As we previously reported, the United States recently introduced new legislation to both expand capabilities in the area of defence against uncooperative drones and to support domestic UAS production by ordering the implementation of practical solutions for the issue of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights within a few weeks in order to enable commercial drone operations BVLOS across the country.
The Association for Unmanned Aviation (UAV DACH) says these are initiatives that the European drone economy also urgently needs but adds that they seem “a long way off”.
“Through hesitancy and reluctance, Europe risks ultimately losing touch with the markets in China and the USA. Just as we have already experienced with solar energy and artificial intelligence,” warns Dr. Gerald Wissel, Chairman of the Board of UAV DACH. “The European Commission must now take decisive action to ensure that we remain competitive and capable of acting in a key technology such as unmanned aviation. Financial and structural support for the UAS/AAM industry in Europe is not only economically, socially, and ecologically sensible, but also of crucial importance from a security policy perspective.”
At the end of April, a UAV DACH-initiated meeting was attended by representatives from six European trade associations. A key objective of the meeting was to create structures for regular exchange and closer professional coordination. “Guidelines for cooperation were developed and a binding procedure for the best possible representation of the drone industry at the European level was established,” UAV DACH said.
The six professional associations agreed to act in partnership and on an equal footing in the interests of the UAS/AAM industry, and to represent common and coordinated positions vis-à-vis bodies and committees such as the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency. For example, the associations unanimously agreed to jointly use the seat designated for the UAS/AAM industry in the EASA Stakeholders Advisory Body (SAB). In concrete terms, this means that before votes in the SAB, a common industry position is established by majority vote, which must then be taken into account in the voting process.
“The coming months and years will be crucial for Europe’s ability to assert itself against other regions of the world in the field of unmanned aerial systems,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel, Chairman of the Board of UAV DACH. “Working with the combined power of the associations on key issues in the future and representing the interests of the UAS/AAM industry will bring dynamism and clarity to often lengthy processes and strengthen the position of the European UAS/AAM industry vis-à-vis European decision-makers.”
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