What is SORA?
Definition
SORA (System for Assessing Hazards & Operability Risk) is CASA's standardized methodology for:- Identifying hazards in drone operations
- Assessing risk levels
- Determining necessary mitigations
- Gaining CASA approval
Why SORA Exists
CASR Part 101 requires operators to demonstrate safety through risk analysis, not just follow prescriptive rules.
SORA allows:- Innovation in drone operations
- Tailored approvals for unique operations
- Evidence-based safety decisions
- Scalable risk management
- People Hazards
- Population density (isolated vs. urban)
- Person density in flight area
- Vulnerable people (children, elderly)
- Static vs. mobile groups (events, traffic)
- Infrastructure Hazards
- Buildings and structures
- Power lines and electrical infrastructure
- Telecommunications towers
- Road/rail networks
- Water features
- Environmental Hazards
- Terrain (terrain complexity affects visibility)
- Wind patterns (sheltered vs. exposed)
- Weather conditions
- Lighting conditions (day vs. twilight vs. night)
- Airspace Classification
- Class A–E (controlled) vs. Class G (uncontrolled)
- Flight Information Service area
- NOTAM requirements
- Expected Traffic
- Commercial aircraft patterns
- General aviation activity
- Helicopter operations
- Military activity
- Deconfliction Requirements
- ATC coordination needed?
- Flight notification timing
- Frequency monitoring
- Ground hazards: Very low (no people, no infrastructure)
- Airborne hazards: Low (minimal manned aircraft)
- Result: SORA Level 1
- Ground hazards: Medium (scattered homes, some people)
- Airborne hazards: Medium (light general aviation)
- Result: SORA Level 2–3
- Ground hazards: High (dense population, buildings, power lines)
- Airborne hazards: High (commercial traffic, helicopter activity)
- Result: SORA Level 4–5 (rare approval)
- Evidence that mitigations actually reduce risk
- Testing/validation of systems
- Documented training for crew
- Maintenance procedures to ensure reliability
- Must demonstrate system tested (multiple flights)
- Must show reliability (99%+ success rate)
- Must document backup procedures (if RTH fails)
- Executive Summary
- Operation type (surveying, inspection, photography, etc.)
- Location and airspace classification
- Flight duration and frequency
- Expected SORA level
- Operation Description
- Detailed flight plan
- Mission objectives
- Equipment specifications
- Crew roles and responsibilities
- Hazard Analysis
- Ground hazards identified
- Airborne hazards identified
- Risk assessment (SORA level determination)
- Risk Mitigation Plan
- Identified mitigations
- Evidence of mitigation effectiveness
- Contingency procedures
- Emergency procedures
- Personnel & Training
- Crew qualifications
- Training requirements
- Medical fitness standards
- Currency requirements
- Operations Manual
- Pre-flight procedures
- Flight procedures
- Emergency procedures
- Post-flight procedures
- Safety Case
- Argument that operation is acceptably safe
- Reference to mitigations
- Regulatory compliance statement
- Simple operations (Level 1–2): 20–30 pages
- Complex operations (Level 3): 50–80 pages
- Advanced operations (Level 4): 100+ pages
- Property: Suburban house (town of 50,000)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Altitude: 100–150 feet AGL
- Equipment: DJI Air 3S
- People: Medium (neighbors in adjacent properties)
- Infrastructure: Medium (power lines nearby, houses)
- Terrain: Low (flat, open)
- Ground Risk Rating: MEDIUM
- Airspace: Uncontrolled (Class G)
- Traffic: Low (light general aviation)
- Deconfliction: Low (NOTAM not required)
- Airborne Risk Rating: LOW
- Maintain VLOS (within 500m)
- Maximum 150 feet altitude
- No flying over people
- Pre-flight weather check
- Pre-flight airspace check
- Two-person crew (pilot + observer)
- Area: Rural farmland (30 km from nearest town)
- Duration: 3 hours (multiple flights)
- Altitude: 200–300 feet AGL
- Equipment: DJI Matrice 300 RTK
- People: Low (isolated area, no people expected)
- Infrastructure: Medium (power lines on property boundary)
- Terrain: Low (flat farmland)
- Ground Risk Rating: LOW-MEDIUM
- Airspace: Uncontrolled (Class G)
- Traffic: Low (minimal aircraft activity)
- Deconfliction: Low
- Airborne Risk Rating: LOW
- Maintain VLOS
- Avoid power lines (minimum 50m clearance)
- Flight time limited to daylight hours
- Pre-flight weather assessment
- Observer present
- GPS accuracy verification (RTK functioning)
- Area: City center (population 500,000)
- Route: 10 km (downtown to suburb)
- Duration: 45 minutes round trip
- Equipment: Custom delivery drone
- People: High (dense population, streets, parks)
- Infrastructure: High (buildings, power lines, telecom towers)
- Terrain: Complex (urban canyon effects)
- Ground Risk Rating: HIGH
- Airspace: Mixed (controlled near airport, Class G elsewhere)
- Traffic: High (commercial airlines, helicopters, general aviation)
- Deconfliction: Complex (requires ATC coordination)
- Airborne Risk Rating: HIGH
- Full ReOC + special CASA approval
- Advanced safety case (100+ pages)
- ATC coordination procedures
- Redundant communication systems
- Redundant GPS (dual receivers)
- Automatic contingency landing capability
- Real-time surveillance system
- Insurance varies by coverage level and operations type+
- Advanced crew training (40+ hours)
- On-site safety officer monitoring
- Underestimating ground risk (claiming "no people" when homes nearby)
- Ignoring airspace classification (missing controlled airspace requirements)
- Insufficient mitigations (claiming procedures without testing them)
- Poor documentation (vague ConOps, insufficient detail)
