Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA)

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What is a PDRA

The Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA) is an operational scenario for which EASA has already carried out the risk assessment and has been published as an acceptable means of compliance (AMC) to the Article 11 (risk assessment) of Regulation (EU) 2019/947.

The PDRA still requires an operational authorisation from the NAA. However, the process will be much simplified. If the planned operation is covered by one of the published PDRAs, instead of carrying out the risk assessment the UAS operator can just fill the table of the PDRA, prepare the operator  manual and submit the application to the NAA of registration.  The PDRA table is in reality a sort of checklist on how to develop the procedures that needs to be contained in the operator manual.

Typical example of a PDRA

This table shows a model example of what is a PDRA and what it could contain:

Why a PDRA helps

If the operation falls within the scope of one of the published PDRAs, it allows the applicant to quickly develop the operator manual and the evidences of compliance using the PDRA table to demonstrate that the operation is safe. Also, for the NAA the review of the documentation will be simplified.

Therefore the applicant can submit to the NAA of the state of registration  a copy of the:

List of published PDRAs

  • PDRA S-01 – Agricultural works, short range cargo ops
  • PDRA S-02 - Surveillance, agricultural works, short range cargo ops
  • PDRA G-01 - Surveillance, long range cargo ops
  • PDRA G-02 - All range of opsPDRA G-03 - Linear inspections, agricultural works
  • PDRA G-03 - Linear inspections, agricultural works

PDRA S-01 

   PDRA G-02

PDRA Ref

UAS Characteristics

Main Ops characteristics

Typical ops

PDRA-S01 AMC4 Article 11

Max dimension 3m

  • VLOS;
  • Controlled ground area also over populated area;
  • Controlled or uncontrolled airspace less than 150m AGL;

Agricultural works, short range cargo ops

PDRA-S02

AMC5 Article 11

MTOM=25 kg

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS up to 1km or 2km with Airspace Observers;
  • Controlled ground area over sparsely populated area;
  • Controlled or uncontrolled airspace less than 150m AGL;

Surveillance, agricultural works, short range cargo ops

PDRA-G01

AMC2 Article 11

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS with Airspace Observers;
  • over sparsely populated area;
  • Uncontrolled airspace less than 150m AGL;.

Surveillance, long range cargo ops

PDRA-G02

AMC3 Article 11

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS;
  • over sparsely populated area;
  • Segregated airspace (Height of segregated airspace).

All range of ops

PDRA-G03

AMC6 Article 11

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS;
  • over sparsely populated area;
  • Controlled or uncontrolled airspace close to obstacles as defined in the PDRA

Linear inspections, agricultural works

PDRA under consideration

EASA is keen in reducing the burden for drone operators to obtain an operational authorisation and support the expansion of the incipient European drone industry.  EASA intends to publish a number of PDRAs covering the most common drone operations. Some of these PDRAs are developed in conjunction with JARUS.

More than four are currently under evaluation and development (this is not an exhaustive list):

JARUS Ref

UAS Charact.

Main Ops characteristics

Typical Operation

PDRA-05

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS;
  • over sparsely populated area;
  • in airspace where at least 50% of manned a/c can be detected, less than 120m AGL

All range of ops

PDRA-06

Max dim 8m

  • VLOS;
  • Over controlled ground area;
  • in airspace where at least 50% of manned a/c can be detected, less than 120m AGL

Testing of prototype UAS

PDRA-07

Max dim 3m

  • BVLOS;
  • Over controlled ground area;
  • Airport environment

Airport/runway inspections

PDRA-08

Max dim 1m

  • VLOS with Airspace Observers;
  • Over controlled ground area;
  • Segregated airspace;

Swarming

How can you propose a PDRA? Contact us

We are committed to publish as many as possible to increase generally the possibility for operators to use PDRAs.

We would like to hear your suggestions on new concept of operations for PDRAs. If you have any specific need for one or you want to provide suggestions on how to improve usability of the available one, email us at drones [at] easa.europa.eu (drones[at]easa[dot]europa[dot]eu)

We will consider them carefully, whether how we can accommodate this with a new PDRA, or perhaps how adjust an existing PDRA.

For additional information please contact the team.

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