As drone technology rapidly develops, regulations and certification standards around the world are constantly being updated to ensure flight safety and operational compliance.
Autel Robotics has partnered with APPlus (an EASA-approved notified certification body) to accelerate the pace of obtaining Class C certification for drones in the European market, so that Autel drone enthusiasts in Europe can also fly with peace of mind.
Understand the Importance of Drone Certification
The popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has not only changed the entertainment and aerial photography fields, but also profoundly affected multiple industries such as agriculture, construction, logistics, and environmental monitoring. In order to ensure the safety and compliance of drone operations, many countries and regions have begun to implement strict regulations requiring drone manufacturers and operators to meet certain certification standards.
In China, the website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China must be checked before drone flights, and drone pilots should fly according to regulations. In the United States, the FAA website must be checked before drone flights and all laws and regulations must be followed.
In Europe, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has implemented new drone regulations since 2021, requiring drones to be classified and certified according to their weight, purpose and risk level. Under these new regulations, drones are divided into Class A, Class B, and Class C, of which Class C certification is suitable for high-risk operations, such as commercial applications and close-range flights in urban environments.
Current C-level certification for Autel drones
Autel Robotics, as a leading global drone manufacturer, has been committed to providing users with high-performance, easy-to-operate drone products. Autel consumer drones and commercial drones have different C-level certifications.
|
Specifications |
Classification |
|||
|
C0 |
C1 |
C2 |
C3 / C4 |
|
|
Weight |
<250g |
<900g |
<4kg |
<25kg |
|
Flight Category |
A1 |
A1 |
A2 / A3 |
A3 |
|
Autel Robotics Aircraft |
EVO Nano EVO Nano+ |
EVO Lite/Lite+ EVO Lite Enterprise Series |
EVO II V3 Series EVO Max Series |
Dragonfish Series |
C0 certification: Autel EVO Nano, Autel EVO Nano+ have passed.
C1 certification: Autel EVO Lite, Autel EVO Lite+, Autel EVO Lite 6K Enterprise, Autel EVO Lite 640T Enterprise have passed.
C2 certification: Autel EVO II PRO V3, Autel EVO II 640T V3, Autel EVO II PRO RTK V3, Autel EVO II PRO Enterprise V3, Autel EVO II 640T RTK V3, Autel EVO II 640T Enterprise V3, EVO MAX 4T, EVO MAX 4N, EVO MAX 4T Pro have passed.
C3 certification: Autel Alpha has passed.
In the future, we will continue to update drone models and drone payload certifications.
For more details, search Autel Robotics Co., Ltd. on the APPlus official website.
Do I need to fly a C-level certified drone?
Class C certification is the EU's quality assurance for medium- and high-risk drone operations. This means that drones with Class C certification will be able to fly in more complex environments, including urban areas, crowded places, and highly concentrated commercial areas.
It not only requires drones to have higher safety standards, but also requires them to be able to achieve more precise flight control and collision avoidance functions.
Flying a Class C-certified drone in Europe is a hard requirement. Starting January 1, 2024, all open and specific category drones will need to obtain CE certification before they can be authorized to fly in Europe.
Can my US drone fly in Europe without C-level certification?
No. You must obtain a C-level certified drone to fly a drone in Europe.
In addition, drone licenses are not universal. When you travel with a drone, please understand the local laws and regulations (EU) 2019/945 (R945) on drone flying in advance. To fly a drone in Europe, you also need to complete online training.
How to apply for a C-label?
Step 1: Determine which label your drone belongs to.
Step 2: Upgrade the drone to the latest firmware version.
Step 3: Find support on the Autel Robotics website, enter the correct information of the aircraft and your delivery address on the link submission page, and wait for the C-label to arrive.
Read More:
Autel Robotics EVO Max series has received C2 certification
Autel Robotics UAV Drone Certification Updating For EU Regulations
