Why Does Meteorology Matter So Much in the Exam?

In the A2 exam, meteorology topics make up around 20% of questions. In STS — about 15%. And crucially, the questions aren't abstract definitions — they're scenario-based: "the pilot receives a weather report showing these conditions, what should they do?"

That means you need to understand the implications, not just the terms.

Wind: The Primary Threat

Wind is the biggest danger to drones. A few key concepts:

Wind speed: most commercial drones have a manufacturer-specified maximum wind speed (typically 10–12 m/s). But the real safe limit is often lower — especially for less experienced pilots.

Wind shear: sudden changes in wind speed or direction at different altitudes. Particularly dangerous near buildings and at tree line height.

Turbulence behind buildings: when wind hits a building face, a turbulence zone forms on the lee side. Flying in this zone can be dangerous even in moderate wind.

Gusts: short-term wind spikes that can exceed the drone's handling capacity even when the average wind looks acceptable. METAR/TAF shows average wind — maximum gusts can be 30–50% stronger.

Visibility and Cloud Base

EASA rules define minimum visibility and cloud distances for the open category:

These numbers appear frequently in exam questions. Learn the figures — not just the principles.

Minimum visibility: 5 km
Horizontal distance from clouds: 1.5 km
Vertical distance from clouds: 100m below, 1000m above

Reading a METAR

METAR is the standardised meteorological report issued at airports. Pilots must know how to read one. Example:

```

METAR EYVI 261200Z 27015KT 9999 FEW030 SCT080 12/08 Q1015

```

What it means:

The exam may present a METAR and ask whether flight is permissible under these conditions, and why.

`EYVI` — Vilnius Airport
`261200Z` — 26th, 12:00 UTC
`27015KT` — wind from 270° (west), 15 knots (~7.7 m/s)
`9999` — visibility > 10 km
`FEW030` — few clouds at 3,000 ft
`SCT080` — scattered clouds at 8,000 ft
`12/08` — temperature 12°C, dew point 8°C
`Q1015` — QNH 1015 hPa

Temperature and Battery Performance

Low temperature directly affects LiPo battery efficiency:

In the exam, this appears as a battery safety question — but it's closely linked to meteorology.

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*Meteorology is one of the six core topics in A2 and STS exams. A2STS has a dedicated meteorology module with all the question types you'll encounter.*

---

title: "7 Most Common Mistakes in the A2 Drone Exam (and How to Avoid Them)"

slug: a2-exam-common-mistakes

category: a2

readTime: 5

date: 2026-05-26

description: "Where do candidates lose the most points in the A2 exam? Seven specific patterns — and exactly how to fix each one before the official test."

---

After thousands of simulations on A2STS, a clear pattern emerges — the same mistakes repeat. Not because people don't know the material, but because they're studying it the wrong way. Here are seven specific patterns.

+5°C and below: the battery cannot deliver full capacity; warm it before flight
0°C and below: flight time drops to 30–40% of nominal
-10°C: most manufacturers recommend against flying

1. Leaving Meteorology Until the Last Minute

Most candidates treat meteorology as "theoretical" and put it off until the end. The problem: it makes up ~20% of the A2 exam and the questions are scenario-based, not definitional.

Fix: start meteorology in week one, not the last week. Learn to read METARs and know the key numbers (5km visibility, cloud distances). Use a dedicated meteorology session in the question bank.

2. Registering Too Early — Before Results Are Stable

One of the most common and expensive mistakes. A candidate hits 75–78% in one simulation and immediately books TKA. On exam day, nerves knock the result down — and €26 is gone.

Fix: register only after achieving ≥ 80% in a full 30/30 simulation three times in a row. Stability matters more than a single high score.

3. Memorising Answers Instead of Understanding Them

A2 questions are often scenario-based — they appear in different formulations than in practice. Candidates who only memorise answers freeze when they encounter a rephrased question.

Fix: after every wrong answer, read the explanation — not just the correct answer. Understanding allows you to respond to any variation of the question.

4. Underestimating LiPo Battery Topics

Battery safety questions seem simple — but they catch candidates out because of inattention. Questions about storage rules, charging risks, and failure signs are subtle.

