Specific operations risk assessment (SORA) is a risk assessment process.
JARUS created SORA to help drone operators and authorities work out the risks of drone flights and what safety measures we need. It provides a consistent way to keep things safe for all drone operations.
SORA is for drone operators who need approval for operations that have risks not yet fully covered by their risk management processes. This includes operations like:
The SORA assessment process includes the following steps:
A concept of operations (CONOPS) outlines the planned operation by defining the:
Together these parts make up the operational volume.
A ground risk class (GRC) involves a:
You can work out the fGRC by:
We use the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data sets to work out the highest population density per square kilometre.
An M1 mitigation refers to the ability to reduce the population within the operational volume.
An M2 mitigation refers to reducing the force of the drone when impacting a person.
The air risk class (ARC) assessment looks at the risks to other airspace users and applies measures to reduce that risk.
To identify the ARC for the operational volume, you will need to determine the airspace encounter category (AEC). We base the AEC on the airspace type and likelihood of encounters. You can find a guide to ARC in section 4.4.3. of the Jarus guidelines on SORA.
You may be able to reduce the ARC in some circumstances. To reduce ARC, you will need to be demonstrate that the likelihood of an encounter with another airspace user has been reduced. We may accept some of the following mitigations to reduce the ARC:
Stakeholder engagement is essential for:
SORA uses a risk scale, called a specific assurance and integrity level (SAIL) level (ranging from 1 to 6 in Roman numerals). This rating reflects the potential risks of the flight. Higher ratings mean stricter safety requirements for your drone, your training, and how you manage risks.
SORA uses operational safety objectives (OSOs) to manage risks associated with an out-of-control situation. These are safety goals to prevent those situations from happening. We assess each OSO carefully for:
Containment considers the risks to people within the adjacent area if the operational safety objectives fail. The adjacent area is the surrounding space where the operation is expected to end if a loss of control occurs, beyond the ground risk buffer.
Containment includes requirements based on the population at risk within the adjacent area.
An emergency response plan controls consequences once the drone is out of control. It details how local authorities such as fire brigade and air traffic control, will respond. The aim is to limit the residual effects and harm from an out-of-control event such as a drone crash.
If you wish to apply using SORA, you must submit:
We might ask for more documents after the assessment process if required.
Learn how to apply for beyond visual line-of-sight operations
For complex operations, we recommend arranging a pre-application meeting.
We encourage applicants to seek approval of an area for the purpose of training and testing. We will generally issue these approvals for the validity of your ReOC. This allows you to continue to train new staff and maintain competency and currency for all staff operating BVLOS.
We recommend you choose a low-risk location that is only as large as necessary for BVLOS training and testing.
To demonstrate compliance with SORA, operators must:
We accept population density maps that use the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data to identify the population density for a specific area.
The ABS produce population density maps with the smallest grid size of 1 km by 1 km.
For operations near populated areas, SORA requires:
To calculate the characteristics and dimensions of a drone for the SORA ground risk class:
If there’s a mismatch between dimensions and speed, use the higher value to assign your drone category.
An incomplete application means we have found areas where we need more information or clarification to meet the requirements of regulation 11.030 of the CASR.
Some common challenges operators face when completing a SORA, include:
