SwissDrones, a global manufacturer of long-range unmanned helicopter systems, has obtained their European drone operator license – the EASA Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) in accordance with European Regulation (EU) 947/2019, granted by the Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate (Transport Malta), the country’s Civil Aviation Authority.
This is the first LUC issued by Transport Malta, and the sixth issued in Europe. The certificate allows SwissDrones to self-authorize flight operations of its SDO50 V2 unmanned helicopters across EASA countries, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations within the limits of the certificate. It is the highest authorization achievable under European drone regulations.
“It has been a pleasure working with our counterparts at Transport Malta,” said Arangan Varatharajah, Head of Flight Operations at SwissDrones. “They have been very professional and supportive throughout the application process, and we look forward to our continued collaboration as we expand our activities in Malta and beyond.”
Dr Analiza Abdilla, UAV Flight Operations Inspecting Officer at Transport Malta, said “We are pleased to be issuing our first LUC certificate to SwissDrones, with whom we have been working closely over the past months towards achieving this milestone. They have demonstrated a highly professional approach throughout the entire process and we look forward to further supporting the development of their operations within and beyond the Maltese islands.”
SwissDrones plans to perform ongoing BVLOS flight testing campaigns in Malta, given the ideal geographical environment with ample airspace for long-range testing in real-life conditions, including in coastal areas and over the ocean. Additionally, the nation is a growing hub for unmanned aviation with a dedicated support infrastructure and a clear governmental commitment to advance this high-growth industry.
About SwissDrones
As a leading manufacturer and operator of long-range unmanned helicopter systems, SwissDrones enables safe and cost-effective unmanned aerial intelligence solutions for surveillance, inspection and search & rescue missions beyond visual line of sight.
SwissDrones’ unique twin-rotor unmanned helicopter systems are designed to replace manned helicopters at reduced costs, significantly lower carbon emissions and without putting crews at risk when operating in challenging conditions. The systems integrate high-end sensor payloads and enable long-range, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations both day and night with a flight endurance of multiple hours.
SwissDrones’ aircraft are in operation across Asia, Europe, and North America. SwissDrones was founded in 2013 and is based out of Switzerland with its headquarters in Zurich and its manufacturing site in Buchs (St. Gallen). It has been named a Top 50 Global UAV Enterprise by the World UAV Federation and a Top 40 Civil Drone Platform Manufacturer by Drone Industry Insights. For more information, please visit www.swissdrones.com
About Transport Malta
Transport Malta is the Authority for Transport in Malta. Transport Malta’s mission is to promote and develop the transport sector in Malta by means of proper regulation and by promotion and development of related services, businesses, and other interests both locally and internationally. For more information, please visit www.transport.gov.mt
