Category Archives: Regulatory Matters

Zephyr HAPS gets Design Organisation Approval from UK Civil Aviation Authority

AALTO HAPS Ltd., which designs, manufactures and operates the stratospheric, solar-powered Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), announced that it has secured its Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. This is the first DOA to be issued to a HAPS company in the UK, marking AALTO and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s leadership in the development and regulation of HAPS technology. Continue reading

Thales Obtains First Design Verification Report for a Complete Drone System Ever Granted By EASA

Thales received the first full DVR ever granted by EASA to operate light UAS in medium risk, SAIL III. This DVR process set in place in April 2021 by the Agency aims at ensuring safe drone operations. Design Verification Report (DVR) is a new process set up by EASA1 to grant UAS design approvals for medium risk drone operations, today under the Specific Assurance Integrity Level (SAIL) III and IV. Continue reading

Countering CCP Drones Act Passes in US House

The United States House of Representatives passed a ban on the future sale of DJI drones in the U.S. on Friday, making the DJI ban more likely than not. The ‘Countering CCP Drones Act’ is part of the United States’ 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA), a major piece of yearly legislation allotting defense spending for the coming year. Continue reading

AUVSI and DIU Publish Secure Drone Procurement Guidance for Government Agencies, Public Safety, Industry

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has announced the publication of a memo, with validation from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), with procurement guidance and recommendations for federal government agencies; state, local, and tribal government agencies; public safety agencies; and private industry conducting sensitive missions using drones. Continue reading

Amazon Prime Air Drones Get FAA BVLOS Approval to Expand Deliveries in Texas

The approval will allow Prime Air to further expand drone deliveries and lays the foundation to safely scale operations to more locations in the U.S. We’re excited to share that the FAA has given Prime Air additional permissions that allow us to operate our drones beyond visual line of sight, enabling us to now serve more customers via drone and effectively expand and scale our drone delivery operations. Continue reading