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You'll need to know details of your proposed operations to calculate your SAIL and containment levels.

Remember, it's free to calculate your SAIL and containment levels


It's free to use the UK SORA-based Application Service to calculate your SAIL and containment levels.

This can be a good way to explore different options for your proposed operations.

You only pay if you submit your application.

You must have an Operator ID before you start.


What you'll need to know

Ground risk

Calculating your ground risk (opens in a new tab) >

  • Maximum dimension of unmanned aircraft in metres
  • Maximum speed of unmanned aircraft in metres per second m/s
  • Weight of unmanned aircraft; whether up to 250g or above
  • Operational volume and ground risk buffer details 
  • Maximum population density in operational volume and ground risk buffer, or controlled ground area
  • Mitigations you'll use, if applicable

Air risk

Calculating your air risk (opens in a new tab) >

  • Class of airspace, or whether you'll operate in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE)
  • Other airspace details
  • Type of operations: VLSO, BVLOS, or BVLOS VM
  • Mitigations you'll use, if applicable

Containment

Calculating your containment level (opens in a new tab) >

  • Mitigations you'll use, if applicable (for unmanned aircraft between 1m and 3m only)
  • Average population density in your adjacent area
  • Maximum assembly of people within 1km of the operational volume
  • Whether your unmanned aircraft will be untethered or tethered

Do I still need an operations manual?

You must have an operations manual.

You may use some sections of your operations manual as compliance evidence to UK SORA requirements. You should provide other compliance evidence, such as technical information, separately.

The application service helps you organise your evidence for submission to us.