On Friday, September 20th, 2024, the latest meeting of the Coordination Group of Notified Bodies for UAS under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 took place in Cologne, Germany. This group is responsible for addressing key developments and regulatory updates related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as Drones, within the European Union. These discussions typically cover current topics such as regulatory compliance, certification processes, standardization, operational safety and also discussions about the future of the regulation, adjustments on the standards and verification and validation compliance.
During the meeting, our Head of the UAS Division, Alejandro Herrera, who serves as the president of the group, and the rest of Notified Bodies discussed several important topics regarding the UAS Regulation. The primary focus was on the current status of the prEN 4709-00X series of standards, which are crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with Regulation (EU) 2019/945. This Regulation classifies UAS by design characteristics and operational risk, specifically for drones in the Open and Specific Categories.
Likewise, the meeting emphasized the growing importance of UAS-drones certification, particularly considering the mandatory requirements set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the Regulation. As the UAS sector evolves rapidly, proper certification aligned with EASA regulations is essential for promoting safety, reliability, and innovation within the industry. That’s why, for example, developing the prEN 4709-00X standards is crucial, as it raises awareness among manufacturers, operators, and users about the importance of complying with these standards.
This meeting not only reinforced the value of the Notified Bodies’ role in the certification but also underscored the need for continuous collaboration between Notified Bodies and stakeholders in the drone industry. Ensuring compliance with evolving standards is essential to maintaining the industry’s growth and fostering trust with regulators and consumers. Enhancing the utility of different tools as the Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) Hub, which helps the user understand and has all the most essential information about the European system in one digital platform, including certified UAS-drones, operators, manufacturers, National Authorities, and information about cities and regions of the EU.
From ALTER, it’s important to us to reinforce this latest meeting because highlight the essential role of certification and standardization in the UAS industry. As the sector grows, continuous collaboration between regulatory bodies, national authorities, manufacturers, and stakeholders will be key to ensuring compliance, fostering innovation, and maintaining public trust in drone technology across Europe.