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Drone Product Requirements under DR (EU) 2019/945 & DR (EU) 2020/1058
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and DR (EU) 2020/1058 define the technical requirements that unmanned aircraft must meet in order to operate in both the open category and the standard scenarios from the specific category.
Parts 1 to 5 of the Annex to the DR (EU) 2019/945 detail the criteria applicable to aircraft intended for the open category, covering classes C0 to C4. On the other hand, Parts 16 and 17 from DR (EU) 2020/1058 specify the technical requirements for aircraft intended for the specific standard category, corresponding to C5 and C6 respectively. In addition, requirements related to remote identification accessories are covered in Part 6 of the same Annex.
Some of the main technical characteristics required for the different classes of unmanned aircraft are defined below.
Part 1: Requirements for Class C0 UAS
- MTOM of less than 250 gr.
- Maximum speed limitation of 19 m/s. You can learn more about speed limits here.
- Controllability conditions.
- Aircraft must be electrically powered.
Part 2: Requirements for class C1 UAS
- The impact energy must be less than 80 J or have an MTOM limited to 900 grams.
- The maximum speed limitation is also set at 19 m/s. You can learn more about speed limits here.
- Maximum achievable height of 120 m.
- Sound power limitation. You can know more about sound power limits here.
- Controllability and mechanical endurance conditions.
- The aircraft must be electrically powered.
- To be equipped with a Direct Remote Identification (DRI) system. You can learn more about DRI here.
Part 3: Requirements for Class C2 UAS
- Aircraft with Class C2 markings are limited to a MTOM of 4 kg.
- Except if it is a fixed wing unmanned aircraft, be equipped with a selectable low speed mode that limits the speed to a maximum of 3 m/s. You can learn more about speed limits here.
- Electrical power supply.
- Unique serial number.
- Direct and network remote identification system. You can learn more about DRI here.
- Geo-awareness system.
- Low battery warning system for the unmanned aircraft and the control station (CS).
- Be equipped with a data link protected against unauthorised access to command and control functions (C2).
Part 4: Requirements for Class C3 UAS
- MTOM < 25 kg and a maximum dimension less than 3 m.
- electrical power supply.
- unique serial number.
- direct and network remote identification system. You can learn more about DRI here.
- geo-awareness system.
- low battery warning system for the unmanned aircraft and the control station (CS).
- be equipped with a data link protected against unauthorised access to command and control functions (C2).
- be equipped with lights for attitude control and night flight.
Part 5: Requirements for Class C4 UAS
- MTOM < 25 kg;
- be safely controllable and manoeuvrable by a remote pilot according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- not have automatic control modes, except for flight stabilisation assistance without any direct effect on the trajectory and for assistance in the event of loss of link, provided that a predetermined fixed position of the flight controls is available in the event of loss of link.
Part 16: Requirements for Class C5 UAS
- They shall comply with most of the characteristics of Class C3 UAS.
- Additional requirements are added, for example, unless tethered, it must be a non-fixed wing aircraft.
- Except if tethered, provide means for the pilot to terminate the flight of the UA, which, among others, shall include means to reduce the effect of impact dynamics.
- By means of a certified accessory kit, C3 to C5 aircraft may be converted.
Part 17: Requirements for Class C6 UAS
- As above, Class C6 UAS shall meet most of the requirements defined for Class C3, with the addition of criteria such as:
- Limiting the maximum speed to 50 m/s.
- Providing means to programme the trajectory of the UA.
- Providing means to prevent the UA from exceeding the horizontal and vertical limits of an operational volume. vertical limits of a programmable operational volume.
If you are looking to certify your UAS with EU Drone Port, here you will find more information: