Hi
I am purchasing my first drone in the next few weeks and have completed my flyer ID test. I also want to do my A2 cofc but not sure who to use. There’s quite a choice. Any recommendations would be appreciated. 
Hi Dronester, I have been looking for this also and found some useful providers on the FPV UK home page there is a link in the menu called “Member Deals” hope this helps!
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That’s right.
As an FPV UK member, you can get 58% off an A2 CofC at Coptrz, or 49% off at UAV Academy, or 30% off at UAVHub.
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Thanks adypitt and Simon. I was thinking of the DJI Air 3s for my first drone, is this crazy ? or the Mini 4 pro ?
I like the dual cameras and better sensor size/quality of the main camera on the Air.
Just a bit concerned about whether its too big/heavy and more flying restrictions due to weight etc. I know the CofC will increase my flying possibilities with the Air though. Ideal world would be to have both.
Well for your 1st drone Air 3s!! 
If your concern is sub 250g then don`t buy it! buy a sub 250g & watch it fly away with the wind! I have the Air 3s and am amazed with its flying stability in the wind & also with the safety avoidance & inbuilt camera system. if your concern is with the flying possibilities do the CofC exam and in the mean time fly under the article 16 remit 
Thanks for your feedback.
I would love an A3s but am thinking now it’s a big outlay and I’ve been researching where I can fly and am concerned that I wouldn’t use enough to justify it.
Do you own a mini 4 as well ?
I was looking at crown estate coast locations such as Holkham in Norfolk and Northumberland area and they allow drone use but then you look at Holkham drone policy and they say drone use is not allowed on the beach ( crown ) and the same with some coastal areas in Northumberland notwithstanding sssi areas at certain times. It’s all a bit of a mine field and you can easily go down a rabbit hole researching every location. Do you find that ?
well they are not legally allowed to put flight restrictions in an airspace which is under the CAA remit/regulations! that’s why you should take your exams 
Yes true, they don’t have control of the airspace.
I’ve noticed now that some councils have amended their policies to read not allowed ‘to take off or land on their property/land
So only a question!! If a local authority said you were not allowed to launch an unmanned aircraft from the property/land, would it be legal to launch the unmanned aircraft from the palm of your hand whilst windsurfing on a glider ! It would also be assumed that a relevant risk assessment had been completed prior to the flight and a remote pilot would also be assisting with this also! I wouldn’t have a clue myself to the correct answer! but the question would be a relevant one! could anyone answer this question !
Ive started mine in UAV.
i done mine with UAVHUB they were great to be fair and will do my GVC with them.
I personally fly a mini 3 and find it holds it’s own in windy conditions both in terms of position and image stability very well.
With the current regs you can’t beat the freedom of the sub 250g category as to where you can just fly on a whim without too much homework.
Saying all that, the CAA just announced that they’re adopting C label regs to bring us more in line with the EU which should then allow that Air 3s to be flown in A1 airspace the same as the mini just without intentional overflight of uninvolved people.
Don’t think you’ll regret either purchase imho, maybe the mini for the next year & then upgrade to the Air when the C labels come into force would be the ideal scenario.
Regards your question about flights at the beach, I’ve heard said from reputable sources that the “foreshore” (the stretch between low and high tide markers) is by default public land and therefore you should be free to TOAL from there.
Obviously you’re still subject to FRZs, need to consider disturbing wildlife in your risk assessment (whether you’re in an SSSI or not) and if it’s a larger drone and a busy beach you might fall foul of the separation & even crowd overflight regs.
Ady’s hypothetical scenario I have no clue on, but I have witnessed a remote pilot hand launching out of his car window in a carpark (the car was stationary, thankfully) in order to bypass the NIMBY rules at a local beauty spot.
Never mind hearing in “from a reputable source”. Its in black and white here: Metal detecting & drone flying | The Crown Estate
Drone flying / Unmanned Aerial Devices (UAD)
We grant permission for UAD flights over Crown Estate foreshore (defined as the land between mean high water and mean low water).
This map shows which bits of foreshore the Crown Estate owns (in purple): https://thecrownestate.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=0aac22685d2f4d78a2a3b0a5aa1660db
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Cheers for doing the research for that Simon, I’ve bookmarked the map as yet another resource for pre-flight planning.
I also find this website a handy resource to separate public from private roads when you’re looking for a suitable TOAL site: Map - FindMyStreet
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