The aim of this newly published monthly newsletter is to pull together all the relevant regulatory information that has happened during the last few weeks and summarise how it will impact the drone industry from the perspective of users, business owners and regulators.
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Opinion No 03/2023 aims to establish a common set of rules and guidelines for the safe operation of drones and special types of aircraft that can take off and land vertically, often referred to as VTOL aircraft, in Europe. The idea is to encourage the introduction of these new technologies while ensuring their safety. The document outlines three main areas of focus: (1) to ensure that drones meet certain safety standards from the outset; (2) to propose ongoing checks to ensure that these drones continue to meet safety standards; and (3) to lay down rules for vertical take-off and landing aircraft to ensure that they are operated safely.
There are multiple objectives for these proposed rules, including the aim to ensure a high level of safety for both drones and VTOL aircraft and to make it easier for operators to use these new types of aircraft in Europe's skies by creating a single space where they can co-exist safely.
Another key objective is to encourage innovation in the field by creating an environment that's supportive but not overly restrictive, allowing the drone and VTOL markets to grow. Finally, the regulations aim to be consistent across European countries to avoid confusion and to be balanced, taking into account other factors such as privacy and data protection.
EASA is working on a set of rules to ensure the safe operation of certain types of drones, specifically those that fall under the category of "Special Condition Light-UAS (SC Light-UAS) Medium Risk". These drones are categorised as SAIL III and IV, depending on their level of risk.
EASA used research from the Shepard project, which we are participating in, to decide which safety standards to use. Specifically, they've recommended using some parts of a standard known as ASTM F3298 to ensure that these drones meet the safety requirements of Light UAS 2405.
This document provides a detailed description of how to comply with these safety rules. These guidelines will primarily apply to SAIL IV category drones, but can also be used for SAIL III category drones. Whether the same rules will apply to drones in other SAIL categories (V and VI) will be considered at a later stage.
EASA has also recently launched a public consultation on these rules. They're asking for public input on three specific topics:
EASA has also published a template for an operations manual, which is specifically designed for drones operating in the "specific category" under SAIL II. In simple terms, if you're a drone operator and you want to fly your drone under these specific conditions, you'll need to fill out this Operations Manual and submit it when you apply for permission to fly.
This manual has made it easier to gain the required approval by providing a template for the operations manual, so operators know exactly what information they need to include. The aim is to streamline the process and ensure that everyone meets the same safety standards. If you're a drone operator in this category, you can download the template from the EASA website to get started, and feel free to contact us directly if you need support along the way as one of our specialities is supporting organisations with their SORA approvals.
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is asking for the drone industry’s view on how to improve the rules governing drones. As drones become more popular, the UK CAA wants to make sure the rules keep everyone safe but also don't make life too difficult for the industry.
This call for input is to simplify the rules about what you can and can't do with a drone, and make sure that drones are designed to be safe from the start. That’s why they're asking the public, especially those who use drones regularly, to share their ideas on how to improve these rules.
The deadline is September 7th, 2023.
Transport Canada has updated its regulations to make it easier for drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
The new rules aim to promote advanced air mobility in Canada, opening the door to applications such as medical deliveries and industrial operations. Previously, operators had to go through a cumbersome process to obtain special permits for such flights.
Now, drones up to 150 kg will have simplified guidelines for BVLOS operations, especially in less populated areas. The changes are expected to cost CAD 26.02 million over ten years but could bring benefits of CAD 40.23 million.
The review aims to reduce administrative burdens, make Canada more globally competitive in drone technology, and support economic recovery after the pandemic.
Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU) has received a nationwide waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) inspections of utility power lines throughout the United States.
This milestone comes after the company completed 13,000 miles of inspections for Xcel Energy under a similar FAA waiver. The new authorisation allows for more complex operations, including flying over people and moving vehicles, without the need for on-site visual observers.
This is the first waiver of its kind, and others are expected to follow shortly.
Did we miss any news about drone regulations? Write to us and we’ll add it to next month’s edition!
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Thanks for reading the first edition of the Murzilli Consulting newsletter!
See you out there,
The Murzilli Consulting team
The activities developed by M&K UAS & SPACE SPAIN SL according to the requirements expressed in the International ISO 9001: 2015 standard are:
Consultancy and training services on Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) and Flight Procedure Design (FPD).
The main points of action issued by the management in the quality policy statement issued by the management are:
Our quality commitment to all the interested parties (customer, suppliers, stakeholders, employees, competence and public administration) leads us to provide reliable and effective products and services. These product and services are provided worldwide in compliance with the regulatory requirements and in full alignment with our company values.
The Quality culture and mindset is promoted through proper training to each member of M&K UAS & SAPCE SPAIN SL so that everybody has full awareness of the quality importance.
Management makes this policy accessible and available to its customers, its employees, suppliers and the general public
The Policy is kept up-to-date through periodic reviews, coinciding with the management review of the system, in order to take into account changes in environmental conditions and the information received. In this sense, the management provides and will provide all the human, technical and economic resources needed to achieve the objectives and targets established scheduled and periodically.
07/01/2025. Ed. 1.
Chief Executive Office
