UAS TEST AND EVALUATION SITE
- OR ANY FLYING SITE -
REGULATORY PRE-APPROVAL
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced its Policy Concept for Pre-assessed Test Sites, providing a faster and more predictable regulatory pathway for drone testing. Any drone flying site or Test & Evaluation (T&E) facility can apply to become a CAA Pre-assessed UAS Test Site.
SORA APPLICATION SUPPORT
A pre-assessed site has already completed, documented, and had approved by the CAA the key elements of the SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) methodology:
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Ground risk assessment
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Air risk assessment
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Containment requirements
Because the risk profile of the site has been pre-validated, the regulatory burden for visiting organisations—UAS designers, manufacturers, or operators—is significantly reduced. Instead of a full SORA submission, they can simply submit a variation to their existing SORA Operational Authorisation, adding the validated location.
Why is a Pre-assessed UAS Test Site Useful?
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For UAS manufacturers with aircraft <25 kg
Lightweight, privately-built UAS can often be tested in the Open Category A3 (far from people) in remote areas close to your facilities. A designated site may still help if you need repeatable test conditions or specific risk mitigations.
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For UAS >25 kg
Testing heavier systems cannot be done in the Open Category or under PDRA01. A SORA-based authorisation is mandatory, making pre-assessed sites extremely valuable to accelerate approvals.
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For ad-hoc or private test locations
The CAA’s UAS T&E pre-assessment process can be applied to any suitable site—including privately-owned farmland—if the landowner is supportive and aviation-minded. This provides a recognised safety framework to validate non-traditional test locations.
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For commercial or defence test activities
The pre-assessment covers baseline UAS regulatory safety risk only. Activities such as dropping articles, transporting dangerous goods, or military capability evaluation may require additional approvals from other CAA teams or defence authorities.
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For organisations without a SORA authorisation
If you do not yet hold a SORA Operational Authorisation, we can support you with the full application, documentation, and engagement with the CAA.
How We Help
We assist Test & Evaluation sites and UAS operators with:
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Preparing the SORA pre-assessment package
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Designing containment strategies
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Completing ground & air risk analyses
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Liaising with the CAA for approvals
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Supporting drone manufacturers and operators with SORA applications or variations
Our goal is to make UAS testing safer, faster, and administratively simpler.
📩 Get in touch to discuss how your Test and Evaluation Site, or your regular informal flying test sites, can be pre-assessed, and/or pre-approved - under Civil Aviation Authority drone regulations.
WHY WORK WITH US?
We make your regulatory compliance simpler and faster —so you can focus on your growth.
We are subject matter expertise. Hands-on knowledge of drone regulations and their evolution over the last 10 years, SORA approvals, and operational compliance. We stay at the forefront of industry guidance and regulatory changes, ensuring you benefit from accurate, reliable expertise you can trust.
We mutualise our return of experience from multiple ongoing SORA applications. Because we work on numerous SORA applications across different sectors, we see what works, what doesn’t, and what regulators expect. This shared return of experience strengthens every project we deliver, giving you a smoother and more predictable path to approval.
We are reactive and diligent. We know that regulatory timelines can impact your business timeline. That’s why we pride ourselves on fast, focused support, clear communication, and meticulous attention to detail—so your application progresses without delay.
We support both high-level strategy and detailed documentation
Whether you need strategic guidance or help with the practical work—manual reviews, documentation drafting, or compliance checks—we adapt to your level of support. We take care of the administrative and regulatory workload, freeing your team to focus on operations.
We are flexible to your needs and budget
Every organisation is different. We tailor our involvement, deliverables, and pricing to match your objectives, constraints, and resources—ensuring you get effective support without unnecessary cost.
New to the drone market? We accelerate your discovery journey.
Entering the drone ecosystem can feel overwhelming—but we make it simple, structured, and aligned with your goals. We help you:
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Build the essential knowledge and confidence to turn your ideas into meaningful, operational use cases
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Identify exactly where drones can add value within your organisation
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Understand the regulatory pathways that apply to you—starting with the Open Category and beyond
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Gain clarity on which technologies to invest in (and which to avoid)
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Define a robust business case, and anticipate the changes required
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Engage with confidence with your internal and external stakeholders
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Prioritise the “low-hanging fruit” opportunities that deliver quick wins and early success
Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Partner
Anne-Lise Scaillierez is partner at The Drone Office. Anne-Lise draws on 25 years of professional experience in Technology and Defence & Aerospace industries, including in the advancement of autonomous systems. She is also a volunteer as a Director of ARPAS-UK, the UK trade body representing the drone industry.
KNOWLEDGE
