UAS Operations at Test Sites

A CAA Pre-assessed Test Site is a site that has undergone an assessment by the CAA to support the testing and evaluation of UAS. UAS operators can use these sites to streamline their application process for a UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation (OA).

The UAS Operations at Test Sites - Policy Concept applies to both those applying to become a CAA Pre-assessed Test Site and UAS Operators intending to utilise a CAA Pre-assessed Test Site.

A list of CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites can be found at the bottom of this page.

OA Applications and UK SORA

The UAS Operations at Test Sites – Policy Concept is intended to supplement UK SORA (Getting started with UK SORA | UK Civil Aviation Authority). It is therefore only relevant to applications for OAs within UK SORA

Test and evaluation activities at specified locations have consistent ground and air risk characteristics, independent of the UAS or operator. At CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites, CAA will pre-assess the ground and air risk assessments for that location.

When making an OA application, UAS Operators utilising CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites may then use the pre-agreed ground risk and air risk assessments completed by the pre-assessed test sites, streamlining the application.

UAS Operators remain fully accountable for their OA and operation at CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites.

UAS Operators looking to make or modify an application within UK SORA should continue to consult all relevant policy and guidance materials, including CAP722L (Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace - Specific Category Modification Policy). CAP 722L offers guidance to support a UAS operator wishing to modify their operation and sets out how to assess whether a potential modification is a significant change and therefore requires a new OA.

Test Sites: Applying for Pre-assessment

CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites can enable operations up to Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL) 2 in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) or Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations.

Full details on applying to become a CAA Pre-assessed Test Site, aligned with UK SORA methodology, are outlined in our policy concept for UAS Operations at Test Sites, CAP 3145.

Utilising a CAA Pre-assessed Test Site

Operators may only use CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites for UAS operations within the following parameters:

• Aircraft characteristic dimension (size) must not exceed 20 m.
• Aircraft maximum speed must not exceed 125 m/s.
• Operations must not involve the dropping of articles or the carriage of dangerous goods.

Specific conditions within these parameters will be set for each test site, and UAS Operators making use of test sites as part of their UK SORA application may only operate within these parameters, which will be set out within the OA conditions and limitations.

Guidance for Operators applying for an Operational Authorisation to conduct test and evaluation activities at CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites, in line with UK SORA methodology, is outlined in our policy concept for UAS Operations at Test Sites, CAP 3145.

UAS Operations at Test Sites – Policy Concept

This Policy Concept presents the CAA’s current position on enabling UAS Operators that wish to carry out testing and evaluation of UAS, by pre-assessing test sites in support of applications made within UK SORA

As UK SORA matures and UK SORA-approved operations increase, our collective understanding will grow which will inform the CAA’s work to better enable testing activities in the future. In the meantime, the CAA has developed this policy concept as interim guidance to allow stakeholders – both operators and test sites – to plan for UK SORA applications in line with the CAA’s thinking.

The CAA will continuously review this policy concept to consider technological developments, new evidence from operators and test sites, and any associated research. This will inform safety monitoring processes and may affect our views and this policy.

CAA Pre-assessed Test Sites

The following Test Sites have been pre-assessed by the CAA. Operators applying for an Operational Authorisation at these Test Sites, should use the information provided below.