Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) Flashcards

What is an 'Operational Safety Objective' (OSO) in the SORA framework?

Answer: A specific safety requirement that must be met based on the SAIL level

Operational Safety Objectives are specific safety requirements assigned based on the SAIL level. Each OSO addresses a particular risk area (e.g., pilot competency, UAS design, maintenance) and must be met to the required level of robustness (low, medium, or high) depending on the SAIL.

When conducting a SORA, what is the 'adjacent area' and why is it important?

Answer: The area surrounding the operational volume where the UAS could end up in a loss-of-control scenario

The adjacent area is the zone surrounding the operational volume and ground risk buffer where the UAS could potentially end up in an abnormal or emergency situation. Its characteristics (e.g., populated area, gathering of people) affect the ground risk assessment because it represents the area at risk if containment fails.

How does SORA classify the air risk for a UAS operation?

Answer: By the Air Risk Class (ARC), based on the likelihood of encountering manned aircraft

Air risk in SORA is classified using the Air Risk Class (ARC), which ranges from ARC-a (lowest) to ARC-d (highest). The ARC is determined by the airspace characteristics and the likelihood of encountering manned aircraft in the operational area.

What is the 'ground risk buffer' in a SORA assessment?

Answer: An area surrounding the operational volume that accounts for where the UAS could crash if it leaves the operational volume

The ground risk buffer is the area on the ground surrounding the operational volume that accounts for the possible crash area if the UAS exits the operational volume. Its size depends on the UAS performance characteristics, and the population density within this buffer affects the ground risk classification.

Which of the following would typically result in a HIGHER Ground Risk Class in a SORA?

Answer: Operating over an assembly of people at an outdoor event

Operating over an assembly of people significantly increases the ground risk because the potential consequences of a UAS failure are much greater when many people are concentrated in the area. This drives the iGRC to its highest levels in the SORA matrix.

In SORA, what does 'strategic mitigation' for air risk involve?

Answer: Measures applied at the planning stage to reduce the probability of encountering manned aircraft

Strategic mitigations for air risk are measures implemented at the planning stage, such as restricting operations to airspace with low manned aircraft traffic, coordinating with air traffic services, or applying temporal restrictions. These reduce the probability of a mid-air encounter before the flight even begins.