UK CAA Publishes Updated AMC and GM to Strengthen UK SORA Framework Implementation

UK CAA Publishes Updated AMC and GM to Strengthen UK SORA Framework Implementation

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued ORS9 Decision 60, adopting new and updated Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) under UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947. The update is designed to support consistent implementation of the UK Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) framework.

The CAA stated: "This update refines AMC1 Article 11 and strengthens Annexes A, B, and E, further clarifying evidence requirements, methodology, and integrity and assurance requirements. It will improve the quality and traceability of application submissions, reduce avoidable non-conformances, and support proportionate and consistent assessment outcomes for both operators and the CAA."

Annex A: Alignment with JARUS Annex A v2.5

The UK has aligned Annex A with the content and wording of JARUS Annex A v2.5, and has added a new section on 'Reduced Maximum Speed Operations', allowing applicants to lower the Intrinsic Ground Risk Class through software- or mechanically-enforced operational speed limits.

Key updates and revisions to GM1 Article 11 Annex A include:

• New guidance on the declarative approach
• Updated guidance on the agreed compliance basis approach
• New explanation of the compliance evidence approach
• A new summary table comparing the declarative, agreed compliance basis, and compliance evidence approaches
• New guidance on evidence collection and retention
• New guidance on presenting compliance evidence
• New guidance material on documenting and presenting the intrinsic ground risk footprint
• New data for calculating flight volume, contingency volume, and ground risk buffers
• New guidance on determining maximum VLOS and BVLOS distances
• New section on Reduced Maximum Speed Operations

Annex B: Ground Risk Mitigations

Article 11 Annex B (Ground Risk Mitigations) now provides comprehensive AMC and GM for all ground risk mitigation measures. Key updates include:

• New AMC for calculating drone penetration impact on structures
• A worked example of penetration analysis for M1A
• New industry standards and AMC for M1C 'Technical People Detection Means'
• New AMC for M2 mitigations, recognising industry standards for parachutes and Flight Termination Systems (FTS)
• Critical area calculation methods for assessing M2 mitigations
• Worked examples of AMC application
• Detailed guidance for all ground risk mitigations

Annex E: Untethered Containment

Article 11 Annex E (Containment) now provides AMC and GM for untethered containment. Key additions include:

• Recognition of industry consensus standards for technical features such as Flight Termination Systems and geo-caging
• Recognition of the effectiveness of adjacent area mitigations, with slightly reduced requirements when such mitigations are in place
• Both qualitative and quantitative means of demonstrating compliance
• Declarative determination for Low Containment, and agreed compliance basis only for Medium Containment
• Worked examples of untethered containment AMC application

The full documentation is available for download on the UK CAA's official website: ORS9 Decision 60

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