Dronamics obtains first certification for EU-wide drone deliveries

Bulgaria’s Dronamics has taken a major step toward its goal of launching middle-mile automated drone delivery service later this year by obtaining what it says is the first operational certificate by a UAV airline for activity across the European Union (EU).

Dronamics made the announcement at the European Business Aviation Conference Exhibition on Wednesday, saying the company had obtained the EU’s Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) from civil aviation authorities in Malta – the company’s main European base. Under EU rules, certification extended by one member state is applicable to all others, opening the way for Dronamics to launch middle-mile drone delivery across the 27-nation bloc planned for later this year.

The LUC permits Dronamics self-authorize flights of its Black Swan aircraft across EU countries, including beyond visual line of sight operation required for the kind of longer distances that – until now – have been considered…