PDRA-01 Explained

Published on • by UK Drone Compliance Guide

The CAA’s Pre-Defined Risk Assessment 01 (PDRA-01) remains the simplest route to operating in the Specific Category while the new UK SORA methodology beds in. PDRA-01 provides a ready-made set of operating conditions that the CAA has already accepted, making it ideal for straightforward, Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) work in built-up areas.

At-a-Glance Facts

Aspect PDRA-01 Permission
Weight range Any UAS with a MTOM < 25 kg
Where you can fly Within 150 m of residential, commercial, industrial & recreational areas
Vertical limits 120 m (400 ft) AGL; may climb 15 m above structures > 105 m if ≤ 50 m horizontally and the structure’s custodian requests it
Horizontal limits Remain within VLOS and ≤ 500 m from the remote pilot (co-located observer allowed)
People separation ≥ 50 m from uninvolved persons (30 m during take-off/landing); no flight over assemblies of people
Validity & cost 12 months; £500 (no VAT)

What PDRA-01 Allows

  1. Access to built-up areas
    You may take off, land (as long as you have landowner permission) and manoeuvre inside any UK residential, commercial, industrial or recreational area, provided you respect the separation distances above.

  2. Limited over-flight of uninvolved people
    Momentary transit over individuals who are not part of the operation is permitted, but you must keep it to the absolute minimum needed for the task.

  3. Day-or-night operations
    Flights may be conducted 24 hours a day, so long as night procedures in your Operations Manual (lighting, briefing, visual references, etc.) are followed.

  4. Obstacle “pop-up” height extension
    When inspecting tall structures you may exceed 120 m by up to 15 m under the conditions noted above.

What PDRA-01 Forbids or Restricts

Prohibition / Limit Reason
Carrying or dropping articles, including dangerous goods Eliminates hazards from falling loads or hazardous materials
Flight within 50 m of assemblies of people or intentional over-flight of crowds Prevents high-consequence injuries; apply the “1:1 rule” – horizontal separation ≥ aircraft height if passing nearby
BVLOS or > 500 m range PDRA-01 is strictly a VLOS permission
Entry into FRZs, Restricted, Prohibited or Danger Areas without explicit permission Avoids airspace conflicts
Remote-piloting while driving or while airborne in an aircraft Divided attention compromises situational awareness; you may operate as a passenger in a stable ground vehicle only
< 50 m (30 m for TO/L) to uninvolved persons Protects bystanders from impact/prop-wash injuries

Remote-Pilot & Operator Obligations

  • Pilot currency & competence – Each remote pilot must hold a valid Flyer ID and a General VLOS Certificate (GVC) and must have logged 2 hours flying time within the previous 90 day rolling period.
  • Employment / contractual link – The pilot must be employed by, or contracted to, the UAS operator named on the Operational Authorisation.
  • Operations Manual & logs – The operator must maintain an up-to-date Operations Manual, flight logs and technical logs, and present them to the CAA on request.
  • Insurance & occurrence reporting – EC 785/2004-compliant insurance is mandatory, and occurrences or accidents must be reported via ECCAIRS2 and AAIB channels within the prescribed timelines.

Typical Use-Cases

  • Roof and façade inspections close to property lines.
  • Estate-agent photography of residential developments.
  • Recreational-site mapping (e.g. golf courses) inside urban boundaries.

All these tasks stay VLOS, below 120 m, and avoid prolonged crowd over-flight – a perfect fit for PDRA-01.

When PDRA-01 Is Not Enough

If your mission involves BVLOS, higher altitudes, flights in controlled airspace, or novel risks such as payload delivery, you’ll need a full UK SORA assessment and a bespoke Specific Category authorisation. The CAA will expect a complete safety case with Ground Risk and Air Risk mitigations rather than reliance on the PDRA template.

Key Takeaways

  1. PDRA-01 is VLOS-only – keep the aircraft in sight and within 500 m.
  2. Built-up-area operations are allowed, but 50 m / 30 m separations still apply.
  3. Maximum height 120 m (plus the 15 m “pop-up”).
  4. No crowds, no drops, no dangerous goods – keep third-party risk minimal.
  5. Pilot competence, robust documentation and insurance are essential; audits can occur at any time.

Use PDRA-01 for routine, short-range commercial tasks; adopt UK SORA when your ambitions (or your clients) demand greater operational freedom.

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