Understanding Local Pilot Licensing and Certification
Definitions
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood drone-related topics, particularly for commercial and industrial newcomers. The two terms are used interchangeably in most drone conversations in Brunei, but the difference has real consequences when procurement officers write tender requirements or compliance teams decide what counts as adequate proof of competency.
License
Issued directly by a regulatory authority. Grants legal authorisation to operate after passing official examinations, meeting prescribed standards, and maintaining renewals. Compulsory, enforceable, and the standard mechanism for mass adoption.
Certificate
Issued by a training provider as evidence of course completion (i.e., theory, practical flight hours, or both.) An accredited certificate means the course has been formally recognised by a regulatory body. Accreditation is what gives a certificate weight beyond the issuing organisation's own credibility.
The most commonly referenced accredited certificate in Brunei's enterprise UAS space is the Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency - Basic (RCOC-B), accredited by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). It is a credible, structured qualification, but a Malaysian certificate designed for Malaysian airspace, obtained in Malaysia.
Current Situation in Brunei
As of the writing of this article: no drone pilot licenses exist in Brunei Darussalam. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has not established a licensing framework for UAS pilots, and no accredited certification programme has been authorised.
Local training providers (e.g., InnovAero and Sky Vision) do offer drone courses and issue their own certificates, however they are not accredited by the DCA. That does not make them worthless, as entry-level courses from local vendors provide a legitimate starting point for theoretical grounding and basic hands-on experience. It only means that the quality of output varies and cannot be verified through any regulatory standard, therefore the weight comes from the reputation of the organisation themselves.
What this means in practice:
When a tender requirement says "locally-licensed drone pilot”, the specification is, strictly speaking, impossible to fulfil through a Bruneian authority. What it is actually asking for is demonstrable proof of competency and indications of compliance.
In practice, what constitutes adequate proof is determined by the compliance handlers of the procuring organisation, not by any regulatory standard. That creates significant inconsistency. An RCOC-B from CAAM may satisfy one organisation and be considered irrelevant by another. An internal course certificate may be accepted in one tender and rejected in the next.
Understanding this reality early is what allows organisations to make rational decisions about where to invest in competency-building and how to present that competency to clients or counterparts.
Advice for New Enterprise Pilots and Organisations
Before committing to any certification pathway, establish your mission scope. The investment calculus changes substantially depending on whether your operations are internal surveys on a controlled site or contracted work requiring documented third-party verification.
The RCOC-B is a comprehensive, internationally credible qualification. For organisations that need to demonstrate competency to clients in Malaysia, Singapore, or those aligned with CAAM standards, it is the strongest available option. The cost, however, is significant. Course fees start in the thousands, before accounting for travel and accommodation for a programme designed around Malaysian airspace and regulations. Evaluate whether your operational context justifies that investment before committing.
For building foundational knowledge, local vendors are a practical starting point. Approach them with the right expectations: they provide training, not regulatory standing. Vet the provider (i.e., look at their operational history, who their instructors are, and whether their course content reflects current DCA guidance) before treating their certificate as a credible credential.
Modern drone platforms are, by design, easy to fly. The automation and failsafes built into platforms like DJI's Enterprise line mean that basic manoeuvring is accessible to most operators within hours.
What separates a capable pilot from a liability is everything else: pre-flight risk assessment, airspace awareness, emergency protocols, and situational judgment built through mission experience. This is where the investment in competency actually pays off: not in passing a theory exam, but in the quality of decision-making when conditions deviate from the plan.
About Us
Angkasa is a Brunei Darussalam-based Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) business, helping organisations with drones via research, documentation and advisory work. We do not sell drone ops or hardware, allowing us to provide objective, unbiased work to our clients and ensure they are able to grow in a way that’s best for their unique contexts.
To learn more, contact UAS Advisor, Alawi, at alawi@angkasaadvisory.com or (673) 8999 772.
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AI Policy: All content is authored and developed entirely by in-house. Artificial intelligence is strictly utilised for supporting tasks such as structuring, grammar refinement, and proofreading to ensure originality, quality and relevance.
