Measuring What Actually Matters in RPAS Safety
You Cannot Improve Safety If You Are Not Measuring It
Many RPAS operators say safety is important.
Far fewer can demonstrate:
- how safety is being measured
- whether controls are working
- whether safety performance is improving over time
In professional operations, safety cannot rely on:
- assumptions
- anecdotal feedback
- the absence of accidents alone
It must be monitored in a structured way.
What Is Safety Performance Monitoring?
Safety Performance Monitoring is the process of using data and operational information to determine whether your safety system is:
- functioning as intended
- identifying risk effectively
- supporting safe operations
- improving over time
It moves safety management from:
reactive response → active oversight
Why Traditional Safety Measurement Often Fails
Many operators only look at:
- accidents
- incidents
- damage events
The problem is that RPAS operations often involve:
- relatively low activity volumes
- low numbers of reportable events
- large gaps between serious outcomes
This creates a false sense of confidence.
“We have had no incidents” is not the same as “we are managing safety well”
A lack of reported events may simply mean:
- the system is immature
- hazards are not being identified
- issues are not being reported
The Due Diligence Index (DDI) Model
The Uncrewed Approvals Due Diligence Index (DDI) model is designed to provide a more practical and defensible way of monitoring RPAS safety performance.
The DDI focuses on:
- whether the operator is actively managing risk
- whether safety-critical processes are functioning
- whether leadership, systems, and people are doing what they are supposed to do
Rather than relying only on lag indicators such as accidents, the DDI emphasises:
evidence of active safety management
What the DDI Measures
The DDI model is designed to monitor whether an operator is demonstrating due diligence across the operational system.
This typically includes indicators relating to:
- operational control
- risk management
- training and competency
- maintenance and aircraft serviceability
- reporting and response
- documentation and procedural discipline
- oversight and review
The purpose is to answer a simple question:
Is this operator actively and effectively managing safety?
Why the DDI Model Works for RPAS Operations
The DDI model is particularly suited to RPAS because it reflects the realities of the sector.
It works well where operators:
- do not have large numbers of reportable incidents
- need practical metrics that can be tracked regularly
- require evidence of compliance and active oversight
- want a framework that supports both small and scalable operations
It is designed to monitor:
- what is being done
- how consistently it is being done
- whether the safety system is being applied in practice
Leading Indicators vs Lag Indicators
A strong safety monitoring framework should include both.
Lag Indicators
These measure things that have already gone wrong.
Examples:
- incidents
- damage events
- breaches
- client complaints
These are useful, but they only show:
what happened after the fact
Leading Indicators
These measure whether safety controls are being applied before something goes wrong.
Examples:
- completion of pre-flight risk assessments
- internal audit findings
- training currency
- maintenance compliance
- corrective action close-out rates
- reporting activity
- supervisory review
These are often much more valuable in RPAS operations because they show:whether the system is functioning before a serious event occurs
Examples of DDI Safety Performance Indicators
Depending on the size and profile of the operation, DDI indicators may include:
Operational Control
- percentage of jobs approved through the correct workflow
- percentage of flights supported by completed risk assessments
- percentage of flights conducted within approved scope
Training and Competency
- pilot currency status
- completion of recurrent training
- completion of type-specific familiarisation
Maintenance and Fleet Oversight
- aircraft maintenance completed on time
- defect close-out performance
- serviceability compliance rate
Risk and Reporting
- number of hazards reported
- number of near misses reported
- time taken to close corrective actions
- percentage of risk register reviews completed on time
Governance and Oversight
- audit completion rates
- procedure review currency
- management review completion
- follow-up on identified issues
Monitoring Small Operators vs Larger Operators
Safety performance monitoring should be proportionate.
A sole operator does not need the same system as a multi-site organisation with dozens of aircraft.
That said, both still need to demonstrate:
- active risk management
- procedural discipline
- operational oversight
The DDI model can be scaled to reflect:
- size of operation
- complexity of operation
- number of personnel
- operational exposure
This makes it practical for:
- small ReOC operators
- growing businesses
- enterprise RPAS operations
What Good Safety Performance Monitoring Looks Like
A good safety monitoring system should be:
Relevant
It measures things that matter to the operation.
Practical
It can be maintained without excessive administrative burden.
Consistent
It uses the same definitions and review periods over time.
Actionable
It leads to decisions, corrective action, and improvement.
Defensible
It provides evidence that the operator is exercising due diligence.
What Safety Performance Monitoring Is Not
It is not:
- a spreadsheet full of meaningless numbers
- a record of incidents only
- a box-ticking exercise
- something done only when CASA or a client asks for it
It should be:
a working management tool used to understand operational health
Common Mistakes
We frequently see operators:
- measuring only incidents
- tracking too many metrics with no real value
- collecting data without reviewing it
- failing to link safety indicators to action
- using systems that are too complex for the size of the operation
The result is often:
- no real insight
- poor management visibility
- weak evidence of due diligence
How the DDI Supports a Safety Management System
The DDI is not separate from the safety system.
It supports the operator’s broader:
- Safety Management System (SMS)
- risk register
- SOP framework
- audit and review processes
It helps answer:
- Are our controls working?
- Are our people following the system?
- Are we identifying issues early enough?
- Can we demonstrate active safety oversight?
How Uncrewed Approvals Can Help
Uncrewed Approvals supports operators to build practical safety performance monitoring systems using the DDI model.
This includes:
- identifying suitable safety indicators
- scaling the framework to the operation
- integrating metrics with existing systems
- building dashboards and review structures
- helping operators demonstrate due diligence in practice
We help operators move from:
general safety intent → measurable safety oversight
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need safety performance monitoring if I am a small operator?
Yes — the system should be scaled to your operation, but active safety monitoring is still important.
Is incident data enough on its own?
No — incident data only tells part of the story. Leading indicators are essential.
What makes the DDI different?
The DDI focuses on evidence of active due diligence, not just event counting.
Can the DDI be used with an SMS?
Yes — it is designed to support and strengthen a practical SMS.
Measure What Matters
If safety is important to your operation, it should be visible in your systems, your reviews, and your data.
The DDI model provides a practical way to do that.
