According to the JARUS operational categorization, drone operations fall into one of three categories: A, B and C (or Open, Specific and Certified in EASA vocabulary). Flying in category A just requires to follow a fixed set of rules (altitude limitation, mandatory equipage, etc) while flying in category C requires a certified drone system. To operate in category B, an operator needs to demonstrate that operational risks are mitigated by available systems; such demonstration requires a risk assessment approach.
However existing safety tools are complex to use and not always suited to drone operation specificities. In order to provide adapted, accessible and universal tools to the drone community, the JARUS WG-6 developed the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA), a somewhat simple yet powerful methodology allowing to perform risk assessment for drone operations. The full description of the SORA methodology has been recently published for external consultation on the JARUS website.
Though it is unlikely that using the SORA will be mandatory (other risk assessment methods will remain an option), its design will probably make it the best choice for operators willing to build a safety case. So if you plan on using drones in category B scenarios, you can start reading this document as it is likely to become your bedside book. For those interested, we will publish a more detailed article on the SORA methodology in the months to come.