SwissDrones Achieves milestone with European Drone Operator License
SwissDrones has successfully secured the European drone operator license, known as the EASA Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC), in compliance with the European Regulation (EU) 947/2019. This significant achievement was granted by the Transport Malta Civil Aviation directorate, marking it as the inaugural LUC issued by this authority and the sixth across Europe.
Empowering Operations Across Europe
This certification empowers SwissDrones to autonomously conduct flight operations with its SDO50 V2 unmanned helicopters throughout EASA member states, including Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) missions, within the parameters set by the certificate. This represents the pinnacle of authorization available under European drone regulations.
Collaborative Efforts highlighted
Arangan Varatharajah, the Head of Flight Operations at SwissDrones, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with Transport malta, stating, “Working with our counterparts at Transport Malta has been a rewarding experience. Their professionalism and support during the request process have been invaluable, and we are eager to continue our partnership as we broaden our operations in malta and beyond.”
Dr.analiza Abdilla, a UAV Flight Operations Inspecting Officer at Transport Malta, remarked, “We are delighted to present our first LUC certificate to SwissDrones. Our close collaboration over the past months has been fruitful, and they have exhibited a commendable level of professionalism throughout the process.We look forward to further assisting in the growth of their operations both within and outside the Maltese islands.”
Future Plans and Strategic Location
SwissDrones intends to carry out extensive BVLOS flight testing campaigns in Malta, leveraging the region’s favorable geographical conditions, which provide ample airspace for long-distance testing in real-world scenarios, including coastal and oceanic environments. Furthermore, Malta is emerging as a significant hub for unmanned aviation, supported by dedicated infrastructure and a strong governmental commitment to fostering this rapidly expanding industry.
