The General Civil Aviation Authority has granted the UAE’s first certificate for operating drones within designated airspaces to Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans).
The U-Space Service Provider (USSP) certification is handed to firms to manage operations in specific airspaces through a suite of advanced, digitalised services designed to ensure safety, security and efficiency.
The certification allows dans, in collaboration with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and ANRA Technologies, to develop a platform to manage Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) traffic in the airspace.
It will allow immediate flight approvals, integrates radar, weather, and aeronautical notifications, enhances conflict detection and avoidance, and will support future urban air mobility applications.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said, "This certificate represents an important practical step in implementing the national UAS regulation. It reflects the GCAA’s commitment to supporting innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency in line with international best practices."
The certification underscores the UAE's strategic intent to position itself as a global leader in smart air mobility and airspace innovation. It also enables the establishment of secure and efficient U-space airspace for drone operations in the UAE.
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