The GVC and Operating Safety Case (OSC) Explained

Where the OSC sits in the system

The Specific Category offers more than one route to an Operational Authorisation. The simplest is a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PDRA) - most commonly PDRA01 - where the CAA has already defined a standard scenario with set conditions, and you demonstrate that you can meet them, typically supported by a GVC. The Operating Safety Case (OSC) is the alternative for operations that do not fit any PDRA.

In other words, if what you want to do is covered by a PDRA, you follow the PDRA. If it is not, the OSC is how you make the case for your specific, non-standard operation.

What an OSC contains

An OSC is a structured safety argument for your particular operation. Rather than relying on a pre-defined scenario, you set out exactly what you intend to do and prove that the risks are controlled to an acceptable level. A typical OSC addresses:

• The concept of operations - what you will fly, where, how, and why.
• Ground risk - the people and property beneath and around the operation, and how you reduce exposure.
• Air risk - other airspace users and how you maintain separation.
• Mitigations - procedures, equipment, training and contingencies that reduce both the likelihood and consequence of failures.
• Organisation and competence - who does what, and how you ensure they are capable.

How the GVC relates to the OSC

The GVC provides foundational knowledge and demonstrated flying competence, and the Operations Manual you write for it is a useful starting point. However, an OSC is more demanding than a standard GVC application. It requires you to justify a bespoke operation rather than fit into a ready-made scenario. Holding a GVC does not by itself grant an OSC-based authorisation; the OSC is a separate, more detailed submission to the CAA.

When you are likely to need an OSC

Common triggers for the OSC route include operations beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), operations that exceed the limits of PDRA01, flying in particularly complex environments, or any scenario the CAA has not pre-defined. Because standard GVC operations are VLOS and PDRA01 has fixed limits, anything substantially beyond those is OSC territory.

What to expect from the process

An OSC is more involved and generally takes longer to prepare and assess than a PDRA-based application. It demands clear, evidence-based argument and a realistic understanding of your operation's risks. Many operators develop their experience under PDRA01 first before progressing to OSC-based operations as their needs grow.

The key principle is honesty about risk. The CAA assesses an OSC on whether you have genuinely identified the hazards and shown credible control measures. A vague or optimistic case is unlikely to succeed. Treat the OSC as a serious safety document, not a formality, and build it on the foundation that the GVC provides.