What is PDRA-G01? PDRA for Surveillance, Long Range Cargo Ops.

PDRA-G01 is a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment for drone operations that enables surveillance and longer-range cargo operations. This standardised framework falls within the 'specific' category and provides a streamlined approach for conducting operations beyond the visual line of sight when using airspace observers.

General Characteristics for this PDRA-G01:

• With UA with maximum characteristic dimensions of up to 3 m and typical kinetic energy of up to 34 kJ.
• BVLOS operations are allowed with visual air risk mitigation.
• Operations are conducted over sparsely populated areas and in uncontrolled airspace.
• Below 150 m AGL (or any other altitude reference defined by the Member State).

Operational Characteristics

Level of Human Intervention

• No autonomous operations are allowed.
• Remote pilots must maintain control of the UA at all times.
• Only one UA can be operated per remote pilot.
• Operations from moving vehicles are prohibited.
• Control handover to another command unit is not permitted.

UA Range Limitations

• Launch/recovery: at VLOS distance from the remote pilot if not operating from a safely prepared area.
• Without airspace observers: maximum distance of 1 km from the remote pilot.
• With airspace observers (AOs), the range is not limited as long as the UA is not operated further than 1 km from the nearest AO.

Overflown Areas and UA Limitations

• Operations should be conducted over sparsely populated areas.
• Maximum characteristic dimension: 3 meters.
• Maximum kinetic energy: 34 kJ.

Flight Parameters

Height and Airspace Restrictions

• Maximum height limited to 150 meters AGL.
• Operations allowed in:
  • Uncontrolled airspace (ARC-b).
  • Segregated area (ARC-a).
  • As otherwise established by Member States (air risk not higher than ARC-b).

Visibility and Other Considerations

• Flight visibility must be greater than 5 km.
• The UA should not be used to drop material or carry dangerous goods, except for agricultural, horticultural, or forestry activities.

Operational Risk Classification

• Ground Risk Class (GRC): 3
• Air Risk Class (ARC): ARC-b
• Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL): II

Operational Mitigations

Operational Volume

• Establish operational volume considering 4D space (latitude, longitude, height, and time).
• Account for navigation solution accuracy, flight technical and path definition errors.
• Emergency procedures must be activated if UA may exceed operational volume.

Ground Risk Buffer

• Implement a ground risk buffer using the "1:1 rule" (e.g., if UA operates at 150m height, the ground risk buffer should be at least 150m).
• Both the operational volume and the ground risk buffer must be in sparsely populated areas.

Air Risk

• Establish an air risk buffer outside operational volume.
• Implement procedures to avoid jeopardising other airspace users for operations above 120m and up to 150m AGL.

UAS Operator Responsibilities

Documentation and Planning

• Develop a comprehensive operations manual (OM).
• Implement security requirements and data protection measures.
• Develop guidelines to minimise nuisance and emissions-related disturbance.
• Develop and validate an Emergency Response Plan (ERP).

Maintenance Requirements

• Ensure maintenance staff follow the UAS maintenance instructions.
• Keep maintenance records for a minimum of 3 years.
• Maintain an up-to-date list of authorised maintenance staff.

Personnel Requirements

Remote Pilot Qualifications and Training

• Hold a "Remote Pilot Certificate of Theoretical Knowledge for STSs" or equivalent level of training in the Specific Category. 
• Complete practical skills training and assessment.
• For operations between 120-150m, undergo additional theoretical knowledge training.

Airspace Observers (if employed)

• Ensure correct placement and the appropriate number of AOs along the intended flight path.
• Verify visibility, absence of terrain obstructions, and effective communication with each AO.
• AOs must be able to maintain a visual scan of the airspace for collision hazards.

Technical Conditions

UAS Equipment Requirements

• Monitoring capabilities for critical parameters (position, height, ground speed, energy status)
• Performance capability to descend safely from operating altitude
• Clear and non-distracting human-machine interface (HMI)
• Compliance with radio equipment and RF spectrum requirements

Communication Requirements

• Protection mechanisms against interference for C2 link.
• C2 link protected against unauthorised access.
• Reliable method to recover command-and-control link or terminate flight in case of loss.
• The time between command and execution does not exceed 5 seconds.

Contact Us Today

Understanding and implementing PDRA-G01 requirements require expertise and proper training. Our company provides comprehensive training programs for remote pilots, consultancy services for operational planning, and assistance in preparing operations manuals compliant with PDRA-G01. Contact us today to learn how we can help you safely and legally conduct surveillance and long-range cargo operations with drones, complete with adequately trained airspace observers and all required documentation.

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