Skyports gets go ahead to self-authorise drone operations with Light UAS Operator Certificate

Skyports receives Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) from the Irish Aviation Authority, enabling self-authorisation of UAS drone flights across all EASA member states.

London, UK, 29 September 2021 –

Skyports, the world-leading operator of cargo drone deliveries and advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure, has obtained a Light UAS Operator Certificate from the Irish Aviation Authority, permitting the self-authorisation of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights in all European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) member countries.

The LUC, which is currently valid within 31 European countries, can allow UAS operators to conduct flights without first submitting a declaration or obtaining authorisation from aviation authorities beforehand. Skyports is one of a handful of drone operators that have been granted the certification to date after demonstrating to the regulator that as an organisation it is capable of assessing the risk of an operation itself.

As an LUC holder, Skyports will be able to expand its proven drone delivery service within the medical, maritime and logistics sectors across Europe, building on recent high-profile successes most notably in the UK.

Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said: “The Light UAS Operator Certificate creates new opportunities for Skyports in Europe – one of our key markets. Obtaining certification is a landmark moment for our drone delivery business that will enable us to deploy our service more efficiently and meet our customers’ needs more quickly. Receipt of an LUC is also an enormous privilege for us as a safety organisation and reflects our commitment to achieving the very highest safety standards wherever we operate.”

Skyports’ drone delivery services have experienced great success in the UK and other locations. Projects include the UK’s first COVID-19 test drone delivery service in Scotland with the NHS as well as the operation of an inter-island medical drone delivery service between the Isles of Scilly for Royal Mail.
In preparation of its application for the LUC, Skyports worked with Julie Garland, chief executive of Ireland-based Avtrain, one of Europe’s leading drone training and certification organisations, who provided support on the documentation and provided EASA certification of Skyports’ pilots.

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