UK SORA and Regulatory Services

Applying for UK SORA can be daunting — we make it simple.

Work directly with our in-house regulatory specialists, who were the first in the UK to secure BVLOS permissions for DJI Dock in an Atypical Air Environment. They've also gained approval to operate the DJI FlyCart 30 heavy-lift drone.

Under the legacy OSC framework—now transitioned to UK SORA—we’ve helped 30+ clients achieve extended permissions for complex operations, including:

• Single-pilot flights up to 1,000 ft

• EVLOS missions up to 3,000 m

• Heavy-lift OSCs for payloads up to 101 kg

We know what works because we’ve done it. Whether you’re new to SORA or expanding existing permissions, we’ll build you a strong, compliant application backed by real-world operational experience.

To book a consultation call, contact us.

Our consultancy service provides comprehensive, step-by-step guidance, ensuring your SORA application is ambitious, tailored, and compliant.

1. Consultation: Book a call with our consultancy team to discuss your objectives. If UK SORA is not required for your operations, we will advise accordingly - ensuring you follow the right regulatory pathway.

2. Proposal: Where SORA is the correct route, you will receive a free, no-obligation quotation and a statement of work. Upon your approval, we proceed to the application build.

3. Build Your Application: Collaborate with our team, including your assigned project manager, to produce a tailored SORA application, designed to provide the flexibility your operations require.

4. Submit to UK CAA: We conduct a thorough review of your completed application before submitting it to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

UK SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) is the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) structured framework for assessing and authorising higher-risk drone operations in the Specific Category.

It is an online digital risk assessment system designed to enhance safety and efficiency of drone operations and meet the forecasted demand of the UK drone sector.

At its core, UK SORA helps operators:

• Identify the risks of a proposed operation to both people on the ground and other airspace users.

• Mitigate those risks through safety planning, technical capabilities, and operational procedures.

• Demonstrate to the UK CAA that the operation can be carried out safely and responsibly.

UK SORA is designed to bring numerous benefits to the drone industry. These include:

• Clear, Standardised Framework: Operators follow a recognised structure that improves the quality of applications. It provides a transparent methodology for UAS risk assessment that reduces the risk of inconsistencies.

• Proportional: Ensures that safety measures employed are proportional and appropriate to the risk posed by the specific UAS operation.

• Reduced Workload: Reduces the workload for operators in developing an appropriate safety case.

• Quicker Turnaround: The UK CAA says that UK SORA will help to reduce the timescales involved in assessing applications and operators receiving authorisations.

• International Alignment and Global Standards: Builds consistency with European and global drone regulations - important for companies with international ambitions.

• Tailored Risk Management: Encourages proactive identification and mitigation of operational risks.

• Future-Proof Compliance: SORA is likely to be the basis for drone regulations worldwide, making early adoption a strategic advantage.

UK SORA covers operations that exceed the scope of PDRA01 (Pre-defined Risk Assessment) Operational Authorisations - such as flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Examples of drone missions covered by UK SORA include:

• Dropping items from your drone;

• Flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) - particularly relevant for solutions such as the DJI Dock ecosystem;

• Flying a drone weighing more than 25kg, such as DJI FlyCart 30;

• Flying close to crowds;

• Flying close to people with aircraft that weigh 500g or more;

• Flying at increased heights above ground level;

• Swarm operations;

• Flying more than 120m (400ft) above ground level.

A UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation lasts for 12 months.

There are certain types of operations that are outside the policy limits of UK SORA. These include:

• Operating unmanned aircraft with a dimension larger than 40 metres;

• Operating unmanned aircraft with a maximum cruise speed above 200 metres per second;

• Operations above Flight Level 660 (FL660);

• Operating unmanned aircraft with a maximum dimension of more than 3 metres or maximum speed over 35 metres per second, where the population density is greater than 50,000 people per km².

Some operations require additional applications that are outside UK SORA, or may require the use of a policy that has not yet been released. Examples include:

• Multiple Simultaneous Operations (MSOs);

• Operations that require an airspace change;

• Carrying dangerous goods.

SORA involves several core concepts. These include:

UK SORA replaces the Operating Safety Case (OSC) methodology and introduces a risk-based, scalable, and internationally-aligned methodology.

UK SORA brings numerous benefits compared to the OSC methodology. These include:

Framework

• OSCs: Bespoke and operator-led, with no standardised structure.

• SORA: Follows a defined, risk-based framework recognised internationally.

Risk Assessment

• OSCs: Relied heavily on narrative and operator judgement.

• SORA: Applies quantitative metrics (like GRC, ARC, and SAIL) to assess risks systematically.

Consistency

• OSCs: Quality and format varied widely.

• SORA: Brings uniformity to applications, helping the UK CAA assess operations faster and more consistently.

Global Alignment

• OSCs: Unique to the UK.

• SORA: Based on JARUS global standards, making it easier to expand internationally.

Valid OSC-based Operational Authorisations will remain valid until their expiry date.

In most cases, operators will need to make a new application using the UK SORA-based Application Service once their OSC-based Operational Authorisation expires.

There are three steps to applying for a UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation - and heliguy™ can support you throughout.

• Step 1: Calculate your SAIL and containment levels. It's free to do this.

• Step 2: Assessment 1 - submit your proposed operations and approach to ground risk or air mitigations.

• Step 3: Assessment 2 - submit your approach to the requirements that apply to the proposed operations.

You must have an Operator ID and an Operations Manual. SORA applications are made through the UK-SORA Application Service.

UK CAA charges for a UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation vary by SAIL level. This reflects the effort needed to assess applications as the complexity of operations increases.

The application prices are outlined below.

There is no VAT to pay.

You do not have to pay for Assessment 2 if you decide to withdraw your application during or after Assessment 1, or if the UK CAA refuses your application in Assessment 1.

Reapplication Fees

A UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation lasts for 12 months.

You can reapply from 28 days before your authorisation expires and you must reapply before the expiry date to preserve the anniversary of the authorisation.

You cannot make any changes to the scope of your UK SORA authorisation when you reapply. Any significant changes that require a new Operational Authorisation will require a new UK SORA application.

The reapplication fees are below.

UK SORA brings with it new remote pilot competencies: The Level 1-4 Remote Pilot Certificates.

The GVC will remain in place alongside the new certificates. The GVC and RPC-L1 are broadly similar in the level of competency needed to attain them - although an RPC-L1 certificate for the same category of drone is required to move on to RPC-L2, which is designed for BVLOS operations.

The table below provides an overview of Level 1, 2, 3, and 4.