*UPDATE 19 December - the text and figures used on page 51 of the annual report referencing ‘around 7,000 per annum today to over 75,000 per annum by 2030’ have been included in error. This sentence was taken from a 2021/2022 internal report and inadvertently used out of context– which included the information that, at the time there were ~7,000 active Operational Authorisations (OA’s) and industry predictions of ~75,000 drones flying by 2030.
The figure of 2,806 as used in the infographic on page 12 of the annual report, is the number of active OA’s in the UK - as of end FY23/24. In the 2025/26 CAA Scheme of Charges Consultation, the CAA has estimated 3,475 OA’s at the end of FY30/31, based on internal modelling which is continually refreshed.
The correction is as follows:
Current text:
The more consistent and standardised way to assess operational risk, aligned to global standards, enables an efficient application process that is scalable to meet the forecast demand in the industry in the future, from around 7,000 per annum today to over 75,000 per annum by 2030.
Text should read:
The more consistent and standardised way to assess operational risk, aligned to global standards, enables an efficient application process that is scalable to meet the forecast demand in the industry in the future.
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