A Design Verification Report (DVR) is an essential step to ensure the safety and compliance of UAS at medium-risk levels in the specific category. It is a verification process to ensure that the relevant drone design meets the required safety and performance standards defined by EASA. This article contains the specifics of what a DVR is, how the design verification process works in Europe, why planning for the DVR process is so important and how the application process looks.
How Does the Design Verification Process Work in Europe?
There are currently three relevant baseline regulations: Basic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1139), European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 that define the UAS regulatory framework by classifying drones into three categories.
The EU has classified European drones into three main groups: Open, Specific and Certified. Each category is determined by specific factors related to the risk associated with the drone’s operation. Using a chart such as the one below can help identify the correct category of a drone:
A drone in the Specific Category is subject to a Specific Operations Risk Assessment or SORA. The SORA method was created by Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) and was led during that time by Murzilli Consulting’s CEO, Lorenzo Murzilli.
SORA considers factors such as air and ground risks and their mitigations, which are used to evaluate and classify the drone operation between specific assurance integrity levels (SAIL) I-VI. SAIL I and II are considered lower risk, SAIL III and IV are medium risk, and SAIL V and IV are higher risk. Operations that are classified as SAIL I-III will have fewer requirements to achieve compliance with the regulations, while SAIL IV operations will require a Design Verification Report (DVR), and SAIL V and VI operations require a Type Certificate (TC).
**Image from EASA’s Design Verification Report**
According to EASA, there are additional specific cases that require a DVR; these include:
🔸 Mitigation means linked with a highly robust design, e.g. a flight termination system including a parachute according to specific standards such as ASTM F3322-18 to ensure a safe landing in case of failure
🔸 As a verification of the ‘enhanced containment’ as currently defined by SORA when no declarative Means of Compliance (MoC) can be applied
For these specific cases, it should be noted that MoCs can be used as guidance material; for example, MoC 2511 addresses enhanced containment, while MoC 2512 pertains specifically to the parachute.
What is a DVR?
A Design Verification Report or DVR is a document issued by EASA that confirms a UAS design within the Specific Category complies with the relevant Operational Safety Objectives (OSOs) and design verification basis, such as EASA Special Condition Light UAS (medium-risk) and can perform its intended operation without unwarranted risks to people, property or aircraft. This includes any possible limitations or assumptions that the drone model needs to operate. The infographic below shows the complete list of OSOs and their relevant groups:
It is necessary for operations categorised as SAIL IV to obtain a DVR to operate legally. The document is evidence that the drone has passed the required testing phases and complies with the necessary standards for safety and performance.
The Importance of Preparing for the DVR Process
Prior to communications with the regulator, organisations applying for a DVR should prepare for preliminary and critical design reviews to ensure that all potential issues are addressed before moving forward. This includes preparing design documentation, drawings, analyses and tests. The tests must be rigorous to uncover any possible operational scenarios to ensure the drone’s reliability and safety. This will also save time and expenses when it comes to the design verification process.
The challenge in this process is the dynamic nature of the drone industry, particularly the technical requirements that are constantly evolving. To ensure an organisation is well-prepared and up to date with the latest information, Murzilli Consulting has developed a Design Verification service that provides end-to-end support, including management of the design review, customised templates and guidance on the required documentation. The service is tailored to achieve results as efficiently as possible in the following 2 phases:
Phase 1 of Murzilli Consulting’s Design Verification service focuses on the preliminary planning with the Design Review (DR) and Design Management System (DMS). These services include project management, reviewing documentation such as airworthiness ConOps, system and compliance requirements and training necessities. Phase 2 involves a 9-step process to complete the design review process.
How to Apply for DVR
EASA has outlined the process to obtain a Design Verification Report into 4 steps:
There are a few important factors regarding the minimum required data. The first is the design verification basis. This should be strategically mapped out and agreed upon early in the process.
The design verification basis acts as a binding contract between the authority and the applicant to define what the Means of Compliance (MoC) are and how they demonstrate compliance. This includes the specific adaption of proposed MoC, such as Special Condition for Light UAS - Medium Risk and how the applicant should demonstrate compliance with them and document that the design satisfies the claims required.
For the SC Light-UAS specifically, the MoCs need to define how the SC Light-UAS paragraph applies to the configuration of the UAS, the UAS design-related auditable or measurable specifications and how to demonstrate compliance with this data, such as design review, analysis or laboratory/ground/flight testing.
Environmental protection is also a factor in the design verification process. DVR applicants are advised to measure and report the noise levels of the operation and report their findings to EASA. The authority will then decide on a case-by-case basis if specific noise tests are required for the design verification test campaign.
The Design Verification Programme (DVP) is a document that allows EASA and the DVR applicant to coordinate the management and control of the compliance demonstration and the evolving design of the UAS. The DVP should also contain the Means of Compliance (MoCs), which outline determinants such as the desired design objective, the activities and associated planning, the relevant parameters, the relevant references and the pass/fail criteria. The EASA Certification Experts can accept these MoCs through extensive product tests and design criteria substantiations, which will depend on the safety objectives and the operational risk.
Following the acceptance of the DVP, the applicant can begin and document the results of the verification activities, which include appraisals, analyses and tests. EASA will review the results, and if they are acceptable, the UAS will enter the design verification process. Once the DVR has been approved, the applicant will be responsible for managing and storing all relevant design information, drawings and test reports to ensure continued validity of the DVR and airworthiness of the aircraft. This proactive approach not only streamlines the initial verification process but helps to avoid costly redesigns or delays in the future.
To successfully obtain a DVR, an organisation must be well-prepared, engage in thorough design reviews and maintain up-to-date knowledge of the evolving regulations. Expert consulting services such as those offered by Murzilli Consulting provide valuable support to guide applicants through the vital steps of the verification process. With careful preparation, an organisation can ensure compliance of their product as well as maximise the efficiency of their roadmap towards verification which will reduce time, expenses and potential setbacks.
Would you like to know more about our complex support services for Design Verification? Write to us for more information or to book an initial consultation.
