CAP2606 Guide: PDRA01 Operations Manual Template
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 10 July 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
Generate a reviewable starting point
Drone Ready turns guided answers into a CAP2606-shaped draft and connected editable records. It is intended to reduce blank-page work, not to replace the operator's technical review, document approval or responsibility for 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.
Does completing CAP2606 guarantee authorisation?
No. A completed manual does not guarantee authorisation or prove that an operation complies with 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.
Build your draft pack
Start with the free route check.
Answer a short set of questions, see route warnings, then generate editable PDRA01-style documentation for review. No authorisation or compliance outcome is guaranteed.
Check the proposed operation →