SERVICE: SORA Risk Assessment for the Flight

If your drone flight cannot be conducted in the OPEN category or based on STS scenarios, it is best to apply for an individual permit for a specific flight from the aviation authority (LBA). It does not matter whether it is a VLOS or BVLOS flight. To obtain a permit, you must create detailed documentation stating, among other things, what you want to do, in what way, with what equipment, and with which personnel. However, the first step in preparing and obtaining the final permit is to conduct a risk assessment according to the SORA methodology or to check whether the flight operation is subject to a predefined PDRA risk assessment.

PDRA stands for Predefined Risk Assessment. EASA has published a list of pre-created risk assessments for selected types of operations. Thanks to PDRA, you do not have to go through the full SORA process, provided that your planned drone flight complies with the specifications of the selected PDRA.

However, as practice shows, it is very difficult to plan and apply PDRA, as even the smallest deviation makes the application of PDRA impossible. This is because each PDRA contains a set of non-negotiable rules and requirements. The smallest deviation makes the application of PDRA impossible.

Only the full SORA process offers complete independence, flexibility, and significantly more possibilities.

It is a document in which you calculate and assess the risk of a planned drone flight. It is an indispensable part of the documentation for approval by the LBA. The analysis is necessary to classify the flight and thus determine the measures with which you must reduce the risk (e.g., parachute, Flight Termination System).

This methodology makes it possible to classify risks, reduce them, determine their final value, and identify the requirements that arise from the overall risk level for the operation. A well-conducted SORA is the basis for creating the approval documentation (Operations Manual).

Be prepared!

Aviation authorities like the LBA require a preliminary discussion before submitting documents. During such a meeting, it is crucial to properly present the planned operation in terms of the associated risks. With the help of our expertise, you can present the completed SORA form at the meeting for discussion and preliminary approval by the authority. If necessary, we can also support you during this meeting. If certain elements of the SORA form are negotiable or open to interpretation, we will create a list of questions that you can ask during the meeting. This allows you to present yourself as a professional at the meeting, significantly shorten the entire process, and reduce its costs. Thanks to our measures and the meeting, you will know exactly how the aviation authority views the planned operation and which procedures you must meet.

We are one of the most experienced drone companies in Germany and Europe when it comes to supporting our customers with drone regulations. We have one of the largest training centers in Europe, where we have already trained over 15,000 drone pilots in 5 countries. As one of the few training companies, we are authorized by DJI and have numerous permits in the specific category in various countries. Our team consists of experts in legal analysis, regulations, DJI technology, and training.

We are happy to advise you personally, assist you with all questions regarding drone regulations and training, and actively support you in the implementation of your projects. We look forward to getting to know you and working together successfully.