CAP2606 PDRA01 Operations Manual Template: Mandatory or Optional?
CAP2606 is the CAA's PDRA01 Operations Manual template. This guide explains how to use its structure as a living operating system supported by records, rather than treating it as a form to complete once.
Reviewed 9 August 2026 · UK guidance
01
What is CAP2606?
CAP2606 is the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Operations Manual template for PDRA01 operators. The CAA says the template assists operators in creating a manual and provides an acceptable means of compliance that conforms to the UAS regulations.
At the time this page was reviewed, the CAA publication page listed version 3.1 dated 11 September 2025 as current. Always download the latest official copy before final review because the template and underlying guidance can change.
02
Why the structure matters
CAP2606 brings organisation, people, aircraft and flight procedures into a consistent structure. It prompts operators to define responsibilities, competence, feasibility, site controls, normal and emergency procedures, maintenance, logs and records.
Following the headings is only the start. The content needs to be internally consistent and specific enough for personnel to use. Generic text that does not match the aircraft or team creates operational and audit risk.
03
Build from shared facts
Collect the core facts before drafting: legal operator identity, nominated responsibilities, aircraft and component details, pilot qualifications, typical operating profile, limitations, maintenance approach and record owners. Reuse controlled facts instead of retyping them in several sections.
Where information is missing, mark an assumption or action clearly. Do not let plausible boilerplate become an accidental operator commitment.
04
Sections operators commonly under-develop
The sections most likely to need organisation-specific thinking are the ones that describe real decisions and hand-offs. Review them with the people who will perform the work.
- Currency and competence thresholds for each role
- Feasibility and site-survey decision criteria
- Cordon, communication and lone-pilot arrangements
- Aircraft environmental limits and battery controls
- Emergency response, occurrence reporting and escalation
- Maintenance status, defect control and record retention
05
Connect the manual to working records
A manual says what should happen; completed records show what did happen. Forms and logs should use the same terms, identifiers and decision thresholds as the procedures they support.
Test the system with a fictional flight. Can a team move from feasibility to survey, briefing, flight and post-flight action without inventing a missing step? Can a reviewer trace an aircraft defect from discovery to closure? Use the answers to improve both the manual and forms.
06
Create an editable starting point
Drone Ready turns your answers into an Operations Manual draft that follows CAP2606, plus editable supporting records. It saves you from starting with blank templates, but you must still check and approve the documents against current CAA requirements.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
Is CAP2606 the official CAA PDRA01 template?
Yes. CAP2606 is the CAA's PDRA01 Operations Manual template, and the CAA strongly recommends using it.
Is CAP2606 mandatory or optional?
CAP2606 is the CAA's recommended template and an acceptable means of compliance for PDRA01 Operations Manuals. The operator must still meet the applicable requirements, reflect its actual operation and check the current CAA guidance before adoption.
Does completing CAP 2606 mean the CAA will grant an authorisation?
No. A completed manual is not an authorisation decision, and it does not show that an operation meets every applicable condition.
Should I check for a newer CAP2606 version?
Yes. Check the official CAA publication page before adopting or revising a manual, because versions and guidance can change.
Create your PDRA01 documents
First, check whether PDRA01 may fit.
Answer a short set of questions to see whether PDRA01 may fit. You can then create an editable Operations Manual and 13 supporting records. Drone Ready does not issue an authorisation. CAA outcomes are not guaranteed. If the CAA refuses a PDRA01 application because of a material defect originating in the Drone Ready-generated documents, we will refund the price paid for the pack.
Check if PDRA01 fits →