---
title: "UAS.STS-02.020 UAS operations in STS-02 — Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — UAS OPERATIONS IN THE ‘OPEN’ AND ‘SPECIFIC’ CATEGORIES, UAS · Avioverse"
description: "UAS operations in STS-02 shall be conducted: in accordance with the operations manual referred to in point (1) of point UAS.STS-02.030;"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/uas/annex-to-implementing-regulation-eu-2019-947-uas/appendices/uas-sts-02-020-uas-operations-in-sts-02"
---

# UAS.STS-02.020 UAS operations in STS-02

Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — UAS OPERATIONS IN THE ‘OPEN’ AND ‘SPECIFIC’ CATEGORIES · Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 · EAR revision 29 Jun 2026

IR Implementing rule

## UAS.STS-02.020 UAS operations in STS-02

UAS operations in STS-02 shall be conducted:

(1) in accordance with the operations manual referred to in point (1) of point UAS.STS-02.030;

(2) over a [controlled ground area](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/controlled-ground-area) entirely located in a sparsely populated environment including:

(a) the [flight geography area](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-geography-area),

(b) the contingency, which its external limit(s) shall be located at least 10 m beyond the limit(s) of the flight geography area,

(c) a [ground risk buffer](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ground-risk-buffer) covering a distance that is at least equal to the distance most likely to be travelled by the UA after activation of the means to terminate the flight specified by the UAS [manufacturer](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/manufacturer) in manufacturer’s instructions, considering the operational conditions within the limitations specified by the UAS manufacturer;

(3) in an area where the minimum flight visibility is more than 5 km;

(4) with the [unmanned aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/unmanned-aircraft) in sight of the [remote pilot](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/remote-pilot) during the launch and recovery of the unmanned aircraft, unless the latter is the result of an emergency flight termination;

(5) if no [airspace observer](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/airspace-observer) is used in the operation, with the unmanned aircraft flying no further than 1 km from the remote pilot, with the unmanned aircraft following a pre-programmed trajectory when the unmanned aircraft is not in VLOS of the remote pilot;

(6) if one or more airspace observers are used in the operation, it shall comply with all of the following conditions:

(a) the airspace observer(s) are positioned in a manner allowing for an adequate coverage of the [operational volume](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/operational-volume) and the surrounding airspace with the minimum flight visibility indicated in point (3);

(b) the unmanned aircraft is operated no further than 2 km from the remote pilot;

(c) the unmanned aircraft is operated no further than 1 km from the airspace observer who is nearest to the unmanned aircraft;

(d) the distance between any airspace observer and the remote pilot is not more than 1 km;

(e) robust and effective communication means are available for the communication between the remote pilot and the airspace observer(s);

(7) by a remote pilot who holds:

(a) a certificate of remote pilot theoretical knowledge for operations in standard scenarios, issued by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State;

(b) an [accreditation](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/accreditation) of completion of the STS-02 practical skill training, in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter and issued by:

(A) an entity that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3 and is recognised by the competent authority of a Member State; or

(B) by an UAS operator that has declared to the competent authority of the Member State of registration, compliance with STS-02 and that has declared compliance with the requirements in Appendix 3;

(8) with an unmanned aircraft which complies with all of the following conditions:

(a) is marked as class C6 and complies with the requirements of that class, as defined in Part 17 of the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945;

(b) is operated with an active system to prevent the unmanned aircraft from breaching the [flight geography](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-geography);

(c) is operated with active and updated [direct remote identification](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/direct-remote-identification) system.

(9) The remote pilot shall obtain the certificate of theoretical knowledge for operations in the standard scenarios after:

(a) having completed an online training course and passed the online theoretical knowledge examination as referred to in point (4)(b) of point UAS.OPEN.020; and

(b) having passed an additional theoretical knowledge examination provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority of a Member State in accordance with Attachment A to this Chapter.

(10) This certificate shall be valid for five years. The revalidation, within its validity period is subject to any of the following:

(a) the demonstration of competencies in accordance with point (9);

(b) the completion of a refresher training addressing the theoretical knowledge subjects as defined in point (9) provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by the competent authority;

(11) In order to revalidate the certificate upon its expiration, the remote pilot shall comply with point (9).

IR — Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 · Regulation (EU) 2020/639 · UAS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 29 Jun 2026

[All rules in APPENDICES](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/uas/annex-to-implementing-regulation-eu-2019-947-uas/appendices)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 29 Jun 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.