INSTITUTION PROFILE / DRONES AND ROBOTICS
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
The certification body that builds the EU-wide “technical yardstick” for drones and eVTOL aircraft
EASA is the European Union’s aviation safety agency. It builds neither drones nor air taxis. Its job is to draft EU-wide rules, set the technical criteria for certification, and certify aircraft designs. But the European Commission adopts the EU rules themselves, and national aviation authorities grant the permissions for individual operations and handle registration. This profile looks at one question: what EASA can decide about drones and eVTOL aircraft, and what it cannot.
What this article covers
- EASA in 30 seconds
- What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
- What it does for drones and robotics
- How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
- Who it works with
- Outlook
- Glossary, references and claim-to-source audit
1. EASA in 30 seconds
FULL NAMEEuropean Union Aviation Safety Agency
EASAAn agency of the European Union
EASAAn agency of the European Union
REGIONEuropean Union (EU)Headquarters in Cologne, Germany. Executive Director as of June 2026: Florian Guillermet
TYPE OF BODYEU specialised agencyDrafts rules and certifies. The European Commission adopts EU rules
ESTABLISHED2002Created by Basic Regulation (EC) 1592/2002, fully operational a year later; moved its headquarters to Cologne in 2004
STAFF815 (authorised, 2026)779 in post at the end of 2025 (per the SPD). EASA’s website says “over 800 employees from 31 countries”
BUDGET€259.1 million2026 budget: EU contribution €45.2 million, fees and charges €171.3 million
ROLE IN DRONES AND ROBOTICSDraft rules, design checks, certificationOperating permissions come from national authorities
REACHEU airspaceOperators from outside the EU are covered when they fly in European airspace
The one thing to grasp first
EASA is a body that drafts rules and technical criteria and certifies designs. The Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 says EASA assists the Commission on request in preparing rules, and that the documents it submits take the form of “opinions”. The Commission then adopts the drone operating rules as implementing regulations Sourced. So the Commission decides EU rules, not EASA (and the European Parliament and the Council decide the Basic Regulation itself).
One more point. Operational authorisations, checks on remote pilots and registration are the work of national aviation authorities (NAAs). EASA does not issue permissions in their place Sourced.
2. What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
The institutions that appear in drone and robotics articles do not build aircraft or robots themselves. What differs is the route by which they influence the industry, and that gives four types. EASA spans two of them: regulation, by drafting rules, and standards, by issuing the technical criteria for certification (certification specifications and means of compliance).
EASA’s influence comes from three sources. (1) Opinions: it supplies the drafts the Commission uses to write rules. (2) Technical criteria: it issues certification specifications, acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM). (3) Certification: it checks aircraft designs and issues type certificates. Article 76 of the Basic Regulation sets out (1) and (2) as EASA’s role Sourced.
3. What it does for drones and robotics
The frame of EASA’s drone rules is to sort operations into three risk categories (open, specific and certified). For the same “drone”, who does the checking depends on the category.
| Area | Rule or programme | What it covers | Status (checked 25 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating rules | Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 Dated 24 May 2019 | Sorts operations into three categories. The open category needs no authorisation or declaration if it stays within limits such as under 25 kg, in visual line of sight and up to 120 m height. Outside those limits, a specific-category authorisation is needed (Articles 4 and 5). Operators from outside the EU must follow it when flying in the single European sky (Delegated Regulation 2019/945, Article 41) | Applicable since 31 December 2020 in all EU Member States, Norway and Liechtenstein Sourced |
| Aircraft requirements | Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 Dated 12 March 2019 | Requires open-category aircraft to carry a class label (C0 to C4) based on mass and other features. Sets rules for Remote ID add-ons. Defines which aircraft must be certified (for example 3 m or larger aircraft designed for use over crowds of people, aircraft designed to carry people, and aircraft designed to carry dangerous goods) | In force. Since 1 January 2024 open-category flights use a C0 to C4 label, a privately built aircraft, or an aircraft placed on the market by 31 December 2023 Sourced |
| Design checks | Special Condition Light UAS Design verification report (DVR) | A way to show an aircraft is safe enough for a specific-category operation. EASA issues a report confirming that the design meets the targets for the operation’s risk level. It is an option for SAIL IV operations; SAIL V and VI operations need a type certificate | In use. This article does not count how many have been issued Sourced |
| U-space (unmanned traffic management) | Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 Dated 22 April 2021 | A framework in which airspace designated by Member States as U-space requires four services: flight authorisation, geo-awareness, network identification and traffic information. EASA and national authorities share the certification of service providers (USSPs) | Applicable since 26 January 2023 Sourced |
