Will the design of Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) vehicles need to be certified?
Answer
For HAO vehicles qualifying as aircraft under the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, being produced in sufficient numbers and for which existing certification specifications apply, no particular action will be needed at EU level, as current regulation (Commission Regulation (EU) 748/2012) will apply as it is. For HAO vehicles qualifying as aircraft under the scope of the EU regulations which do not fall in the scope of existing certification specifications, special conditions would have to be developed on an ad hoc basis.
HAO vehicles qualifying as aircraft under the scope of EU regulations but being designed and produced in limited quantity for research, scientific or experimental purpose, they will be considered in the perimeter of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, and hence in the remit of each NAA’s State of Registry. For HAO vehicles qualifying as UAS under the EU regulations, in principle existing and upcoming certification specifications for the specific and certified category of UAS will apply.