Italian regulator authorises Telespazio BVLOS operations with T-DROMES platform

Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has granted Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment (PRDA) authorisation to operate drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The approval was achieved due to Telespazio’s use of its proprietary T-DROMES platform for the management of end-to-end services with drones and for the assessment of risks on the ground and in flight. It supports expansion of Telespazio’s services the sectors of infrastructure monitoring, environmental protection and precision agriculture.

Telespazio is a member of the consortium delivering the European SESAR U-ELCOME research project.

The authorization represents an advanced solution for BVLOS operations, allowing extended distances to be covered and expanding the possible operational scenarios offered by the company. Telespazio will further expand the operation of unmanned aircraft over even greater distances, with the use of the Telespazio AIR 100 BOX which allows satellite communications to be exploited to control the vehicle.

Aermatica-3D contributed to achieving this certification by supporting Telespazio with the innovative FTS compliant with particular EASA requirements, which guarantees safety in the areas adjacent to operations with gatherings of people, thus expanding the operational capabilities of flight missions.

“This authorization will significantly reduce the time needed to obtain flight mission approvals and projects the company into a new dimension in which it will be able to fully act as a drone operator also offering integrated solutions, leveraging its portfolio of satellite communication products,” said Paolo Minciacchi, head of Telespazio’s Geo Information Business Line.