We figure in an industry where understanding the rules and standard operating procedures is an absolute necessity, this tool can be a godsend for any drone technology stakeholder anywhere in the world.

Called SORA-Mate, and developed by emerging aviation consultancy firm Hover UAV in partnership with drone training centre Avtrain and unmanned traffic management provider ANRA Technologies, the tool is an automated Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) platform, offering drone operators a streamlined solution for regulatory compliance.

As of today, drone operators in Cameroun, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa would find the app useful, as these countries are the only African states that are part of the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), an international group that develops technical, safety, and operational guidelines for the certification and regulation of unmanned systems; the guidelines on which the tool is based.

The bummer though is that SORA-Mate is only available in the Australia and New Zealand; and has only this week expanded into the United Kingdom, where it will be based on the latest UK SORA 2.5 version to be launched in early May.

We figure for the app to really be effective, it has to have some custom editions for the drone laws and operating regulations of a particular region added.

 Originally launched in Australia and New Zealand, SORA-Mate has now expanded into the UK, with features tailored specifically to support the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) adaptation of SORA.  

“With the UK SORA set to become an Accepted Means of Compliance with UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on April 23, drone operators require efficient solutions to navigate these new requirements,” Hover UAV said in a statement.

“The partnership between ANRA Technologies and Avtrain addresses this need by combining ANRA’s proven technology platform with Avtrain’s deep regulatory expertise.

“The UK CAA Digitising Specific Category Operations (DiSCO) project transforms the manual Operational Authorisation application process by simplifying and streamlining applications and communications with the UK CAA. SORA-Mate will enhance this process providing operators with the additional tools required to make a SORA 2.5 application, offering templates for operations manual, emergency response plan or a safety management system where required.”

Building on a successful model established in the Asia Pacific region, the platform combines advanced software with expert consulting services, which Avtrain will be expected to replicate in the UK operation, by delivering localised UK expertise and consultation, supporting SORA-Mate’s highly automated risk assessment software to enable safe, compliant drone operations.

“Our partnership with Avtrain represents a significant advancement for the UK drone industry,” said Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies.

“By integrating Avtrain’s regulatory expertise with our proven SORA-Mate platform, we’re delivering a solution that simplifies compliance while ensuring the highest safety standards for UK drone operations.”

One of the significant advantages of SORA-Mate is the standardised risk assessments that are outputted. These assessments make it easier for aviation regulators like CASA to review and approve applications.

This standardisation can lead to shorter wait times for approvals, increasing operational efficiency for operators. Furthermore, by adhering to a consistent framework, SORA-MATE enhances overall aviation safety, benefiting the entire industry.

Besides, the tool can also help with

• Intelligent risk analysis by automatically processing complex operational data to determine ground and air risks and identify appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Calculating and determining Specific Assurance and Integrity Levels (SAIL) and assessing the robustness of operational safety objectives.
• Providing access to significant additional services such as BVLOS Customised Procedures, SORA review prior to submission, .KML File Development, multiple templates for an Operation’s Manual, and Emergency Response Plan. 
• Significantly reducing the time required to complete risk assessments.
• Ensuring applications meet aviation regulation requirements, improving approval rates, reducing delays and increasing confidence levels in drone operators.

“At Avtrain, our mission has always been to encourage prolific drone operations while keeping the skies safe through the highest standards of training, certification and regulatory compliance,” said Julie Garland, Founder and CEO of Avtrain.

“This partnership with ANRA Technologies will allow us to deliver on that mission by providing UK operators with a powerful tool that simplifies the complex regulatory landscape while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

“With UK SORA 2.5 entering into force on April 23, operators need immediate solutions to adapt to the new requirements. SORA-Mate tool provides exactly that – a streamlined pathway to compliance that reduces administrative burden while ensuring operations meet all safety objectives with support available every step of the way.”

SORA-Mate was developed with support from the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program (EATP), launched by the Australian to support the growth and development of emerging aviation technologies.

Recognising the complexities and challenges associated with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approvals, the EATP supported Hover UAV and ANRA Technologies to address the critical need for streamlined and standardised risk assessment processes under the JARUS-SORA framework.

The primary goal was to create intelligent software for standardised, equitable, and repeatable risk assessments for drone operators and regulatory authorities in support of BVLOS applications.

“SORA-Mate was designed to facilitate an increasingly automated SORA process that doesn’t compromise safety, streamlining the workflow for both the drone operator and the regulatory authority. Drone operators will get approvals faster, regulators will receive standardised applications, and all stakeholders will have a common framework to assess risk and improve aviation safety. 

“SORA-Mate builds on these principles, offering a user-friendly application that simplifies the risk assessment process. It enables operators to input various parameters of their operations and receive a structured risk assessment, helping them understand potential hazards and the necessary mitigations.

“SORA-Mate is equipped with a comprehensive array of data sources integrated into its backend, making it a powerful tool for conducting thorough and standardised risk assessments. This includes detailed information on aerodromes, airspace designations, topography, and population density.

“By leveraging these data sets, SORA-MATE allows operators to quickly evaluate the specific characteristics of an operational area, accurately identifying both ground and air risks.”