight test will involve here.
FLEXIBLE COURSE OPTIONS
If you can't spare 3 or 5 days in a row then don't worry, we can offer you the course over a series of sessions.
You can come along to a 2 day groundschool then compete the operations manual in your own time and book a flight skills test with us when you are ready. Just let us know what you need.
If weekdays are tricky for you, our weekender option allows you to complete the course over 2 consecutive weekends. Perfect if you have work commitments during the week. Find out more here Weekend Drone Course >
Hopefully that has helped you make the right choice on your drone training course. If you know which course you want to take, please visit our location and dates page to find the next available drone training courses in your area here >
If you need any further assistance, please call us on freephone 08081680626
Where will the course take place?
We have drone training locations across the UK. We use specialist training facilities provided by Boeing, pilot training centres or prestige hotels. We aim to provide drone pilot training in a city close to you at a time that is convenient. Visit our location page for a list of our current course locations >
What do I need to bring?
You'll need a drone and a laptop for the course.
Ideally you do need your own drone. We are a DJI distributor so we can get you some great deals on DJI drones if you are yet to buy one - just get in touch. We can also loan you a drone for the course, please get in touch when you book to discuss your requirements.
You ideally need to take the flight skills test with the drone and associated screens you are planning to use on a regular basis. This must be loaded with the latest software and firmware before the start of the course as there will not be any time allocated to unpacking and setting up a new drone. You’ll need to make sure your drone is serviceable and ready to go.
Your laptop needs to be installed with MS Word. Again, these need to be in good working order please.
You'll also need to make sure you're insured for the duration of the course. We can get you enrolled with a Coverdrone or Moonrock Policy, just say the word!
So just to recap, you will need:
- A drone and the associated support elements
- A laptop with MS Word installed
- Insurance certificate
Do I need a license to fly my drone?
If you are flying your drone for fun you won’t need a license, but you may need permissions depending on where you plan to fly. The CAA website offers plenty of guidance on codes of practice and how to fly safely and legally. Booking on one of our courses will certainly set you above the standards necessary for flying as a hobby, but it may well open opportunities to you that you hadn’t dreamed of! Fancy a job flying a drone in the future?!
If you plan to fly your drone for commercial work you will need to gain your Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) which is what our course will qualify you for.
How do I pay for my drone training course and are there any hidden costs?
When you book a course on our website you will be taken to an online booking form where you will fill out your name, phone number and email address. You will be asked to pay using our secure online payment system.
Alternatively, you may pay by calling us and using BACs payment or by debit or credit card over the phone.
You will receive a confirmation email of your booking and in the following days we will send out everything you need before the start of the course so you can be well prepared.
We offer finance options from £28 a month too, so please get in touch if you wish to take advantage of this to pay for your course.
Your place on the course is only allocated once full payment is made.
There are no hidden costs with Flyby, but there is a separate CAA processing fee (payable direct to the CAA) of £247 when you apply for your PfCO. Please note this amount is controlled by the CAA and subject to change. Flyby will guide you through the process of applying for your PfCO.