Murzilli Consulting, as part of their partnership with DroneTalks Academy, offers a comprehensive 2-day interactive training course on the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology. The training is available both online and in-person and was created to guide small groups from the foundational concepts of SORA, right through to the latest developments of SORA 2.5. The course can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a company (minimum 5 people), or for individuals, it is possible to join one of the upcoming courses. The engaging content from SORA expert Lorenzo Murzilli combines theoretical knowledge and practical case studies to equip the group with the skills needed for drone operations and real-world implementation.
What is SORA?
With the rapid development of the drone industry, particularly BVLOS operations, understanding the fundamentals of SORA is a vital step for anyone involved in medium-risk drone operations, better known as the specific category.
SORA is a procedure designed to determine the safety considerations of a medium-risk drone operation. Covering 10 steps, the SORA methodology identifies risks such as potential collisions with crewed aircraft or physical obstacles and considers the drone's design and operational mitigations, such as flight planning or coordination with other airspace users/air traffic control (ATC). This evaluation process establishes clear and concise safety limitations for drone operations and ensures that the operation can take place without danger to people, property or other aircraft.
Lorenzo Murzilli, The Father of SORA
Lorenzo Murzilli is an aerospace engineer and a recognised leader in aviation innovation. His expertise ranges from airspace modernisation to system safety and drones. He began his career in traditional aviation, working with the Italian aerospace, defence & security company Leonardo and Swiss aircraft firm Pilatus. He then moved on to work for the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), where he spent 5 years as a certification engineer before becoming the head of FOCA’s Innovation Department for another 5 years.
It was during his time at FOCA that Lorenzo represented the Swiss Civil Aviation Authority as the head of the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) Working Group 6 (WG 6) and developed SORA. The process was initiated to overcome the regulatory roadblocks that were delaying new drone technology from entering the commercial market. With this challenge in mind, the JARUS WG-6 developed a framework to ensure the authorisation process ran smoothly while maintaining the regulators' strict safety standards, which is now known as the SORA methodology. Due to Lorenzo’s pivotal leadership in WG-6, he is often referred to as the ‘Father of SORA’ within the drone industry.
What Does the SORA Training Cover?
The first day of the SORA training entails an introduction and icebreaker, followed by an overview of the SORA methodology, including its structure, semantic model, key principles, and annexes. Participants will also explore the development of the Concept of Operations (ConOps) and Operations Manual (OM).
On the second day, the training takes a more detailed look into specific risk areas such as ground risk, air risk, and the specific assurance integrity level (SAIL)/operational safety objectives (OSO) framework. The group will also look at adjacent airspace considerations and the latest updates and expected changes from the newest edition of the SORA, published in late 2023, SORA 2.5. The session also outlines the advantages of a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) and who can benefit from this optional certificate. Attendees can expect a comprehensive, interactive experience tailored to their expertise, with access to valuable templates and resources. Upon completing the course, all participants in attendance will receive an official Certificate of Completion.
Who is the SORA Training For?
This training is designed for a range of professionals wanting to extend their knowledge of the SORA methodology. Aviation authorities will benefit from learning how to use SORA to issue operational authorisations and ensure regulatory compliance and safety. Drone companies can leverage the training to gain approvals more efficiently and understand the critical steps needed for successful applications. Additionally, teams of five or more students can register for either a private programme or sign up for any of the group sessions on the website. The course will provide in-depth knowledge, practical use cases, and hands-on experience with specific operation risk assessment ( SORA), helping the students become proficient in navigating regulatory processes and managing risks in specific drone operations.
What are the Benefits of the DroneTalks Academy SORA Training?
The 2-day course, led by industry expert and former regulator Lorenzo Murzilli, is available both online and offline, which enables flexible scheduling for organisations wishing to register. The training offers a cost-effective, Swiss-made, up-to-date understanding of SORA, ensuring personalised guidance tailored to fit a wide range of needs.
By attending the course, organisations will also benefit from the networking opportunities by the connections made with some of the industry's top players. In addition, they will gain lifetime access to the drone community via the DroneTalks.online channels.
The previous SORA Training session, held in June, with additional partners, BCN Drone Center achieved an impressive satisfaction rating of over 9.5, making it one of DroneTalks Academy’s most successful training sessions in recent years.
What About Additional SORA Support?
Murzilli Consulting consists of a team of 25 expert drone consultants, including the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority, AESA’s former Head of UAS Division, Juanjo Sola, who, as part of EASA’s Aircrew Technical Body (TeB) and JARUS from 2016-2023, helped in the development of SORA in the EU and its intermediate steps.
Murzilli Consulting’s expert team offers additional support in gaining SORA operational authorisations for any SAIL level in all countries where SORA is accepted. The process is broken down into a 9-step procedure, which covers preliminary steps such as initial project assessment and reviewing all client documentation prior to the application, saving time and financial inputs. This ensures that all documentation will be thoroughly reviewed and any questions, such as the implementation of new technology, can be answered before meeting with the regulator. Murzilli Consulting’s SORA Operational Authorisation service has successfully helped organisations achieve SAIL II authorisations, and several SAIL III authorisations are already in progress.
In addition, Murzilli Consulting is recognised as a competent third party by several national aviation authorities and offers third-party validation services for SORA mitigations and OSOs at high levels of robustness.
Would you like to know more about our SORA training operational authorisation or third-party validation for SORA mitigations and OSOs at high robustness services? Write to us, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
