Professional SORA Consulting
We'll help you navigate the complex approval process for drone flights in the Specific category
Our SORA Services
Navigate the complex Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) approval process safely and easily with our comprehensive consulting services. We offer a full range of services tailored to the unique requirements of drone flights in the Specific category.
Help With Your Application
We guide you through the entire operational approval process for unmanned aircraft flights, making sure you meet every requirement.Understanding the Regulations
Our experts break down the regulations and requirements in detail, so you fully understand them.Risk Analysis
We carry out a thorough, digitally supported risk analysis to identify the ground and air risk of your operation, both within and beyond visual line of sight, and to develop suitable mitigations and operational safety objectives.Safety Management
We help you build your flight operation with a concept of operations, an operations manual, and effective safety management practices to keep your drone flights safe.
Why Choose Us
With our extensive training and years of industry experience, we're perfectly positioned to guide you through the SORA approval process. Your benefit: savings in cost and time, plus close contact with the authorities.
Speed
We know your time is valuable, so we make our consulting services as efficient as possible.Personalized Consulting
Every client has unique needs and challenges, so we tailor our consulting to your specific requirements.High Success Rate
Thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience, we have a high success rate helping clients through the SORA approval process.Specialized Expertise
We have deep knowledge of the specific requirements and regulations for drone flights in the Specific category.
Our Expertise
Experience from SORA procedures in Germany and Austria — brought together in one team.
Get in touch with Mario Marek, skyzr's UAS Specialist, today — with particular expertise in:
- Project DevelopmentPMA Level D certified
- Risk assessment under Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947for flights within and beyond the remote pilot's visual line of sight
- Flights in geographical zones, restricted areas, and control zones
- Getting the full potential out of the UAS, use case, and legal boundaries
- Stakeholder identification and communication (including authorities)
- Emergency Response Plan at Medium Robustnessper AMC3 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e)
- Methods for containing the operationEnhanced Containment
- Cross-border operations, or operations outside the state of registrationArticle 13 EU 2019/947
- Noise level considerations
The SORA Challenge
As a drone pilot, you're faced with a wide range of regulations and approval processes that significantly shape your services and opportunities. The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) in particular is a major hurdle to clear. But what exactly does this process involve, and how can you tackle it without unnecessary hassle?
SORA stands for Specific Operations Risk Assessment and is a core part of the approval procedure for drone flights in the Specific category (see the EU Drone Regulation). It's a complex, often time-consuming process that takes numerous factors into account to ensure the safety of drone operations.
A SORA is required whenever your planned drone flight no longer falls under the Open category — for example, flights above 120 m, beyond visual line of sight, in special areas, and more. A SORA lets you apply for approval to fly anyway, so you can offer drone flights that many other pilots might not dare to take on. A decisive competitive edge!
The SORA process involves a thorough risk analysis and the development of suitable safety measures. While this process is essential for ensuring airspace safety, it can also feel like a bureaucratic hurdle that gets in the way of what you actually want to do — fly drones. That's why many drone pilots avoid such flights, potentially turning down lucrative and exciting jobs.
Take Off Without the Hassle, Thanks to SORA Consulting
We take on the paperwork so you can fly more demanding jobs.
Our goal is to help you successfully complete the SORA process and expand your opportunities as a drone pilot. With a completed SORA, you'll be able to offer a wider range of drone flights and take on more complex jobs. And the best part? You get to focus on what you do best — flying drones — while we handle the paperwork.
skyzr: Your Partner in the SORA Process
Our SORA consulting includes:
- Support With Your Application: We guide you through applying for an operational approval for unmanned aircraft.
- Understanding the Regulations: Our experts explain the requirements in detail, so you know exactly what's expected of you.
- Risk Analysis: With digital support, we carry out a thorough risk analysis to identify all potential hazards of your planned operations and develop suitable safety measures.
- Safety Management: We help make your flight operations safer with concrete, actionable recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer the most common questions about SORA and our SORA consulting. Feel free to contact us anytime with further questions.
It stands for Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) and is a comprehensive risk analysis for a planned drone operation. It's required for an operational approval in the Specific category. We guide you through the entire application and SORA process to make your specific drone operations possible!
If you're applying for authorisation to operate in the Specific category, you need to complete a SORA. See also Do I need to obtain an authorisation before flying my drone in the 'specific' category? | EASA.
- Flights above 120 m AGL (please also note the exceptions around certain infrastructure)
- Flights with drones heavier than 25 kg or exceeding the permitted speeds
- Flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS flights) — this also includes FPV flights if no observer is used!
- Flights over uninvolved people with drones > 249 g
- If objects are to be dropped
- If dangerous goods are to be transported
See also How do I determine I fall under the 'specific' category? | EASA.
This is prohibited in the Open category. The only exception is in Follow-Me mode and when a UA observer (another person who keeps the drone in sight at all times) is used (FPV flight).
When you want to apply for operation in the "Specific" category. See also Do I need to obtain an authorisation before flying my drone in the 'specific' category? | EASA.
Always with the national competent (aviation) authority of your country of registration first. See also Why I cannot apply directly to the competent authority of the state of operation? | EASA.
If you can fly in the
- "Open" category, or
- apply an STS or PDRA, or
- fly indoors
For EASA, SORA is an "Acceptable Means of Compliance" (AMC) — an accepted way to analyze the risk of a drone operation and put measures in place to reduce it. Because SORA was developed by an international group of experts (JARUS), countries outside the EASA's jurisdiction accept it too. Other countries are still considering adopting this type of risk analysis, based on experience in Europe.
- The flight does not take place in the "Open" category
- The operation does not take place in the "Certified" category
- The operation is not already covered by a Standard Scenario (STS) or Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA), provided a suitable drone is available
- The operation is not prohibited by an authority-specific "no-go"
- Operator registration in an EU country (and therefore liability insurance) — see also Will my registration as drone operator be recognised throughout Europe? | EASA
- Insurance — see also Do I need insurance? | EASA
- Room to innovate — enables new procedural and technical approaches and unique operating models (a barrier to entry for competitors and a USP)
- A deep engagement with risk (good airmanship) — a risk-based approach
- In the interest of aviation safety and uninvolved people on the ground (a holistic approach)
- Creating an operations manual that's necessary for controlled operations anyway, and can be reused for new applications, operational approvals, and SORAs
- Developing your own flight procedures, training, and more
- Legal certainty — reduced business risk
- Higher upfront costs (though faster payback is possible thanks to the USP)
- High initial effort (though documents you develop, such as the operations manual, can be reused and expanded on)
Take advantage of wingman by skyzr or get personal advice.