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OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE

Regulatory work, done.

Operating commercial autonomous drones in the EU requires extensive regulatory engagement. Aerion handles all of it. You don't have to.

REGULATORY ROADMAP

A phased path through EU drone regulation.

From initial standard-scenario authorization to full self-certification. Every phase is mapped against the European regulatory framework, not improvised on the fly.

PHASE 01 · 2026
STS-02
Standard Scenario Declaration

Initial operational authorization for industrial site monitoring. Pre-defined risk profile permits routine commercial flights at industrial facilities under standard conditions.

EU Implementing Regulation 2019/947, STS-02

PHASE 02 · 2026-2027
SORA
Specific Category Operations

Specific Operations Risk Assessment for expanded operations including BVLOS. Required for corridor-scale coverage of pipelines, transmission lines, and rail networks.

Specific category authorization

PHASE 03 · 2027-2028
LUC
Light UAS Operator Certificate

Application kicked off in 2027. Once granted, Aerion self-certifies standard mission profiles within LUC privileges. No per-mission authorization request to the regulator. The real operational moat: a small EU club of holders, multi-year lead time to enter, prerequisite for public-infrastructure tenders (Elering grid, telco towers, Transpordiamet roads). LUC turns Aerion from a STS-02 operator into an authorized UAS operator with privileges.

Light UAS Operator Certificate · EU Reg 2019/947 Part B

PHASE 04 · 2028+
U-SPACE
U-space service integration (Tartu first)

EU's only operational U-space sandbox runs in Tartu. Aerion's N-03 Tartu node integrates with U-space service providers (USSPs) for traffic management, network identification, and conformance monitoring. This is the framework that unlocks dense urban BVLOS operations in 2028 and beyond.

EU Implementing Reg 2021/664 · Tartu U-space sandbox

OPERATIONAL STANDARDS

How we operate.

Six operational standards, applied without exception, on every flight, at every site.

01

Trained remote pilots

Operations supervised by certified A2/STS-trained pilots holding Estonian Transport Administration credentials. Continuous internal review of flight logs against operational standards.

02

Insurance

Operational liability cover placed with EU underwriter ahead of Q4 2026 go-live. Customer assets and bystanders covered under the policy as standard.

03

Maintenance

Scheduled hardware maintenance and software updates. Predictive component replacement before failure. Documented maintenance logs per airframe.

04

Data security

EU-based data processing. GDPR compliant. Token-based authentication. End-to-end encryption. Customer-controlled access.

05

Audit trail

Complete flight logs available for customer review on request. Audit-grade documentation for regulatory and insurance requirements.

06

Emergency procedures

Documented protocols for system failures, weather events, and airspace incidents. Tested escalation paths to civil aviation authorities.

CERTIFICATION ROADMAP · ISO 27001 · NIS2

Information security management aligned with EU NIS2 directive.

Aerion is implementing an ISO/IEC 27001 information security management system covering customer imagery, operational data, and the operator console. Gap analysis underway 2026. Stage 1 audit targeted for 2027 alongside the SORA roll-out. The control framework is built to satisfy EU NIS2 obligations customers in finance, energy, and critical infrastructure already report against.

PARTNERSHIPS & ECOSYSTEM

Working with Estonia's drone ecosystem.

Aerion operates in active coordination with Estonian regulators, U-space service providers, and innovation programs that make this regulatory roadmap possible.

Transpordiamet

Estonian Transport Administration. Regulatory coordination across STS, SORA, and LUC pathways.

Tartu U-space Sandbox

EU's only operational U-space regulatory sandbox. Operational testing and validation environment.

Estonian Aviation Academy

Pilot training and operational research partnership pending.

ANRA Technologies

ANRA Technologies. U-space service provider for Estonian airspace. Operational coordination required for BVLOS missions.

Tehnopol

Tehnopol. Estonia's startup technology park. Operational base for Aerion's deep-tech cohort and smart-city deployment programmes.

Compliance is product.

If you've been quoted timelines from drone operators that ignore the regulatory layer, talk to us. We can compare.

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