BCN Drone Center Receives Spain's First SAIL III Urban BVLOS Authorization
Spanish drone operator CATUAV, trading as BCN Drone Center, has secured Spain's first SAIL III authorization for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations in urban environments. Issued by Spain's aviation authority AESA under EASA's latest SAIL III Means of Compliance and the SORA 2.5 risk assessment framework, the authorization is among the first of its kind in Europe. Initial operations will focus on medical logistics delivery in southern Catalonia.
Highlights
- CATUAV (BCN Drone Center) received Spain's first SAIL III BVLOS authorization from AESA, becoming one of the first operators in Europe to achieve this under the SORA 2.5 framework.
- The RigiTech Eiger 3 UAS was approved following a technical documentation review required for aircraft-specific authorization.
- Initial BVLOS operations will focus on medical logistics delivery in southern Catalonia, developed in partnership with local healthcare stakeholders.
- The authorization was issued under EASA's latest SAIL III Means of Compliance, setting a regulatory precedent for complex urban drone operations across Europe.
BCN Drone Center Receives Spain's First SAIL III Urban BVLOS Authorization
Spanish drone operator CATUAV, trading as BCN Drone Center, has announced it has officially obtained Spain's first SAIL III operational authorization, permitting beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone delivery operations in urban environments. The milestone marks a significant development in the evolution of drone regulations across Europe.
Authorization Framework and Issuing Authority
The authorization was granted by Spain's State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) following a review conducted in accordance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) latest SAIL III Means of Compliance, the SORA 2.5 risk assessment methodology, and industry-developed guidance materials.
The technical foundation of the drone system was provided by UAS designer and manufacturer RigiTech, whose Eiger 3 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) successfully completed the technical documentation review required for aircraft-specific approval. CATUAV led the overall operational implementation process.
First Use Case: Medical Logistics Delivery
The first operational flights under the new authorization are planned to take place in southern Catalonia. CATUAV is currently working with local healthcare stakeholders to develop medical supply delivery use cases, with the goal of establishing a more efficient, faster, and better-connected medical logistics network in the region.
A Pioneer in European Drone Regulation
This authorization is among the first in Europe to be issued under the SAIL III SORA 2.5 framework, demonstrating how complex BVLOS operations can advance from the regulatory assessment stage through to actual deployment. For the broader European drone industry, this serves as an important benchmark, helping to pave the way for the commercialization of more complex flight operations across the continent.
More information: BCN Drone Center
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