UK drone trade association ARPAS-UK has voiced its disappointment with the decision by the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) to proceed with significant increases to the service charges for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for 2025/26.
The CAA announced the new charge structure on March 12, to commence from April 1 2025.
“In our comprehensive response to the CAP3047 consultation in January, we stated that the proposed service charge increases for RPAS operators were significant and disproportionate,” ARPAS-UK said in a statement. “Today’s publication has essentially confirmed the fees will be introduced as per CAP3047 consultation, with little amendment.”`
ARPAS-UK said that a major driver behind the fee increases is the ongoing cost of the Digitising Specific Category Operations (DSCO) online application platform, which the association says reportedly requires GBP1.7 million per year to operate.
“On one hand, we recognise DSCO as a critical tool for the future of RPAS regulation in the UK. A fully digitised platform should enable the adoption of the SORA risk methodology, offering a streamlined, consistent, and predictable application process. It promises to facilitate the approval of higher-risk or innovative operations while aligning the CAA with international safety standards. This benefits not only RPAS operators but also enhances public safety and confidence in the sector. The GBP8 million development cost has, commendably, been funded from the CAA’s own efficiency reserves. On the other hand, the ongoing cost burden of DSCO is significant relative to the size of the UK RPAS community.”
ARPAS-UK estimates that CAA revenues directly from user-payers service charges in the specific category were approx GBP1M per year and says that funding an additional GBP1.7 million in annual operating costs on top of existing labour costs, from a direct user-payer revenue base of just GBP1 million, is “effectively impossible”.
While the association says the increase of PDRA01 fees from GBP234 to GBP500 per year should be manageable for most businesses, the real pressure lies in SORA applications, particularly if operators need to develop multiple SORA applications, with excess oversight hours charged at GBP330/hour.
“Although we have had several exchanges with the CAA on the matter of the charges, it is disappointing that these significant increases were confirmed without accompanying explanations or detailed rationale.” APRAS-UK said in its March 12 statement. “Clear communication about the cost drivers and the fee evolution is essential to maintain trust and encourage compliance across the sector. Transparency is also vital to give operators the visibility they need on how these charges are structured and what additional changes may lie ahead.”
The association says it is vital that generic location, or multiple sites SORA applications are made accessible and affordable. “A single, annual SAIL II Operational Authorisation, now costing GBP3,495 (a major increase vs current OSC fees) would provide operators with the certainty and stability they need.”
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