During the India-EU Aviation summit held in New Delhi, India, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) formalized their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, focusing on unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility, marks a significant milestone in the deepening cooperation between India and the European Union in the aviation sector. The two-day summit aimed to strengthen political, technical, and industrial ties between the two regions.
The signed MoU paves the way for the establishment of harmonized standards and the development of the Indian aviation sector. It encompasses areas such as certification standards, environmental regulations, and related requirements for unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility operations. This includes licensing of personnel, training, air traffic management, and infrastructure, including the standards and services for Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM).
Under this collaboration, both the DGCA and EASA will exchange information regarding technological advancements and research in unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility. They will also share their respective strategies for engaging with relevant stakeholders. The goal is to foster mutual growth and progress in these areas.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), are air vehicles that operate without a human pilot on board. Instead, they are remotely controlled or fly autonomously. They consist of an aircraft, a remote pilot station, a command and control link, and a payload specific to the intended application, which often includes cameras and other sensors for data collection and analysis.
The signing of the MoU between the DGCA and EASA opens up avenues for cooperation, standardization, and knowledge sharing in unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility. This collaboration will contribute to the advancement of the Indian aviation sector, ensuring the safe and efficient integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the airspace and fostering innovation in air mobility solutions.