What are the three volumes required for OSC from CAA?
For the majority of applications, this information needs to be presented across three volumes.
These volumes are:
- Operations Manual: Comprehensive summary covering a range of areas, including type of operation, logs/records, security/privacy, emergency response plan, operational procedures, UAS operator responsibility/duties, and company safety policy, and more.
- UAS System(S): In-depth submission about the type of aircraft(s) to be used, including technical information, and payload requirements.
- Safety Risk Assessment: Identify, assess, manage and record Safety Risks associated with an operation.
Operators are required to submit these volumes to the CAA.
The individual OSC volumes that need to be submitted to the CAA depend on the relative complexity of the operation - as shown in the table below.
Click to open the Operating Examples table.
Volume 1Volume 2Volume 3Up to 25kg Maximum Take-Off MassStandard PermissionRequiredRecommendedRecommendedFly less than 50m from uninvolved people/properties;
Fly less than 50m horizontally of assemblies of people;
Fly more than 400ft above the surface; EVLOS; BVLOS.RequiredRequiredRequiredOver 25kg Maximum Take-Off MassLow Complexity UAS and/or Rural EnvironmentRequiredRequiredRequiredLow Complexity UAS and/or Semi-ruralRequiredRequiredRequiredHigh Complexity UAS and/or Complex Airspace/Congested AreaRequiredRequiredRequired
UPDATE - APRIL 2025: Please note that the Operating Safety Case methodology has now been replaced by UK SORA. To find out more, click here.