Strategic Mitigations in SORA: What Are They and How to Apply Them

What Are Strategic Mitigations?

Strategic mitigations are planned procedures and operational restrictions implemented before the flight to reduce the probability of conflict with other airspace users and lower the duration and exposure to potential hazards. By addressing risks proactively, these mitigations contribute significantly to the safe conduct of a drone operation under the UK CAA’s Specific Category framework.

Typical strategic mitigations include procedural limitations such as restricting flight areas, setting maximum altitudes and operating times, and defining other operational limits tailored to the mission and environment.

• Limitations in operational procedures
• Restrictions on flight profiles including altitude and timing
• Defined operational zones or exclusion areas

Applying Strategic Mitigations under UK SORA

Within the UK, the SORA methodology supports risk assessment when seeking a Specific Category Operational Authorisation either via the PDRA01 or the UK SORA-based application routes. Strategic mitigations reduce operational risk through categories such as:

• Operational limitations applied by the UAS operator covering aspects like geographic boundaries, flight altitude, and permissible timing.

• Compliance with applicable aviation regulations and agreements with relevant authorities to ensure shared airspace safety.

Note that tactical mitigations are distinct from strategic; they are dynamic and employed during flight to manage immediate risks in real time.

An effective application involves detailed analysis of the operational environment and incorporation of strategic mitigations into the operational documentation, such as the Concept of Operations (ConOps) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP), which form parts of the Operational Authorisation submission to the UK CAA.

• Restrictions on flight area and times
• Adherence to UK aviation safety rules and communication protocols
• Inclusion in operational manuals and systematic checklists for crew

Examples of Strategic Mitigations

Consider a drone operation over a congested urban area in the UK, where there is both a high density of people and manned aircraft activity. Appropriate strategic mitigations might include:

• Limiting the flight to a specifically designated and controlled airspace with minimal public presence.

• Imposing a maximum flying height to avoid manned aircraft conflict.

• Conducting operations during periods with reduced air traffic or fewer pedestrians.

• Engaging with local air traffic control or civil authorities ahead of time to coordinate temporary restrictions or notification procedures.

• Operate in low-population or specially controlled zones
• Set maximum altitudes and operational time windows
• Advance liaison with authorities for risk mitigation coordination

Integrating Strategic Mitigations into Your SORA Dossier

When preparing a SORA dossier for submission to the UK CAA, clearly documenting strategic mitigations is vital. These should be detailed within the operational documentation such as the Concept of Operations (ConOps) and supplemented, if applicable, by the Emergency Response Plan (ERP).

This involves:

• Explicitly stating each strategic mitigation and the rationale behind it.

• Demonstrating how these mitigations contribute to lowering the overall risk score in the SORA assessment.

• Providing evidence of any relevant agreements with third parties, like air traffic controllers or local authorities, supporting the mitigation measures.

• Record mitigations in ConOps and ERP documents
• Provide supporting evidence of risk reduction in SORA scoring
• Include documented coordination with relevant aviation stakeholders