| Certified-category drones | Certified-category rules and the work to amend them | EASA’s planning document says the first EU rules for certified-category UAS have been published. EASA’s web page says that bringing operations into this category means amending almost all aviation regulations. The 2026 work programme includes developing the framework for certified-category drones | Being built. Completion date: Not yet confirmed |
| Certifying eVTOL aircraft | Special Condition SC-VTOL-02 (Issue 2, 10 June 2024) Means of compliance (MOC), and SC E-19 for electric propulsion | Because no certification specification fits VTOL aircraft, EASA set out dedicated criteria in a special condition. It covers person-carrying VTOL-capable aircraft in the small category | Criteria published. We could not find, in EASA sources, a record that a type certificate has been issued Sourced |
| Operating eVTOL aircraft | Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1111 Dated 10 April 2024 | Adds operating requirements for manned aircraft with a vertical take-off and landing capability to existing aviation rules | Applicable since 1 May 2025 Sourced |
| Oversight of Member States | Standardisation inspections | To make national implementation of the drone and U-space rules consistent, EASA inspects national authorities (annual programme SIAP) | Listed in the 2026 work programme Sourced |
A materials engineer’s view: the criteria are agreed aircraft by aircraft
In EASA’s design verification process, a pre-application meeting comes first, and the manufacturer’s proposed means of compliance are agreed with EASA before work goes ahead. The VTOL special condition likewise exists because no standard covered these aircraft Sourced. The unit of review is the aircraft design, and electric propulsion has its own special condition (SC E-19), which is how EASA’s pages are organised. A materials or battery supplier would probably receive the requirements through the aircraft maker. That is our reading of how the public material is laid out, and we have not checked any supply contract. Inference
4. How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
| Aspect | What EASA has | What it does not have |
|---|---|---|
| Powers | Drafting rules (opinions). Issuing certification specifications, AMC and GM. Design verification and type certification. Certifying USSPs (shared with national authorities) | Adopting EU rules (the European Commission). Enacting the Basic Regulation (the European Parliament and the Council). Operational authorisations, remote-pilot checks and registration (national authorities) |
| Geography | The EU, plus Norway and Liechtenstein. Operators from outside the EU are covered when they fly in the single European sky | Airspace outside the EU. Designating U-space airspace is for Member States; EASA’s own guidance says Member States have full and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory |
| Binding force | Regulations adopted by the Commission (implementing and delegated) apply directly in all Member States | AMC and GM are documents issued for applying the rules; they are separate from the rule text itself |
| Scale | 815 authorised staff in 2026. Of the 2026 budget of €259.1 million, fees and charges are about 66% and the EU contribution about 17% (our calculation) | No separate headcount or budget for drone and eVTOL work is published |
How to read the numbers
The 815 is the authorised number of staff, not the number actually in post. The SPD puts the year-end 2025 figure at 779. The “over 800” on EASA’s website may be counted differently. The €259.1 million is EASA’s whole budget for 2026, not a drone figure. About 66% of income is fees and charges paid by airlines, manufacturers and others (our calculation). The SPD notes that fee income from 2026 onward assumes the EASA Committee adopts a revised fees regulation Sourced.
5. Who it works with
We list only relationships stated in EASA documents or in EU regulations.
| Organisation | Relationship to EASA | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| European Commission | Adopts the drone implementing and delegated regulations, drawing on EASA’s opinions. Published the “Drone Strategy 2.0” in 2022 (per the EASA SPD) | Basic Regulation Articles 57 and 76; EASA SPD |
| European Parliament and Council | Enacted the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, which sets up EASA | Basic Regulation, title and preamble |
| National aviation authorities (NAAs) | Handle operational authorisations and declarations, remote-pilot competency certificates and registration. EASA runs standardisation inspections to make implementation consistent | Regulation 2019/947 Articles 17 and 18; EASA SPD |
| FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) | In June 2026 the two issued a joint pledge that includes streamlining approval processes for advanced aviation technologies to harmonise certification pathways. The pledge is a plan and does not mean mutual recognition of rules. See also our FAA profile | EASA press release (18 June 2026) |
| U-space service providers (USSPs) | Certified providers supply flight authorisation and other services in U-space airspace. EASA and national authorities share the certification | EASA U-space page |
* We do not list individual drone makers or eVTOL makers here, because we did not check EASA sources for design-verification counts or type-certification applications. Being subject to EASA rules does not mean EASA endorses a company.
