Why has the question of renewal suddenly become relevant now?
In the drone market operating under the EU framework, we have now reached the point where the first wave of pilots is no longer focusing on the basic exams (A1/A3 and A2), but on maintaining their qualifications. But why exactly now? The question is legitimate: because these acquired competencies also expire; they are not valid indefinitely. Before expiry, is a refresher course enough, or is a new exam required? And what is the situation with STS certificates linked to standard scenarios?
What does the EU framework say?
According to EASA’s public information, the basic logic for open-category and standard-scenario remote pilot certificates is that these competencies are valid for 5 years. Renewal can be completed before expiry. To do so, the remote pilot must attend a seminar provided by the national aviation authority or by an organisation recognised by it. If the qualification has already expired, the competencies must be demonstrated again through new examinations.
This is important because the refresher option is fundamentally built on maintaining an existing, still-valid competency.
What do we see today in the Hungarian regulatory and curriculum environment?
The domestic framework is provided by ITM Decree 6/2021 (II. 5.), while the detailed content is specified by the Curriculum and Examination Requirements document in force from 14 October 2025. This curriculum already identifies separately the refresher training for the A1/A3 category, the refresher training for the A2 category, and the refresher training linked to standard scenarios.
According to the current curriculum requirements, the minimum duration is 4 hours for A1/A3, 6 hours for A2, and likewise 6 hours for STS. The document also makes it clear that, for refresher training, course attendance is required, but there is no examination requirement.
The curriculum requirements also clearly define the entry conditions. To start A1/A3 refresher training, the trainee must hold a still-valid A1/A3 certificate issued by KAV. A valid A2 competency certificate is required for A2 refresher training. For STS refresher training, a still-valid certificate under UAS.STS-01.020 or UAS.STS-02.020 is required, and its expiry date must extend beyond the expected completion of the training.
What do the publicly available training examples show?
Based on publicly available training examples, A1/A3 and A2 refresher training courses have already appeared on the market. It is worth keeping track of these opportunities and refreshing the competency in time, rather than forgetting about it and later having to start again from the beginning with the training material and examinations.
And where does STS come into the picture?
The STS line is particularly interesting at the moment. The Curriculum and Examination Requirements in force from 14 October 2025 already identifies the refresher training linked to standard scenarios in a fully unambiguous way, with a minimum duration of 6 hours. The syllabus here is broader than for open-category refreshers: aviation safety, airspace restrictions, air law, human performance limitations, operational procedures, general UAS knowledge, flight performance, meteorology, as well as both air and ground risk analysis are included.
In the publicly visible market offering, the STS side currently places more emphasis on foundational knowledge and preparation than on a separately named refresher course. In other words, in the case of STS, the official curricular framework is already clear, while the market presence is still less developed.
What is the practical takeaway for the remote pilot and the organisation?
The most important message is that, for maintaining A1/A3, A2 and likely STS as well, it is not advisable to leave action until after expiry. The current framework clearly assumes that, for refresher training, the existing authorisation must still be valid. If it is not, the logic of the system no longer points toward maintenance, but toward re-demonstrating and re-obtaining competency.
From a corporate perspective, this is a particularly important compliance issue. If an organisation does not actively track the expiry dates of its remote pilots’ qualifications, a situation can easily arise where operational capability is interrupted for purely administrative reasons.
With this, we would like to draw the attention of all our current and future clients to the importance of refresher training.