A1/A3 practice questions

1. Question 1

   What is the maximum height you may fly in the open category?

   • A120 metres above the take-off point, whatever the terrain.
   • B120 metres above the closest point on the ground.
   • C150 metres above the ground.
   • DAs high as you can still see the drone.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. 120 metres above the closest point on the ground.

   The limit is 120 metres above the ground below the drone. In hilly terrain you can end up higher than 120 metres above where you took off, but never more than 120 metres above the ground you are flying over.

2. Question 2

   Elin has a 249-gram drone with a camera. What does she need in Sweden?

   • ANothing, the drone weighs less than 250 grams.
   • BAn A1/A3 drone licence but no operator ID.
   • CAn operator ID, but no drone licence.
   • DBoth an A2 licence and an operator ID.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. An operator ID, but no drone licence.

   A drone licence is required from 250 grams. The camera, however, means Elin must register as an operator and mark the drone with her operator ID.

3. Question 3

   Johan fits a bigger battery and a guard to his 245-gram drone. It now weighs 262 grams. What applies?

   • ANothing changes, the manufacturer’s weight is what counts.
   • BHe needs a drone licence, because the take-off mass is now 250 grams or more.
   • CHe only needs a licence if he flies above 50 metres.
   • DThe battery does not count towards the weight.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. He needs a drone licence, because the take-off mass is now 250 grams or more.

   What counts is the drone’s total take-off mass, including everything attached to it. Once it reaches 250 grams, the rules for heavier drones apply, and a drone licence is required.

4. Question 4

   When may you fly over an assembly of people in the open category?

   • ANever.
   • BWhen the drone weighs less than 250 grams.
   • CWhen you stay at least 50 metres up.
   • DWhen the organiser has given permission.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: A. Never.

   Flying over assemblies of people is prohibited in the open category, whatever the drone’s weight or class. Such flights need an authorisation in the specific category.

5. Question 5

   You are flying in subcategory A3. What is the minimum distance to residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas?

   • A30 metres horizontally.
   • B50 metres horizontally.
   • C100 metres horizontally.
   • D150 metres horizontally.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: D. 150 metres horizontally.

   In A3 you must stay at least 150 metres horizontally from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas, and you may not fly near uninvolved people.

6. Question 6

   You want to fly inside a control zone, more than 5 km from the runway, without applying for permission. What applies?

   • AYou may fly up to 120 metres.
   • BYou must stay below 50 metres above the ground.
   • CYou may not fly in a control zone at all.
   • DYou may fly up to 100 metres if the drone weighs less than 900 grams.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. You must stay below 50 metres above the ground.

   Inside a control zone you may fly without permission if you are at least 5 km from the airport’s runways and below 50 metres above the ground. The limit is lower at some military airfields. Closer than 5 km, you need permission from air traffic control.

7. Question 7

   Where is the easiest place to check control zones and restricted areas before flying in Sweden?

   • AIn the drone’s geofencing, which always follows Swedish rules.
   • BOn your Transportstyrelsen drone licence.
   • COn LFV’s drone map (Drönarkartan).
   • DOn Lantmäteriet’s property map.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. On LFV’s drone map (Drönarkartan).

   LFV’s drone map shows airport airspace, restricted areas and danger areas. Manufacturers’ geofencing data does not always match Swedish rules and cannot replace the map.

8. Question 8

   From what age may you fly a drone on your own with a drone licence in Sweden?

   • A13.
   • B15.
   • C16.
   • D18.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. 15.

   In Sweden the minimum age for flying on your own is 15. Younger pilots may fly under the supervision of a remote pilot who is at least 16, as long as both hold a valid drone licence.

9. Question 9

   How long is a drone licence from Transportstyrelsen valid?

   • A1 year.
   • B3 years.
   • C5 years.
   • DFor life.
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. 5 years.

   The drone licence is valid for 5 years. You can renew it by retaking the theory test, at the earliest three months before it expires.

10. Question 10

    You are flying after sunset and it has become dark. What does the drone need?

    • AA steady white light at the front.
    • BA red light underneath.
    • CA clearly visible flashing green light.
    • DNothing, as long as you can see the drone on your screen.
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. A clearly visible flashing green light.

    When flying in the dark, the drone must have a clearly visible flashing green light, so that others can see it and you can keep it in sight.

11. Question 11

    It is below freezing outside. How does that affect the drone’s lithium battery?

    • ACapacity drops and flight time gets shorter.
    • BThe battery lasts longer because it does not get warm.
    • CNothing happens until it is below -30 °C.
    • DThe cold charges the battery during flight.
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A. Capacity drops and flight time gets shorter.

    Cold slows the chemical reaction in the battery. Voltage drops faster and flight time gets shorter. Keep batteries warm before take-off and plan with a margin.

12. Question 12

    Where and how should the operator ID be displayed on the drone?

    • AHaving it in the app on your phone is enough.
    • BOn the drone’s body, readable without aids (other than glasses or lenses) when it is on the ground.
    • COnly on the box the drone came in.
    • DOn the remote controller, since that is where the pilot stands.
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. On the drone’s body, readable without aids (other than glasses or lenses) when it is on the ground.

    The operator ID must be marked on the drone so that it can be read when the drone is on the ground. If the drone is too small, it may in exceptional cases go inside the battery compartment. Also program the ID into the drone if possible.

These are practice questions we wrote ourselves, not copies of Transportstyrelsen’s test. Note that the official test is in Swedish. Read how to take it in the drone licence guide, or try the A2 practice questions.