12 unmanned systems
inside
January/February 2016
AIR REGULATORY
Part of a Wider Strategy
The EASA Strategy, adopted officially on Dec.
7, 2015 includes three main elements:
• A Commission Communication identifying
challenges and opportunities to improve the
competitiveness of the EU Aviation sector;
• A proposal to revise the Aviation Safety
Regulation to equip the EU's aviation safety
system for future challenges; including a
legal framework for the safe use of drones;
• A package of requests to negotiate EU-
level air transport agreements with third
countries.
EU officials have argued that drones are al-
ready a crucial source of growth and jobs, and
the fact they are mentioned specifically in the
context of three major Strategy objectives will
be encouraging to the sector.
The history of the EU's official interest in
drones is short. The European Commission
only launched its 'Roadmap for the Integration
of Civil RPAS into the European Aviation Sys-
tem' at the Paris Air Show in 2013, a year now
known within certain European circles as 'the
year of the drone.' The stated goal , according to
the report, was "to ensure that European civil
airspace is used in a responsible, considered and
effective manner," and, importantly, "to prepare
regulation for implementation by 2016."
That process is nearing completion, al-
though some officials now say they believe the
2016 target will be missed. Indeed, the final
steps may require the most patience, EASA's
Maragakis said.
EASA's 'Technical Opinion'
The part of the proposal that pertains to drones
comprises a formal 'Technical Opinion,' pub-
lished on Dec.18, 2015. According to EASA,
the document "lays down the foundation for all
future work for the development of rules, guid-
ance material, as well as safety promotion to
ensure unmanned aircraft are operated safely
and their impact on the safety of the aviation
system is minimized."
Photo courtesy of Delair-Tech
Delair-Tech's DT18 airframe can fl y up to 100 km and has
been approved for beyond-line-of-sight operations.