The first U-space service provision certification is paving the way for a harmonised approach to this emerging sector.
Safety and scalability
Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies, was equally upbeat about the significance of the announcement. “This certification is a landmark milestone for our company and for the European drone ecosystem,” he said. “We have invested significantly in maturing our European operations, and this process has made us not just a stronger technology company, but a stronger aviation organisation.”
Ganjoo points out that because aviation has the highest standards in safety, certification was particularly pertinent. Every element must endure rigorous testing and EASA was given complete transparency across all processes and systems.
Aside from safety, over two years, ANRA Technologies underwent detailed assessments of cybersecurity, operational readiness, business continuity, U-space service provision, and compliance frameworks.
“Having EASA look at all these different elements and test them and document them is huge,” says Ganjoo. “We now know for sure that what we are building can meet safety and scalability requirements.”
It was also a good learning experience for EASA as it moves into this emerging line of business. Terminology was standardised, for example. Whereas ANRA talked of quality assurance, EASA used verification. But these minor differences only led to a more robust process, with all aspects checked and double-checked.
The certification represents a significant step forward in enabling harmonised, scalable drone services across Europe.
“ANRA’s achievement of becoming the first certified U-space Service Provider demonstrates what is possible through rigorous compliance and technical maturity,” said Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA. “It sets the benchmark for others and moves us closer to a safe, secure, and interoperable European U-space ecosystem.”
With the certification in place, ANRA Europe is ready to launch U-space services across multiple European member states. The company is already engaged in discussions with several national regulators and air navigation service providers (ANSP).
There are two possible ways forward for ANRA’s clients. The first is to engage with ANRA to provide u-space services. This will likely happen first in Switzerland, in and around Zurich. ANRA is mainly working with the Swiss regulator but ANSP, skyguide, is also part of the discussion as it will feed ANRA data on crewed, civil aviation movements.
Ganjoo describes this as a “light-touch” approach as the data will only flow one way. But the ANRA platform is agnostic and can handle any data sharing requirements. Every country will have its own preferences.
Alternatively, it is possible for an ANSP or other third party to simply buy or subscribe to the ANRA platform and become a USSP under its own brand.
Ganjoo sees drone activity and subsequent u-space service provision ramping up over the next few years before the sector really hits the accelerator pedal.
“The take-up will be driven by the business opportunities,” he says. “Look at what is happening around ports, where there is a clear business case for drones and U-space.”
Importantly, there will not necessarily be a single service provider for each designated u-space. Regulations foresee competition and multiple providers and there are proven interoperability standards.
ANRA is among many USSPs that have been testing in the UK, for example, and geographies have overlapped. SESAR projects are validating this interoperability, which is crucial as Europe is the main focus right now. Other authorities are therefore looking at the ANRA certification and what EASA is doing with interest.
And despite the certification, Ganjoo confirms that the company will continue to refine its offering. “There is always scope for improvement,” he says. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We continue to learn and iterate.”
Close
Ganjoo concludes that the certification is a key enabler for accelerating a harmonised, pan-European approach to U-space deployment. By establishing a repeatable certification model that has been applied and tested during this process, EASA has provided a clear regulatory pathway for other USSPs, fostering consistency, safety and interoperability across member states.
ANRA’s approval also serves as a blueprint for future applicants and helps unlock the full potential of scalable and complex drone operations, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).
“Our certification was a challenging but immensely rewarding experience,” says Ganjoo. “We were the first one and the benchmark had to be set high. We had to be 100 per cent on every detail. That is a good thing. We want to see that level of maturity across the board because that will deliver excellent USSPs and a thriving new area of business.”
The first U-space service provision certification is paving the way for a harmonised approach to this emerging sector.
Safety
The certification represents a significant step forward in enabling harmonised, scalable drone services across Europe.
“ANRA’s achievement of becoming the first certified U-space Service Provider demonstrates what is possible through rigorous compliance and technical maturity,” said Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA. “It sets the benchmark for others and moves us closer to a safe, secure, and interoperable European U-space ecosystem.”
Safety and scalability
Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies, was equally upbeat about the significance of the announcement. “This certification is a landmark milestone for our company and for the European drone ecosystem,” he said. “We have invested significantly in maturing our European operations, and this process has made us not just a stronger technology company, but a stronger aviation organisation.”
Ganjoo points out that because aviation has the highest standards in safety, certification was particularly pertinent. Every element must endure rigorous testing and EASA was given complete transparency across all processes and systems.
Aside from safety, over two years, ANRA Technologies underwent detailed assessments of cybersecurity, operational readiness, business continuity, U-space service provision, and compliance frameworks.
“Having EASA look at all these different elements and test them and document them is huge,” says Ganjoo. “We now know for sure that what we are building can meet safety and scalability requirements.”
It was also a good learning experience for EASA as it moves into this emerging line of business. Terminology was standardised, for example. Whereas ANRA talked of quality assurance, EASA used verification. But these minor differences only led to a more robust process, with all aspects checked and double-checked.
With the certification in place, ANRA Europe is ready to launch U-space services across multiple European member states. The company is already engaged in discussions with several national regulators and air navigation service providers (ANSP).
There are two possible ways forward for ANRA’s clients. The first is to engage with ANRA to provide u-space services. This will likely happen first in Switzerland, in and around Zurich. ANRA is mainly working with the Swiss regulator but ANSP, skyguide, is also part of the discussion as it will feed ANRA data on crewed, civil aviation movements.
Ganjoo describes this as a “light-touch” approach as the data will only flow one way. But the ANRA platform is agnostic and can handle any data sharing requirements. Every country will have its own preferences.
Alternatively, it is possible for an ANSP or other third party to simply buy or subscribe to the ANRA platform and become a USSP under its own brand.
Ganjoo sees drone activity and subsequent u-space service provision ramping up over the next few years before the sector really hits the accelerator pedal.
“The take-up will be driven by the business opportunities,” he says. “Look at what is happening around ports, where there is a clear business case for drones and U-space.”
Importantly, there will not necessarily be a single service provider for each designated u-space. Regulations foresee competition and multiple providers and there are proven interoperability standards.
ANRA is among many USSPs that have been testing in the UK, for example, and geographies have overlapped. SESAR projects are validating this interoperability, which is crucial as Europe is the main focus right now. Other authorities are therefore looking at the ANRA certification and what EASA is doing with interest.
And despite the certification, Ganjoo confirms that the company will continue to refine its offering. “There is always scope for improvement,” he says. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We continue to learn and iterate.”
Ganjoo concludes that the certification is a key enabler for accelerating a harmonised, pan-European approach to U-space deployment. By establishing a repeatable certification model that has been applied and tested during this process, EASA has provided a clear regulatory pathway for other USSPs, fostering consistency, safety and interoperability across member states.
ANRA’s approval also serves as a blueprint for future applicants and helps unlock the full potential of scalable and complex drone operations, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).
“Our certification was a challenging but immensely rewarding experience,” says Ganjoo. “We were the first one and the benchmark had to be set high. We had to be 100 per cent on every detail. That is a good thing. We want to see that level of maturity across the board because that will deliver excellent USSPs and a thriving new area of business.”