Fix: battery topics have specific numbers (storage voltage, temperature limits). Learn them precisely, not approximately.

5. Not Training with a Timer

30 questions in 30 minutes feels like plenty of time. But candidates who haven't trained with a timer often spend too long on harder questions and rush at the end.

Fix: every simulation — with a timer. No exceptions. Rule: if a question takes >90 seconds, flag it and move on. Return at the end.

6. Confusing Airspace Categories

A1, A2, A3 subcategories, CTR zones, UAS geographical zones — these terms get mixed up easily. Questions about what's allowed in a given zone with a given qualification are among the hardest.

Fix: build a simple table — subcategory, permissions, applicable zones. Visual structure works better than text for this topic.

7. The Last-Day Marathon

The day before the exam is not the time to learn new topics. Yet many candidates spend it trying to "plug gaps." Result: fatigued brain and worse decision-making on exam day.

Fix: last day — light review only. Go through your mistake log, but don't study new topics. Sleep well.

---

*Error review is one of A2STS's core features — the system automatically saves questions you got wrong and prompts you to revisit them. Start free.*

---

title: "STS Procedures Explained: What They Are and Why They're 45% of the Exam"

slug: sts-procedures-explained

category: sts

readTime: 6

date: 2026-05-26

description: "STS procedures are the largest and hardest part of the STS exam. What are standard scenarios, how do they work, and what do you need to know to pass?"

---

When people ask "why is the STS exam harder than A2?" — the answer is almost always the same: STS procedures. This topic makes up around 45% of exam questions and requires not just knowing the rules, but understanding the sequence of actions in real-world scenarios.

What Are STS Scenarios?

STS (Standard Scenario) are pre-defined operational frameworks that allow specific-category operations without individual risk assessment for every flight.

Two STS scenarios apply in Lithuania and across the EU:

STS-01: VLOS flights over controlled ground areas, with people present below the flight path. Used for: property photography, infrastructure inspection, events.

STS-02: VLOS flights over assemblies of people. Stricter conditions — only specific drone classes, with additional safety requirements.

Why Procedural Questions?

The STS system is designed so pilots don't need a permit for every flight — as long as the operation meets defined standards. So the exam tests not just "what to do," but "does this scenario meet STS-01 conditions, and if so — what steps are required before the flight?"

That's procedural reasoning, not fact recall.

Typical STS-01 Procedure Flow

Before every STS operation, the pilot must:

1. Concept of Operations (ConOps): document the operation description — where, when, with what equipment, what risk factors

2. Risk assessment: SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) principles — identify ground and air risk

3. Contingency plan: what to do if the drone loses link, if an unknown aircraft appears, if weather changes

4. Safety buffer: establish a safety perimeter around the operation zone

5. Operational documentation: pilot competency confirmation, drone airworthiness check

Exam questions on this flow appear in different formulations. Understand the logic and you can answer every variation.

STS-01 vs STS-02: Key Differences

| | STS-01 | STS-02 |

|---|---|---|

| Flight zone | Over controlled ground | Over assemblies of people |

| People present | Permitted (controlled) | Directly overhead |

| Drone class | C5 and below | C6 and below |

| Risk level | Medium | High |

| Additional requirements | ConOps, buffer | Additional certification |

What Does VLOS Mean in STS Context?

VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) — the pilot always sees the drone with unaided eyes. STS-01 and STS-02 require VLOS at all times.

This means: no flying around building corners, forests, or other visual obstructions. If BVLOS is needed — that's a different authorisation outside STS.

---

*The STS procedures topic module in A2STS has 37 questions with explanations — the most of any topic, because this is the critical part of the exam.*

---

title: "EASA Drone Categories: A1, A2, A3 — What's the Difference?"

slug: easa-drone-categories-a1-a2-a3

category: a1a3

readTime: 5

date: 2026-05-26

description: "A clear explanation of the EASA open category: what A1, A2, and A3 subcategories mean, which drone classes they cover, and when each one applies."

---

Before you start exam preparation, it's worth understanding the categorisation system itself. Many people confuse A1/A2/A3 with drone model ranges, or assume they're a simple progression — but the system works differently.

