Use this service to apply for a PDRA01 Operational Authorisation.
Follow these steps to apply
1. Check that a PDRA01 is right for you
PDRA01 authorises you to fly Unmanned Aircraft (UA) below 25kg in residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.
You must only fly within visual line of sight (VLOS).
2. Check you'll meet the requirements
When you apply, you'll need to confirm that you'll meet:
• the UAS Operator responsibilities
• the Remote Pilot competency requirements and responsibilities
• the insurance requirements for PDRA01
3. Create your Operations Manual
We recommend using our PDRA01 Operations Manual template.
4. Prepare a list of the make(s) and model(s) of UAS you plan to use
When you apply, we'll ask you to provide:
• the make(s) and model(s) of all UAS you plan to use under your PDRA01 Authorisation
• the number of hours the UAS have flown in the past 12 months
If this is your first application, providing this information is optional as we realise you may not have collected it over the past 12 months. If you're reapplying, you must provide this information.
5. Get your Operator ID and payment ready
You'll need:
• access to the email you used to register for your Operator ID
• a debit or credit card
It usually takes around 15 minutes to complete the application, depending on the number of UAS you need to list.
We'll save your application as you go. You can return to it within 14 days via My registration.
Oversight and enforcement
You may be selected for an audit at any time.
We may ask to see your Operations Manual and supporting records, such as aircraft technical logs and flight logs at any time. You must provide any relevant documents at our request, within the period we specify.
If you fail to meet this or any other requirement, we may revoke your authorisation or suspend it until you provide the information we require.
Cost and period of authorisation
PDRA01 costs £234 per year.
There's no VAT to pay.
Your authorisation will last for 12 months.
Apply for a PDRA01 Operational Authorisation
What happens next
We aim to issue your PDRA01 Authorisation within 24 hours.
We'll email you to confirm when we do.
We've changed how we assess PDRA applications
If you've noticed any differences to how you've applied for a PDRA01 in the past, it's because we've changed how we assess applications.
We no longer ask you to upload your Operations Manual when you apply or reapply. Instead, we ask you to confirm that you have, and will maintain, a valid manual that meets the requirements. You may be selected for an audit at any time.
These changes are part of our activities to transform the operational authorisation process for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in the Specific Category.
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