- Inadequate crew training (crew not qualified for procedures)
- No contingency planning (no backup if primary system fails)
- Weak risk analysis (not following SORA methodology)
- SORA guidance documents
- Risk assessment templates
- Hazard identification checklists
- Sample ConOps
- Flyby Technology SORA Tool (A$500–A$2,000)
- Kroll Risk Assessment Software (A$1,000–A$5,000)
- Custom assessment (spreadsheet-based) (free)
- Develop ConOps (internally or with consultant)
- Complete SORA assessment (determine risk level)
- Submit to CASA (via ReOC application)
- CASA review (30–90 days depending on complexity)
- CASA feedback (may request clarifications or changes)
- Resubmit if needed (address CASA concerns)
- CASA approval (operation authorized)
- Operation authorized as proposed
- No conditions or restrictions
- Operation authorized with conditions
- Examples: "Maximum 50m distance from buildings," "NOTAM required 24 hours prior"
- Most approvals are conditional
- Operation as proposed unacceptable
- CASA provides feedback
- Operator may resubmit with modifications
- Operation fundamentally unsafe
- No path to approval without major redesign
- Rare outcome
SORA Framework Overview
SORA Assessment Levels (1–5)
CASA classifies drone operations into 5 risk levels:
| Level | Risk Profile | Example Operations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minimal | Drone in isolated rural area, no people within 100m, VLOS |
| 2 | Low | Drone in suburban area, scattered people, daytime VLOS |
| 3 | Medium | Drone near mixed populated/unpopulated areas, light traffic |
| 4 | High | Drone in dense urban area, significant crowds, complex airspace |
| 5 | Extreme | Drone over critical infrastructure, major events, high population |
SORA Assessment Process
Step 1: Identify Ground Hazards
Ground hazards = things on the ground that could be harmed if drone crashes. Categories:Step 2: Identify Airborne Hazards
Airborne hazards = other aircraft that could collide with your drone. Assessment factors:Step 3: Determine Risk Level
Risk matrix = Ground Risk × Airborne Risk Simplified calculation:`` SORA Level = [Ground Hazard Severity] × [Ground Hazard Probability] + [Airborne Hazard Severity] × [Airborne Hazard Probability] ``
Step 4: Identify Mitigations
Mitigations = actions to reduce risk. Categories:| Mitigation Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Operational | Flight altitude limits, speed restrictions, VLOS requirements |
| Technical | Redundant systems, automatic landing, obstacle avoidance |
| Procedural | Weather monitoring, pre-flight checks, crew training |
| Administrative | Operating hours restrictions, geographic boundaries, crew authorization |
Step 5: Verify Mitigations Effective
CASA requires:SORA Documentation Requirements
ConOps (Concept of Operations) Document
Mandatory for all commercial operations. ConOps describes:ConOps Length & Complexity
Typical ConOps:SORA Examples by Operation Type
Example 1: Real Estate Photography (Suburban Area)
Operation Details:Example 2: Surveying in Regional Area (150 hectares)
Operation Details:Example 3: Delivery Operations (Urban Area)
Operation Details:SORA Assessment Mistakes to Avoid
Common Errors
CASA SORA Assessment Tools
CASA-Provided Resources
CASA publishes free resources:Approved Assessment Tools
Some consultants provide software:
Working with CASA on SORA
Submission Process
CASA Approval Outcome Options
A. Full ApprovalFAQ
Q: Is SORA required for all drone operations?
A: No. Exempt operations (e.g., toys, simple recreational use) don't need SORA. Commercial operations require it.Q: Can I skip SORA if I have ReOC?
A: ReOC application includes SORA assessment. So they're linked. ReOC = SORA assessment bundled together.Q: Who can perform SORA assessment?
A: You can (if competent), or hire a consultant. CASA requires accurate assessment, not a specific person.Q: What if my SORA assessment is disputed by CASA?
A: Provide evidence (testing, documentation, expert opinion). If still disputed, CASA may assign assessor; usually results in approval with conditions.Q: Does thermal imaging affect SORA level?
A: Yes. Night operations (thermal) increase airborne risk (collision), typically moving operation from Level 2 to Level 3.Q: How often must I update my ConOps?
A: Annually minimum. Major changes (new location, new equipment, new operation type) require immediate update.Q: Can I hire someone to do SORA for me?
A: Yes. Consultants (varies depending on specifications) can prepare ConOps and SORA assessment. You remain responsible for accuracy.Q: What if CASA requests additional mitigations after approval?
A: Update ConOps and resubmit. Usually approved quickly if changes are reasonable.Q: Does MmowW help with SORA assessment?
A: Yes. MmowW provides SORA templates, hazard checklists, and ConOps guidance. Cost: A$8.50/drone/month.Q: How detailed must ground hazard analysis be?
A: CASA expects: specific people count/density, infrastructure identified by type, terrain characteristics. Vague descriptions will be rejected.Q: Can SORA assessment reduce my insurance requirements?
Key Takeaways
SORA assesses operational risk (ground + airborne hazards) SORA Levels 1–5 determine approval pathway and required mitigations ConOps (safety case) is mandatory for commercial operations Most operations are Level 2–3 (relatively straightforward approval) Level 4–5 operations are rare and require 120+ days approval + varies — check with relevant providers (maximum under the Civil Aviation Act 1988)+ Accurate hazard identification critical — CASA reviews rigorously Mitigations must be validated (not just claimed)