CAA UK SORA Replace – sUAS Information

Expensive Stakeholder,

We’re writing to you as an UAS stakeholder to give you additional updates on the introduction of UK SORA.

Regards,

Head of RPAS (Functions and Oversight)

Supervisor FS&I Coverage

UK Particular Operation Threat Evaluation (UK SORA) coverage and go stay
UK Particular Operation Threat Evaluation (UK SORA) might be revealed week commencing 3 March 2025. The coverage will go stay on the identical time the UK SORA Software Service launches on the 23 April 2025.

UK SORA turns into Acceptable Technique of Compliance to Article 11 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the 23 April 2025.

UK SORA will make threat assessments for UAS operators extra clear and constant, whereas the brand new digital UK SORA Software Service is designed to ship a extra streamlined utility course of.

UK SORA is a extra structured strategy to conducting a threat evaluation for UAS operations and is predicated on the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Techniques (JARUS) SORAv2.5. 

What does this imply for present PDRA-01 primarily based Operational Authorisation(OA) holders? PDRA-01 OAs are excluded from this replace. PDRA-01 isn’t impacted by the introduction of the UK SORA Coverage.

How will a SORA primarily based utility differ from an OSC primarily based utility?
A UK SORA primarily based utility has a number of advantages over the prevailing OSC primarily based methodology.

• It makes use of a web-based digital utility service that makes the applying course of simpler to finish by guiding candidates by every of the SORA steps.
• CAP 722A is primarily a qualitative methodology and SORA is a extra quantitative methodology. Because of this there might be much less subjectivity and extra transparency within the analysis of your utility.
• The UK SORA utility service permits candidates to determine the mitigation strategies they must display utilizing a web-based calculator, earlier than selecting to proceed with the total evaluation journey.
• The SORA is cut up into two phases. This removes the present necessity for candidates to offer all assurance proof in the beginning of the applying.
• The SORA framework and on-line platform will provide you with confidence that you’re offering the proof required to assist the applying.

You’ll find out extra about UK SORA on the CAA web site.

Key dates

• Week commencing 3 March 2025: UK SORA coverage revealed however not in drive.
• We’ll make the coverage obtainable within the CAA regulatory library. We’ll e mail you to let you recognize when that is revealed
• Week commencing 3 March 2025: The Distant Pilot Competency Coverage might be revealed.
• 23 April 2025: The UK SORA Software Service will go stay, and the UK SORA Coverage will come into drive.

How are you serving to present OSC OA holders transfer to UK SORA? Present holders of an OSC have been contacted individually and despatched extra data on the transfer to UK SORA.

How can I discover out extra about UK SORA?
We’re planning a programme of assist over the following 12 months to assist operators transfer to the SORA methodology.

This can begin with two webinars which might be revealed on the CAA YouTube channel to assist the launch of UK SORA:

• Introduction to UK SORA – an outline of UK SORA and how one can apply for an OA following the UK SORA methodology, together with when it’s possible you’ll have to work together with the long run Distant Pilot Competency scheme and RAE(F)s.
• Transitioning OSC-based purposes to UK SORA – an outline of the important thing variations between OSC / UKSORA threat evaluation methodology and how one can transition purposes to keep up continuity of operations

These webinars might be launched in step with the UK SORA Coverage in March 2025.

Following this, we’re planning additional updates to the trade and assist to assist operators by the method of utilizing SORA for the primary time.

I’m beginning a UK SORA utility. Can I get particular recommendation from the CAA? We encourage operators who’re planning to use for an OA utilizing UK SORA to contact us as early as doable utilizing [email protected]. We’ll then arrange a name to be taught extra about your deliberate operation and supply recommendation in your particular utility.

We’re dedicated to offering additional assist and assist as we strategy the implementation of UK SORA and the UK SORA Software Service. If there are any questions you will have concerning the rollout or utility of UK SORA in your operation, please e mail them to [email protected].

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