The Core Logic: Risk Determines Category

The EASA system is built on risk. The closer to people, the heavier the drone, the more complex the environment — the higher the category and the stricter the requirements.

The open category (A1/A2/A3) covers low-to-medium risk operations that don't require per-flight authorisation.

A1 Subcategory

Who can fly: C0 and C1 class drones (up to 900g).

Where: over people (but not over assemblies), in residential areas.

Qualification: A1/A3 online quiz (40 questions, ≥ 75%).

Restrictions: intentional flight over assemblies is prohibited. C1 class — avoid flying over people where possible.

Practically: hobbyists with popular mini drones (e.g., DJI Mini series under 250g are C0 class) need minimal qualification.

A2 Subcategory

Who can fly: C2 class drones (up to 4kg).

Where: near people — down to 30m horizontally. With low-speed mode — down to 5m.

Qualification: A1/A3 quiz + A2 theory exam at TKA (30 questions, ≥ 75%) + self-declared practical training.

Restrictions: not over assemblies; minimum distances from people required.

Practically: photographers and commercial pilots working with C2 drones in real estate photography or industrial inspection.

A3 Subcategory

Who can fly: C2, C3, C4 class drones.

Where: away from populated areas — at least 150m from residential, commercial, or industrial zones.

Qualification: A1/A3 quiz only.

Restrictions: strict distance requirements, but broader drone class options.

Practically: agricultural drones, inspection in open areas, filming away from settlements.

The Most Common Confusion

"A2 exam = A2 category" — not quite. The A2 exam grants A2 subcategory rights, but the exam content covers all open category topics.

"Heavier drone = higher category" — not necessarily. Category depends not just on weight, but on where and how you fly.

"A1/A3 quiz = full A2 qualification" — no. A2 requires the additional TKA theory exam.

---

*A1/A3 preparation on A2STS is completely free — 246-question bank with explanations, topic-based tests, and progress tracking.*

---

title: "Is the A2 Drone Exam Hard? An Honest Answer"

slug: is-a2-drone-exam-hard

category: a2

readTime: 4

date: 2026-05-26

description: "What's the actual difficulty level of the A2 drone exam? Without sugarcoating — pass rates, hardest topics, and how long you really need to prepare."

---

Short answer: not very — but not trivial either. It's not an exam you can pass after one evening of reading. But it doesn't require months of intensive study. Here's a realistic picture.

What's the Pass Rate?

TKA doesn't publish pass rate statistics publicly. But based on platform data and pilot communities, around 20–30% of candidates fail on their first attempt. Most of them are people who registered too early or never practised with real exam timing.

Why Do People Fail?

Three main reasons:

1. Registering without stable results. Hitting 75% once in a simulation and booking TKA immediately. On exam day, nerves + unfamiliar question phrasing = not enough.

2. Ignoring meteorology. This topic makes up ~20% of the exam and most candidates start it too late.

3. Memorising vs. understanding. A2 questions are scenario-based — if you only memorise answers, you'll freeze on a rephrased version you haven't seen before.

How Long Do You Need to Prepare?

Realistic timelines:

Less than two weeks — risky, unless you're very systematic.

Complete beginner (little aviation knowledge): 5–8 weeks, ~1 hour/day
Hobbyist with A1/A3 experience: 3–5 weeks, ~45 min/day
With aviation background: 2–3 weeks

Which Topics Are Hardest?

Based on most commonly wrong answers in A2STS simulations:

1. Meteorology — METAR reading, wind shear, minimum cloud distances

2. Airspace — zone categories, CTR, authorisations

3. Human factors — situational awareness, decision-making under stress

Easiest: battery safety (lots of facts, but clear rules) and regulations (many numbers to memorise, but the logic is consistent).

How Do You Know You're Ready?

The only reliable indicator: three full 30/30 simulations in a row with ≥ 80%, without checking answers. If you're hitting that consistently — the exam should be manageable even with nerves factored in.

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*A2STS tracks your readiness level after every session and shows whether you're in the "Not Yet" or "Ready!" zone. Start free.*