Understanding the Drone Operations Safety Case (OSC) and Standard Permissions Under PDRA01

As drone technology rapidly evolves, businesses are leveraging drones for a wide array of applications, from surveying and inspection to media production and delivery services. However, when operations extend beyond standard regulations, a Drone Operations Safety Case (OSC) becomes critical for ensuring safety, compliance, and operational success. While most commercial drone activities operate under PDRA01 standard permissions, more advanced operations require an OSC for greater flexibility—a certification that only a small percentage of drone businesses have successfully obtained due to the stringent requirements and rigorous approval process.

Standard Drone Permissions Under PDRA01

For most commercial operators, Pre-Defined Risk Assessment 01 (PDRA01) provides the regulatory framework for routine, low to moderate risk drone operations. PDRA01 permissions cover essential aspects like:

1. Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): Drones must remain within a 500-meter distance from the pilot, maintaining clear visibility at all times.

2. Distance Limitations: A minimum of 50 meters must be kept from uninvolved people, reduced to 30 meters during take-off and landing.

3. Restricted Urban Operations: Operations in congested areas are limited, making it challenging to fly in city centres or industrial zones without additional permissions.

4. Limited Payload and Drone Size: Weight and payload limits further restrict the scope of PDRA01-regulated flights.

Drone Operations Safety Case (OSC): Pushing Beyond Standard Regulations

While PDRA01 allows for low-risk, routine drone operations, businesses that require more advanced capabilities must turn to the Drone Operations Safety Case (OSC). An OSC is a detailed document submitted to aviation authorities, demonstrating how a business will manage and mitigate risks in more complex drone activities that exceed the standard regulations. However, obtaining an OSC is not easy—only a small fraction of drone businesses have successfully achieved this authorisation, reflecting the high level of safety, planning, and operational competency required.

An OSC is crucial for businesses looking to push the boundaries of conventional drone use, enabling permissions for operations like:

• Flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
• Operating in densely populated or urban areas
• Utilising advanced or specialised drone technologies

Why is an OSC Important?

1. Regulatory Compliance
   The OSC demonstrates to aviation authorities that a business is capable of operating safely outside standard regulations, enabling permissions for more advanced activities.

2. Risk Management
   It outlines protocols for identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring that all operations are conducted with the highest safety standards.

3. Operational Efficiency
   An OSC streamlines processes by defining clear operational procedures, data management, and technology integration, enhancing overall efficiency.

4. Building Trust
   Demonstrating safety and regulatory compliance through an OSC builds trust with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, helping to secure contracts and partnerships.

5. Facilitating Innovation
   For businesses aiming to explore new drone technologies and applications, an OSC offers a framework for safely experimenting with new methods while maintaining compliance.

Nationwide Drones: Enhanced CAA Permissions with Our OSC

Nationwide Drones has successfully demonstrated to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) our ability to operate beyond standard PDRA01 limitations. With our OSC, we have obtained special permissions that allow us to operate closer to the public and structures than normally allowed under PDRA01. For instance:

• Distance Reductions: We can reduce flight distances to just 10 meters, and to 5 meters during take-off and landing. This allows us to operate safely in urban environments like London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS): We can conduct BVLOS flights using observers, extending our operational range up to 2000 meters.

These enhanced capabilities, made possible by our OSC, allow Nationwide Drones to perform advanced, high-risk operations that exceed PDRA01 standards while maintaining safety and compliance.

Conclusion

While PDRA01 provides a robust framework for standard drone operations, an OSC is essential for businesses aiming to conduct more complex, innovative missions. By ensuring regulatory compliance, improving risk management, and offering greater operational flexibility, an OSC enables businesses like Nationwide Drones to push beyond standard limits, providing enhanced services in urban and high-risk environments—a level of operation achieved by only a small percentage of drone operators.