SwissDrones Flies in Malta: BVLOS Flights Over Water

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

This week, Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate (Transport Malta), Malta’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and SwissDrones, a global manufacturer of long-range unmanned helicopter systems, oversaw a sequence of long-range Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights over water for diligent maritime patrol, search and rescue, and surveillance mission simulations. Further flights were directed in order to test and verify communication and sensor payloads.

The operations were able to take place due to the cooperation of Transport Malta, Malta Communication Authority, Malta Air Traffic Services, Enterprise Malta, Indis Malta, and the San Lawrenz local council.

The flights were carried out in accordance with European Union Safety Administration (EASA) regulations for unmanned aircraft under the Specific Category, with full authorization from Transport Malta.

“The Malta archipelago…