Understanding the New UK SORA Methodology

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has officially adopted the UK Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) as the new standard for authorising drone operations in the Specific Category. This represents a significant shift from the previous Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA) system and aligns the UK more closely with international standards set by organisations like the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS).

What is UK SORA?

The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) is a structured, multi-stage approach to evaluating and mitigating risks associated with drone operations in the Specific Category. Rather than following a fixed, prescriptive set of guidelines, SORA provides drone operators with a robust framework to systematically assess potential hazards both on the ground and in the air, and implement appropriate measures to ensure operational safety.

At its core, SORA involves assessing two main categories of risk:

• Ground Risk – the likelihood and impact of a drone operation harming people, property, or infrastructure on the ground.
• Air Risk – the likelihood and potential severity of a drone operation interfering with or colliding with manned aircraft in flight.

By carefully analysing these risks, operators can identify and apply mitigations tailored specifically to their operational scenarios, offering increased operational flexibility compared to the previous PDRA system.

Major Changes Introduced by UK SORA

The move from PDRA to SORA brings several new and important concepts for drone operators:

1. Ground Risk Class (GRC)
   The Ground Risk Class assesses the risk posed by the drone to people or infrastructure on the ground. It considers factors such as drone size, operational environment, and population density. GRCs range from low-risk rural areas (GRC 1) to densely populated urban environments (GRC 10).

2. Air Risk Class (ARC)
   The Air Risk Class measures the likelihood of encountering manned aircraft during the operation. This assessment is influenced by operational altitude, airspace complexity, and aircraft density. Lower ARCs represent lower risk of collision, while higher ARCs indicate increased likelihood of encountering other aircraft.

3. Specific Assurance and Integrity Levels (SAIL)
   Once the Ground and Air Risk Classes have been determined, operators combine these into a Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL). The SAIL level dictates the robustness required of your mitigations and safety measures. A higher SAIL rating means operators must implement stricter and more verifiable mitigations.

4. Enhanced Operational Flexibility
   Unlike the fixed parameters of PDRA, SORA enables operators to define their own risk mitigations based on their unique operational context. This approach allows complex drone operations, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights or operations in controlled airspace, to become achievable under carefully managed conditions.

What This Means for Drone Pilots

The implementation of UK SORA fundamentally changes how commercial drone operators prepare for Specific Category operations. While the flexibility offered is beneficial, it demands greater knowledge and a proactive approach to safety and risk management.

Drone operators previously accustomed to simply following predefined limits under PDRA must now become more familiar with detailed risk assessment methods. Operators will need to develop comprehensive safety cases, clearly documenting risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and operational procedures tailored specifically to their mission profiles.

The transition to UK SORA also introduces increased accountability and oversight from the CAA, which will closely evaluate and audit operators' SORA submissions and ongoing compliance.

Practical Support for Operators

To assist operators with this transition, UK Drone Compliance Guide has developed several tools and resources designed to simplify the UK SORA process:

• Our new Compliance Calculator offers step-by-step guidance to determine GRC, ARC, and SAIL levels, ensuring accurate and compliant assessments.
• We provide clear, user-friendly templates and example safety cases to help you craft your own robust documentation.
• Regular updates and insights from industry experts are published in our blog, keeping you informed about regulatory changes and best practices.

Final Thoughts

The introduction of the UK Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) represents a significant leap forward for commercial drone operations in the UK. Although the transition from PDRA presents some initial challenges, the long-term advantages, greater operational flexibility, enhanced safety, and alignment with international standards—far outweigh the short-term effort involved.

By fully understanding and embracing the SORA methodology, drone pilots and commercial operators can unlock new opportunities and demonstrate their commitment to aviation safety and responsible drone use.

Stay informed and compliant by regularly checking our website for the latest updates and guidance on navigating UK SORA.