PDRA01 Operational Authorisation: Complete UK Guide

PDRA01 is a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment published by the CAA. An operator whose proposed flights fit its conditions can apply for an Operational Authorisation without developing a full risk assessment from scratch. The drone Operational Authorisation belongs to the UAS operator; the people flying under it must separately hold the required competence and currency.

It is not a general drone licence or permission to fly anywhere. The issued Operational Authorisation defines the operating conditions, while airspace restrictions, land access, privacy, insurance and site-specific hazards still need to be handled for each operation.

Start by confirming that the intended aircraft, flight profile and separation arrangements fit the current CAA PDRA01 conditions. If a material part of the operation sits outside the pre-defined route, the operator may need a different permission or a UK SORA application.

A practical sequence is to confirm eligibility, register the operator and pilots, arrange the required remote-pilot competence, prepare the Operations Manual and supporting procedures, arrange insurance, and then use the CAA's application service. Check the CAA page for the current fee, form and processing information before applying.

Drone Ready supports the documentation stage. It does not submit the application or grant the authorisation, and the operator remains responsible for every declaration made to the CAA.

The Operations Manual explains how the operator manages responsibilities, competence, aircraft, feasibility decisions, normal procedures, emergencies, maintenance and records. The CAA strongly recommends its CAP2606 template because it provides an accepted structure for PDRA01 operations.

A template is only the starting point. The adopted manual should match the real people, aircraft, procedures and authorisation conditions, and it should be revised when those arrangements change.

The Operational Authorisation is the beginning of the operator's evidence trail, not the end. The CAA can conduct compliance checking and ask the operator to provide its current manual and supporting operational records.

Keep recent flights traceable from pilot currency and site assessment through aircraft status, flight logging and any defect or occurrence follow-up. A short evidence index makes those records easier to retrieve and exposes gaps before an oversight request arrives.

Flights that remain within the Open category may not need an Operational Authorisation. Operations outside PDRA01's pre-defined limits may instead require a UK SORA application and a more detailed demonstration of risk controls.

Use the published CAA material and the exact proposed operation to choose the route. Do not select PDRA01 simply because it appears faster if the operation does not fit its scope.