As the aviation industry began to grow, the European Union (EU) established the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in 1970. Headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, near the Schiphol airport, the JAA served as a safety regulatory organization until 2009. In July of 2002, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) opened in Cologne, Germany, becoming fully operational and taking over JAA functions in 2008. Today, the EASA serves much like how the Federal Aviation Authority of the United States does, assuming responsibility for all aviation regulations of both manned and unmanned aircraft. With the exception of increased security protocols, manned aircraft regulation hasn’t changed much over the last few decades. It is the rapid growth of the drone industry that has forced organizations like the EASA to rethink and accommodate aviation regulations.

The EU has proudly embraced the growing drone industry, recognizing the economic and environmental impact unmanned aircraft will have in the future. In preparation for the integration of drones in shared airspace, the EASA released the European Regulation (EU) 2019/945, which sets regulatory standards for drones. Some of these standards include regulations of how drones will be used, where they will be flown, operations over people, and the requirement of identification markers. The new law went into effect in 2020 and will be mandatory for all drones, aside from toy drones, by 2023.

On March 10, 2022, Barcelona, Spain based inspection company Applus+ received full accreditation from the EASA to begin inspecting drones to comply with European Regulation (EU) 2019/945. Since 1996, Applus+ has been a leader in the inspection industry, serving major corporations throughout 70 countries. “We offer a complete portfolio of solutions that address a range of needs, from asset integrity management to statutory compliance-based inspections,” states the company bio. “We place a strong emphasis on technological development, digitalization, and innovation, as well as having the latest knowledge of regulatory requirements.” In 2022, Applus+ was ranked as the 11th best inspection and certification company in the world. Applus+’s laboratories are one of the few facilities with everything needed to completely inspect any type of drone and its accompanying accessories.

By 2023, any drone sold within the EU will have to be certified to meet European Regulation (EU) 2019/945. Applus+ will be certifying drones based on mechanics, cybersecurity, wireless connectivity, and electronics inside their labs. To test flight capabilities, Applus+ has partnered with Spain’s ATLAS Experimental Flight Center. ATLAS has become critical in providing European drone companies with flight test space purely dedicated to unmanned systems. These facilities go beyond just providing space to fly drones. They are fully equipped with the sensors and technology to assess drones from takeoff to landing.

In a statement addressing the drone accreditation program, Applus+ said “The use of drones is growing exponentially and will accelerate further with the implementation of 5G technology. Applus+ Laboratories offers a complete testing and certification service for drones and is already working with the largest manufacturers globally.” With the implementation of a drone certification process, the EU is moving one step closer to having one of the most advanced drone industries. There has been no comment yet as to whether the FAA will adopt a similar program, though all commercial drones in the US do need to be registered.