CAA Authorisation for Drone Delivery in the UK: Application Process and Requirements

Understanding the Operational Authorisation

An Operational Authorisation is the CAA's formal permission for drone operations that fall outside the Open Category. For delivery services, an OA is mandatory because the risk profile of carrying payloads along extended routes exceeds what Open Category rules are designed to accommodate. The OA defines precisely what you are authorised to do — including the geographic area, aircraft type, maximum payload weight, operational hours, and altitude limits.

Each OA is bespoke. The CAA does not issue generic delivery authorisations. Your OA will be tailored to your specific aircraft, delivery routes, operational procedures, and risk mitigations. This means two delivery operators flying the same drone model in the same city may hold different OAs with different conditions.

Step 1: Pre-Application Engagement

Before submitting a formal application, the CAA strongly encourages prospective delivery operators to engage with the CAA Innovation Team. This team was established specifically to support novel and innovative drone operations, including delivery services. Pre-application discussions allow you to understand what the CAA expects from your application, identify potential regulatory obstacles early, receive guidance on the appropriate risk assessment methodology, and explore whether the CAA Regulatory Sandbox programme is suitable for your operation.

The Sandbox programme is particularly relevant for delivery operators testing new concepts. It provides a structured environment where you can demonstrate operational capability under CAA oversight before committing to a full OA application.

Step 2: Conducting the SORA Risk Assessment

The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) is the primary risk assessment methodology accepted by the CAA for Specific Category operations. For drone delivery, the SORA process involves:

1. ConOps Development: Defining your concept of operations in detail — the delivery routes, aircraft specifications, payload types, operational environment, and population density along flight paths
2. Ground Risk Assessment: Classifying the ground risk based on where the drone will fly, the population density below the flight path, and what mitigations you can apply (such as parachute systems or flight termination systems)
3. Air Risk Assessment: Evaluating the likelihood of encountering manned aircraft, considering the airspace classification, proximity to aerodromes, and the altitude of your delivery flights
4. Mitigation Identification: Documenting the technical, operational, and procedural mitigations that reduce both ground and air risk to acceptable levels
5. SAIL Determination: The SORA produces a Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL), which determines the rigour of evidence required in your application

Step 3: Preparing the Operations Manual

Your Operations Manual (Ops Manual) is the backbone of the OA application. For delivery operations, it must cover normal operating procedures for each delivery route type, abnormal and emergency procedures including lost link protocols, remote pilot training and competency standards, maintenance schedules for delivery aircraft and payload systems, ground infrastructure requirements such as launch and landing sites, and fatigue risk management for remote pilots.

The Ops Manual should be a living document that reflects your actual operations, not a theoretical exercise. The CAA will assess whether your documented procedures are practical, comprehensive, and proportionate to the risks identified in your SORA.

Step 4: Demonstrating Pilot Competency

Remote pilots operating delivery drones must hold qualifications appropriate to the complexity of the operation. At minimum, a GVC (General VLOS Certificate) is typically required, but delivery operations — particularly those involving BVLOS — will require additional competency demonstration. This may include type-specific training on the delivery aircraft, BVLOS-specific training covering instrument-based flight monitoring, emergency response training including forced landing procedures, and route-specific knowledge assessments.

Step 5: Insurance and Application Submission

Before submitting your application, secure commercial drone insurance that covers delivery operations. Standard recreational or basic commercial policies may not be sufficient. Your insurer must understand that you are conducting payload delivery flights, potentially over populated areas and beyond visual line of sight.

The formal application is submitted through the CAA's online portal. Include your completed SORA, Operations Manual, pilot competency records, insurance documentation, and any supporting technical data about your aircraft and delivery systems. Application fees apply and vary based on the complexity of the authorisation sought.

Processing Times and Conditions

The CAA does not publish fixed processing times for OA applications, but delivery-related applications typically require several months of review. Complex applications involving BVLOS or operations in congested areas may take longer. The CAA may request additional information, clarification, or evidence during the review process. Once granted, your OA will include specific conditions that you must comply with at all times during delivery operations.