In the case of “special” category UAS operations, the UAS operator has the possibility in some cases not to have to have each operation separately authorised by the authority, by applying for an operation licence again and again, but to do it himself, by holding a so-called LUC certificate. In this article, we will discuss the conditions for this and how to obtain such a certificate that can provide these facilitations.
What is a Light UAS Operator Certificate, or more simply known as LUC ?
It is a certificate that can only be applied for by organisations with legal personality (i.e. not by a sole trader, for example). The reason for this, as explained below, is that it is not only the operations to be carried out that are being assessed, but also the suitability of the organisation that will subsequently authorise them under its own authority. The LUC gives the holder the possibility to authorise himself to carry out the types of operations covered by the certificate (e.g. line inspection flights), provided that the operation is carried out in accordance with the boundary conditions set by the authority and laid down in the LUC.
The certificate issued will specify the exact boundary conditions (e.g. minimum knowledge required of the remote pilot, UAS functions used, area of operation characteristics, safety indicators to be guaranteed in the risk analysis, etc.). If these are met, the operation can be carried out under the LUC and the UAS operator is exempted from the need to apply for an individual licence.
The LUC itself is valid for an indefinite period of time, until the UAS operator can ensure the necessary boundary conditions for the execution of the operations, as specified by the authority. Its validity does not apply to a specific area, but to all areas that comply with the restrictions laid down in the LUC. For this reason, the authority periodically examines, in a risk-based monitoring system, the organisations holding a LUC, which are required to submit to the authority a risk assessment of all the operations they carry out, going back three years.
It can already be seen from the above that the LUC, while significantly limiting the operations that can be carried out, is essential in that it gives the holder the possibility to carry out operations without restriction, subject to the conditions of the licence.
In contrast to an operation licence, the LUC is recommended for users who wish to carry out one or more well-defined types of operations frequently, but who do not wish to limit the operation to a single location, but who wish to carry out the operation at a location with well-defined characteristics (e.g. inspection of a transmission line outside a populated area).
What is required to apply for and obtain an LUC?
Compared to an application for an operating licence, obtaining a light UAS operator certificate is a much more complex process, but it also gives the operator much more flexibility than an operating licence.
The detailed rules and documents to be submitted for the acquisition are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and the AMC/GM that is integrally linked to it (Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947).
The LUC application is conditional on the organisation applying for the LUC having:
A well-designed and structured organisation that supports the safe conduct of flight operations from planning through implementation, to maintenance and back-up administration. This ensures that there is adequate control over operations.
Within the organisation, there are clear lines of responsibility and well-defined and segregated functions where there are no conflicts of interest (e.g. the head of safety is not under pressure from the head of finance).
The organisation has a safety management system in place to ensure that risks associated with aviation are managed and mitigated and to ensure that a high level of safety is maintained.
In the planning and management of the operation The personnel involved in the planning and execution of the operation have demonstrated the knowledge required to conduct the operations (e.g. remote piloting skills, risk analysis skills, etc.).
An adequate documentation system that stores years of data relating to the operations and that is capable of being accessed or retrieved by the overseeing authority at any time.
The organisation must have a safety policy and associated safety objectives.
The organisation must have a so-called LUC manual detailing the procedures and activities (types of activities) that the LUC holder wishes to perform. The manual also includes an Operational Manual, which specifically describes how to use drones, what procedures to follow and how to do so in case of a problem, what to do in case of an emergency, etc.
If the UAS operator subcontracts certain activities, they must also be assessed as part of their safety management system.
As can be seen from the conditions to be fulfilled, obtaining a LUC is a complex process and is starting to resemble the operation of an airline.
How is the LUC obtained ?
As part of the procedure, the examination of the documents submitted to the authority starts with an authorisation process. During this process, the authority will review the documents in detail to ensure that they are correct, and may also carry out additional on-site inspections to check that the organisation is technically and procedurally ready. As this is a detailed examination procedure, full certification may take months and requires the full cooperation of the prospective LUC holder, as it may be necessary to amend several documents to fill gaps. It is therefore an iterative process.
If everything has been found to be in order, the LUC certificate will be issued, which may contain restrictions.
It is important to note that the authority is not obliged to grant the rights initially requested immediately, but may acquire them step by step, based on the progress made by the LUC holder and the evolution of the security indicators.
What happens after obtaining the LUC ?
From that moment on, the LUC holder can start his/her activities for the operations for which he/she has been authorised in the LUC.
As LUC operations are already carried out under a “special” category and cannot be carried out immediately, the holder of an LUC has significant administrative obligations which must be fulfilled (obligation to keep the records required by the authority, obligation to carry out risk analyses, etc.).
In accordance with the practice developed in the European Union and endorsed by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the authorities may also link the scope of operations which may be authorised under their own responsibility in the possession of a LUC to a specific risk level (SAIL). This enhances the importance of the risk assessment prior to each operation in the possession of a LUC, since if it results in a SAIL level that exceeds the LUC, the operation in question cannot be authorised by the organisation under its own authority, at least on the basis of the LUC, and a new authorisation for the operation must be requested from the authority.
Based on the outcome of the detailed risk assessment, the responsible manager will make the decision (hence the importance of organisation and authority scrutiny) as to whether or not it can be carried out under the LUC. The only exceptions to this are operations based on standard scenarios, in which case the UAS operator must submit a declaration to the authority.
