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 AโE (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 2โ3
- Ground hazards: High (dense population, buildings, power lines)
- Airborne hazards: High (commercial traffic, helicopter activity)
- Result: SORA Level 4โ5 (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 1โ2): 20โ30 pages
- Complex operations (Level 3): 50โ80 pages
- Advanced operations (Level 4): 100+ pages
- Property: Suburban house (town of 50,000)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Altitude: 100โ150 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
- โ Maintain VLOS (within 500m)
- โ Maximum 150 feet altitude
- โ No flying over people
- โ Pre-flight weather check
- โ Pre-flight airspace check
- โ Two-person crew (pilot + observer)
- Area: Rural farmland (30 km from nearest town)
- Duration: 3 hours (multiple flights)
- Altitude: 200โ300 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
- โ Maintain VLOS
- โ Avoid power lines (minimum 50m clearance)
- โ Flight time limited to daylight hours
- โ Pre-flight weather assessment
- โ Observer present
- โ 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
- โ Full ReOC + special CASA approval
- โ Advanced safety case (100+ pages)
- โ ATC coordination procedures
- โ Redundant communication systems
- โ Redundant GPS (dual receivers)
- โ Automatic contingency landing capability
- โ Real-time surveillance system
- โ Insurance A$50M+
- โ Advanced crew training (40+ hours)
- โ On-site safety officer monitoring
- โ Underestimating ground risk (claiming "no people" when homes nearby)
- โ Ignoring airspace classification (missing controlled airspace requirements)
- โ Insufficient mitigations (claiming procedures without testing them)
- โ Poor documentation (vague ConOps, insufficient detail)
- โ Inadequate crew training (crew not qualified for procedures)
- โ No contingency planning (no backup if primary system fails)
- โ Weak risk analysis (not following SORA methodology)
- SORA guidance documents
- Risk assessment templates
- Hazard identification checklists
- Sample ConOps
- Flyby Technology SORA Tool (A$500โA$2,000)
- Kroll Risk Assessment Software (A$1,000โA$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 (30โ90 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 (1โ5)
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 ร Airborne Risk Simplified calculation:`` SORA Level = [Ground Hazard Severity] ร [Ground Hazard Probability] + [Airborne Hazard Severity] ร [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 (A$5,000โA$30,000) 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
โ SORA assesses operational risk (ground + airborne hazards) โ SORA Levels 1โ5 determine approval pathway and required mitigations โ ConOps (safety case) is mandatory for commercial operations โ Most operations are Level 2โ3 (relatively straightforward approval) โ Level 4โ5 operations are rare and require 120+ days approval + A$100,000+ โ Accurate hazard identification critical โ CASA reviews rigorously โ Mitigations must be validated (not just claimed)