BVLOS Compliance Checker

SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) is the standardised risk assessment methodology used by EASA for drone operations in the Specific Category. It evaluates ground risk and air risk to determine what mitigations are needed for BVLOS flights. SORA is required for all dock-based drone operations in EU member states because autonomous BVLOS operations fall under the Specific Category.

Yes, BVLOS drone operations are legal across all 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein under the EASA Specific Category framework. Operations require a SORA-based authorization from the National Aviation Authority in the country of operation. The UK has its own separate framework through the CAA. Regulatory support for BVLOS has been accelerating since 2024 with U-space deployment across multiple countries.

Typical SORA approval timelines range from 3 to 12 months depending on the country, complexity of operations, and the quality of the submitted Concept of Operations (ConOps) document. Countries with more mature U-space infrastructure (Germany, France, Netherlands) tend to process applications faster. First-time applicants should budget 6-12 months; repeat applicants with established operational track records can often obtain approvals in 3-6 months.

U-space is the European framework for drone traffic management, similar to how air traffic control manages manned aviation. It provides services including geo-awareness, flight authorization, tracking, and conflict resolution for unmanned aircraft. U-space is being deployed progressively across EU member states under EASA Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664. Full U-space coverage enables safer and more scalable BVLOS operations.

No. Since Brexit, the UK operates under its own regulatory framework managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The UK CAA has its own BVLOS authorization process, documented in CAP 722. While the frameworks are similar in philosophy (both use risk-based assessment), they are legally separate systems. An EASA SORA approval does not automatically apply in the UK, and vice versa.

A SORA approval is issued by one National Aviation Authority but can be cross-border recognised by other EU member states. Under EASA regulations, operators can request that their authorization be recognised in other countries through a mutual recognition process. However, each NAA may impose additional local conditions. In practice, operators typically seek authorization from each country where they plan to operate for the most straightforward compliance path.

A Concept of Operations (ConOps) is the core document submitted to the NAA as part of a SORA application. It describes the intended drone operation in detail: aircraft type, flight area, operating procedures, emergency procedures, maintenance schedules, crew qualifications, and risk mitigations. For dock-based operations, the ConOps must specifically address autonomous launch, flight, and recovery procedures, as well as loss-of-link scenarios.

Dock-based autonomous drone operations fall under the EASA Specific Category because they involve BVLOS flights without a pilot physically present at the launch site. This requires a SORA risk assessment and authorization from the National Aviation Authority. Operations cannot be conducted under the Open Category (which requires VLOS) or the standard Specific Category scenarios (STS-01, STS-02) which have line-of-sight requirements.