Schiebel is the first Unmanned Air System (UAS) operator in Europe to receive the organisational approval certificate – Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) for its CAMCOPTER® S-100 from Austro Control.

aerobd.news : Under the new European Union (EU) regulatory framework for civil UAS operators, it is possible to receive a LUC by the National Aviation Authority. Schiebel is the first UAV operator in Europe to successfully demonstrate and meet the requirements for the certification by Austro Control. The requirements are according to (EU) 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircrafts.

On 25 February 2021, Schiebel was issued the LUC, which enables the company to self-authorise operations, within the defined scope and privileges, in civil airspace without applying for authorisation. For Schiebel these operations include commercial drone flights, test flights as well as training flights for pilots. The LUC, which is also valid in the European Union and EASA member states, is an important step for the UAV market. It opens further opportunities in regards to flying in civil airspace by allowing the operators to carry the responsibility for their operations, making the whole process more efficient and structured. The certification process includes a thorough review of the safety, compliance, and management system. Special focus is put on the qualification of the personnel and the handling of operational aspects.

Hannes Hecher, CEO at Schiebel, said: “Schiebel is an innovative company that is always one step ahead. We are very proud to be the first organisation in Europe to hold the LUC. Being awarded the LUC as first UAS operator in Europe is another important milestone in our company history. Within the scope of the approval conditions, we are now able to self-authorise missions Europe wide such as monitoring of supply lines, disaster control, border security, and environmental protection ourselves”.

Valerie Hackl, Managing Director Austro Control, said: “By issuing the first LUC in Europe to Schiebel, Austro Control has shown to be a reliable and innovative partner for the Austrian aviation industry when it comes to the fast and efficient implementation of new regulations. With this Certificate Austro Control provides Austrian companies such as Schiebel with an early competitive advantage and enables them to strengthen their international market position”, said Valerie Hackl, Managing Director Austro Control.

Magnus Brunner, State Secretary for Aviation, Austria, said: „Congratulations to the Schiebel Group for receiving the LUC and achieving a milestone as the first company across Europe. This is a great example of innovation made in Austria and a leap for the aviation manufacturing industry. It proves that the cooperation between industry and authorities, in particular with the certifying Austro Control, is well established and aims at supporting innovation and international market leaders.“

About Schiebel :
Founded 1951 in Vienna, the globally operating Schiebel Group focuses on the development, testing and production of state-of-the-art mine detection equipment and the revolutionary CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS). Certified to meet AS/EN 9100 standards, Schiebel has built an international reputation for producing quality defence and humanitarian products, which are backed by exceptional after-sales service and support. With headquarters in Vienna (Austria), Schiebel now maintains production facilities in Wiener Neustadt (Austria) and Abu Dhabi (UAE), as well as offices in Washington, DC (USA) and Shoalhaven (Australia).

About the CAMCOPTER® S-100 :
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) is an operationally proven capability for military and civilian applications. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAS requires no prepared area or supporting equipment to enable launch and recovery. It operates by day and by night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200 km / 108 nm, over land and sea. Its carbon fibre and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations up to a service ceiling of 5,500 m / 18,000 ft. In a typical configuration, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 carries a 34-kg / 75-lbs payload up to 10 hours and is powered with AVGas or JP-5 heavy fuel. High-definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real time. In addition to its standard GPS waypoint or manual navigation, the S-100 can successfully operate in environments where GPS is not available, with missions planned and controlled via a simple point-andclick graphical user interface. The high-tech unmanned helicopter is backed by Schiebel’s excellent customer support and training services.