Manna Becomes First Drone Delivery Operator in the UK to Achieve CAA SAIL III Authorisation

Manna Secures UK CAA SAIL III Authorisation, Setting a Precedent for Drone Delivery

Irish drone delivery company Manna Air Delivery has announced it has successfully obtained a Specific Assurance and Integrity Level III (SAIL III) Operational Authorisation (OA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), becoming one of the few operators in the UK to hold the highest tier of commercial drone operating approval.

A Rigorous Process and a Regulatory Milestone

In its announcement, Manna stated: "This authorisation marks a significant regulatory milestone for Manna, achieved through a comprehensive assessment process conducted with regulatory support from Avtrain. The evaluation is designed to measure the safety, operational, technical, and organisational competencies required for advanced drone operations."

Under the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) framework, SAIL III authorisation is reserved for operations requiring a high level of regulatory scrutiny and a demonstrated ability to provide robust safety assurance. Operators seeking this standard must supply detailed evidence across operational, technical, and organisational dimensions — including comprehensive risk assessments, safety cases, and independent review documentation.

The assessment process also incorporated independent review and technical support from Marshall, acting as a Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness (RAE(F)), providing an additional layer of technical and operational assurance throughout the authorisation process.

A Track Record of Regulatory Firsts Across Europe

Manna has a well-established record of regulatory milestones. In 2021, the company became the first drone delivery operator in Europe to receive a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), granting it the ability to self-authorise certain operations within the European regulatory framework. Since then, Manna has expanded flight operations into additional European jurisdictions including Finland, while continuing to deepen international regulatory cooperation and grow its business.

$50 Million Series B to Accelerate US and European Expansion

In April 2026, Manna announced the close of a $50 million Series B funding round, bringing its total funding raised to $110 million. The capital is earmarked to accelerate the scaling of aerial delivery operations across the United States and Europe.

The company plans to grow its workforce from the current 180 employees to more than 570, adding 400 new positions in Ireland and the United States across disciplines including robotics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, aviation operations, ground operations, and regulatory affairs.

The funding will support the establishment of 40 operational hubs across the US and Europe, building on Manna's existing live operations in Ireland and Texas.

Image credit: Manna

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