Navigating the Future: How SORA Will Impact UK Drone Operations
- Ethan Bond
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Anyone involved in drone operations is likely awaiting the implementation of SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) into the CAA’s drone-specific flight risk analysis process. While the exact details of the CAA’s implementation remain unknown, many—myself included—have looked to EASA’s SORA framework for insight into what the future holds.
What is SORA and Why Does it Matter?
SORA is not a regulatory change but a procedural shift, formalising risk assessment requirements for certain drone missions. Of particular significance to multi-rotor operators and high-value commercial drone work is the initial Ground Risk Class (iGRC).
For most FPV drones—whether commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or custom-built—maximum airspeeds (Vmax) often exceed 35 m/s. Under SORA, this means flights over areas with crowd densities exceeding 50,000 people/km² are not permitted, regardless of any applied mitigations.
However, by making smart design choices (which The Unmanned Company can assist with) to limit Vmax below 35 m/s, multi-rotor operators could gain approval to fly over much denser crowds, including major sporting events and concerts. The key Vmax thresholds for multi-rotor operators in SORA are:
< 25 m/s → iGRC 7
25 – 35 m/s → iGRC 8
If an aircraft is assigned an iGRC of 8 or higher, at least one mitigation is required to prevent the operation from being classified as a certified mission, which introduces significantly more complexity and regulatory requirements.
How The Unmanned Company Supports SORA Compliance
SORA allows iGRC reductions through various mitigation strategies, including improved impact protection, reliability, and operational planning. Here’s where The Unmanned Company’s services can make a difference:
Mitigation Type | Impact on iGRC | How The Unmanned Company Helps |
Tactical Mitigations (M1c) | -1 iGRC | Ground risk simulation & go/no-go charts |
Impact Protection (M2) | -1 iGRC | Design analysis to reduce impact effects |
If the initial iGRC score is 8, at least one reduction is required for the mission to avoid certification. By using The Unmanned Company’s services, operators can potentially reduce iGRC enough to keep their operation within specific category permissions, improving the feasibility of their missions.
SAIL Determination and OSO Compliance
Once the iGRC is mitigated, it is combined with the Residual Air Risk Class (ARC) to determine the SAIL (Specific Assurance and Integrity Level), which dictates the level of operational safety objectives (OSOs) that must be met.
Final GRC | Residual ARC a | Residual ARC b | Residual ARC c | Residual ARC d |
≤2 | I | II | IV | VI |
3 | II | II | IV | VI |
4 | III | III | IV | VI |
5 | IV | IV | IV | VI |
6 | V | V | V | VI |
7 | VI | VI | VI | VI |
>7 | Category C (Certified) operation |
Key Operational Safety Objectives (OSOs)
The required OSOs vary based on the final SAIL level. However, the relevant OSOs to The Unmanned Company's offerings are:
OSO ID | Operational Safety Objective | SAIL I | SAIL II | SAIL III | SAIL IV | SAIL V | SAIL VI |
OSO#05 | UAS is designed considering system safety and reliability. | NR | NR | L | M | H | H |
OSO#08 | Operational procedures are defined, validated and adhered to. | L | M | M | H | H | H |
OSO#23 | Environmental conditions for safe operations defined, measurable and adhered to. | L | M | M | H | H | H |
OSO#24 | UAS designed and qualified for adverse environmental conditions. | NR | L | M | M | H | H |
Key: NR = Not Required, L = Low, M = Medium, H = High
Notably, OSO#8 and OSO#23 explicitly require simulation for medium and high levels of assurance. At high assurance levels, a third party must conduct the simulation—this is where The Unmanned Company is uniquely positioned to help.
Why Work with The Unmanned Company?
If you need to meet OSO#5, 8, 23, and 24 at medium to high assurance, or if you simply want to ensure your missions meet the highest safety and compliance standards, The Unmanned Company offers:
✅ Ground risk simulations to support tactical mitigations
✅ Impact analysis for multi-rotor design improvements
✅ Simulation services to support OSO compliance
✅ Expert support for SORA risk assessments
If you're preparing for the future of UK drone regulations, get in touch today to discuss how our services can help you meet SORA requirements and unlock new operational possibilities.
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