As indicated above, the authority will inspect organisations holding a LUC on a regular basis as part of its inspection programme. These inspections may be on-site or so-called remote audits, and may be announced in advance or unannounced surprise inspections. On the basis of such audits, the authority will judge whether the organisation is able to fully comply with the restrictions in the LUC and, on the basis of the results of the audits, can progressively expand the range of operations that can be carried out (and lift the restrictions) or, conversely, whether negative results require further tightening of the conditions of use or, if appropriate, the withdrawal of the LUC.
Recent article
Drones News & Articles
Maple fruit inspired a drone that spins on its own axis
Electric airplane News & Articles
The Hungarian solar-powered airplane plan has hit the world press
Electric airplane News & Articles
NASA’s first electric aircraft to take off soon
Drones News & Articles
An Australian drone can plant 40,000 trees in a day
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Airbus and ITA Airways jointly develop Italian urban air transport
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Airbus and ITA Airways jointly develop Italian urban air transport
Air taxi News & Articles
The first air taxi airport opens in Britain
Electric airplane News & Articles
Slovenian Pipistrel becomes part of Textron’s electric aviation business
Additional aircraft News & Articles
Another aircraft: the air yacht
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Testing Volocopter’s eVTOL
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
A solar-powered device on Mars could make rocket fuel from waste water
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Suzuki promises to launch flying taxis by 2025
Drones News & Articles
Amazon drone delivery is far from taking off
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CycloTech and Yamato reveal innovative cargo eVTOLconcept with CycloRotors
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
EHang Receives Pre-Order for 100 Units of EH216 AAVs from Indonesian Aviation Company Prestige Aviation
Drones News & Articles
A Hungarian company is developing an agricultural drone with a French partner
Additional aircraft News & Articles
A futuristic, electric rival to the rocket backpack is already in operation
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
FedEx puts drones to work
Additional aircraft News & Articles
British paramedics to start testing rocket backpack rescue in the summer
Air taxi News & Articles
Air Greenland acquires VX4 Air Greenlands from
Air taxi News & Articles
Japanese flying taxis now almost have a timetable
Flying Cars News & Articles
French startup to launch hydrogen-powered flying race car
Drones News & Articles
The silent spy drone designed for the Pentagon is ready
Flying Cars News & Articles
Bruno Senna joins Airspeeder as pilot and ambassador
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
EHang Receives Pre-order for 60 Units of Passenger-grade AAVs from AEROTREE, Malaysia’s Leading Aviation Company, under Strategic Partnership
Additional aircraft News & Articles
NASA may launch inflatable stingray drones to Venus
Drones News & Articles
The Gambit combat drone opens a new era in air warfare
Drones News & Articles
Hydraulic drone that will have a much longer range than its electric counterpart
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Swiss buys solar-powered sustainable kerosene
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Minor accident at Joby Aviation
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Airbus tests hydrogen propulsion on its A380 prototype
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CAAC Formally Adopts Special Conditions for EH216-S AAV Type Certification
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
A Chinese company has shown how their eVTOL can cope with the most critical part of flying
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
World’s first electric air taxis to be launched in Japan
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Hungarian engineers develop unique parallel hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion system
Air taxi News & Articles
Startup Natilus is set to revolutionise air freight transport
Drones News & Articles
Drones go on duty at the giant Singapore seaport
News & Articles Points of interest
Hydrogen-powered, hypersonic aircraft
Flying Cars News & Articles
Why don’t we use flying cars ?
Additional aircraft News & Articles
MIT’s miniature robots fly using artificial muscles
More articles you may be interested in...
Additional aircraft News & Articles
What will this transport of the future look like ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
An Australian millionaire will launch the world’s first flying car race in 2021
Flying Cars News & Articles
That is how we are now in 2021
Electric airplane News & Articles
Slovenian Pipistrel becomes part of Textron’s electric aviation business
Air taxi News & Articles
Hyundai, a developer of new types of air taxis
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
FedEx puts drones to work
Additional aircraft News & Articles
A passenger carrier is being developed by Virgin Galactic
Drones News & Articles
Regulation of special operations with drones in Europe
Additional aircraft News & Articles
Cheaper hydrogen production as fuel
Additional aircraft News & Articles
Hydrogen aircraft are being built in Hungary
Additional aircraft News & Articles
Prombdrone Black Bee drone
Electric airplane News & Articles
Weight loss on electric airplanes
Drones News & Articles
Gas leak detection drone
Flying Cars News & Articles
Even the new market can be launched Terrafugia flying car
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Hydrogen-electric ATR 72 development agreed with ASL Airlines
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Swiss buys solar-powered sustainable kerosene
Additional aircraft News & Articles
How to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft
Air taxi News & Articles
Air taxi to the airport in America
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Hydrogen, hybrid propulsion and biofuels: greening the future of aviation
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
EHang to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Unaudited Financial Results on Friday, April 16, 2021
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Mitsubishi and Zero Avia develop hydrogen propulsion for regional models
Flying Cars News & Articles
World’s first electric flying car successfully tested
Electric airplane News & Articles
Unmanned aircraft that can stay in the air for 90 days
Additional aircraft News & Articles
A futuristic, electric rival to the rocket backpack is already in operation
Additional aircraft News & Articles
The winner is Urban Liner
Air taxi News & Articles
When are flying car taxis coming ?
Drones News & Articles
Drone refuelled the aircraft
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
UPS buys an electric aircraft fleet
Additional aircraft News & Articles
The first flying motorbike will soon be ready
Electric airplane News & Articles
Airplane with purely electric propulsion ?