6. Outlook
| What can be read from the evidence | Primary information it rests on | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Building the certified-category drone framework is in EASA’s 2026 work programme. No completion date is given | EASA SPD 2026-2028 (adopted 10 December 2025). EASA’s web page sets out a phased approach starting with three types of operation | Not yet confirmed |
| A revision of the operating rules 2019/947 and of the U-space AMC and GM is planned in line with the EPAS (European Plan for Aviation Safety) | EASA SPD 2026-2028 | Not yet confirmed |
| The FAA and EASA pledged to harmonise approval pathways for new aviation technologies | EASA press release (18 June 2026). The pledge is a statement of intent; no specific rule yet | Not yet confirmed |
| Even if the US finalises Part 108, flying in European airspace still needs its own EU category and permission | Delegated Regulation 2019/945, Article 41: operators from outside the EU must follow Regulation 2019/947. US rules do not apply in the EU | Inference |
| When type-certified eVTOL services can start depends on how EASA’s reviews proceed | The criteria (SC-VTOL-02) and the operating rules (2024/1111) are in place, but we found no record of a type certificate being issued | Inference |
7. Glossary
- Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139
- The law that sets common EU civil-aviation rules and establishes EASA. Adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.
- Implementing and delegated regulations
- More detailed rules the European Commission adopts under the Basic Regulation. EASA supplies the drafts as opinions.
- NAA (national aviation authority)
- A Member State’s civil aviation authority. It handles drone authorisations and registration.
- Open, specific, certified
- The three EU categories of drone operation, in rising order of risk and of how much is checked beforehand.
- SORA
- A method for assessing the risk of a specific-category operation. The result is a risk level called SAIL.
- DVR (design verification report)
- A report in which EASA confirms that a drone’s design meets the targets for its operation’s risk level. It is not a type certificate.
- U-space / USSP
- The framework for unmanned traffic management / a certified provider of services in that airspace.
- Special condition (SC)
- Criteria EASA sets case by case for new aircraft that existing certification specifications do not fit. SC-VTOL for eVTOL aircraft is the main example.
- AMC and GM
- Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material: documents EASA issues alongside the rule text.
- SPD (Single Programming Document)
- The multi-year plan, staffing and budget document an EU agency publishes. EASA’s is adopted by its Management Board.
8. References
- EASA The Agency (mission, tasks and the “over 800 employees from 31 countries” statement). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/the-agency
- EASA 20th Anniversary (founding in 2002, full operation a year later, move to Cologne in 2004). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/20th-anniversary
- EASA Single Programming Document (SPD) 2026-2028 (adopted by the Management Board on 10 December 2025 as Decision 07-2025: staffing, budget, Innovative Air Mobility programme). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/142898/en
- EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, the Basic Regulation (Articles 55 to 57 and 76). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1139
- EUR-Lex Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 (rules for operating unmanned aircraft). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0947
- EUR-Lex Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 of 12 March 2019 (aircraft requirements and third-country operators). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0945
- EUR-Lex Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 of 22 April 2021 (U-space; applies from 26 January 2023). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R0664
- EUR-Lex Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1111 of 10 April 2024 (operation of manned aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capability; applies from 1 May 2025). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1111
- EASA Rules & Standards (drone rules framework, application since 31 December 2020, countries covered). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/rules-standards
- EASA Open Category – Low Risk – Civil Drones (C0 to C4 class labels, conditions since 1 January 2024). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones
- EASA Certified Category – Civil Drones (what the category is and how large the rule changes are). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/certified-category-civil-drones
- EASA Design verification report (what a DVR is and how design checks depend on SAIL). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/specific-category-civil-drones/design-verification-report
- EASA U-SPACE (the four mandatory services and who does what). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/u-space
- EASA Vertical Take-Off & Landing – VTOL (special conditions and means of compliance; SC E-19). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/rotorcraft-vtol/VTOL
- EASA Special Condition for small-category VTOL-capable aircraft, Issue 2 (SC-VTOL-02, 10 June 2024). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/139946/en
- EASA Press release “FAA and EASA pledge cooperation for the new era of aviation” (18 June 2026). https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/press-releases/faa-and-easa-pledge-cooperation-new-era-aviation
9. Claim-to-source audit
| Claim in the article | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EASA’s role (draft rules and technical criteria, certification, oversight of national authorities); “over 800 employees from 31 countries” | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/the-agency |
| Founded in 2002 under Basic Regulation (EC) 1592/2002, fully operational a year later, moved to Cologne in 2004 | Sourced | Reference 2 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/20th-anniversary |
| Authorised staff of 815 in 2026, 779 at the end of 2025, the 2026 budget of €259.1 million and its breakdown, the Innovative Air Mobility programme, certified-category work, standardisation inspections, planned rule updates | Sourced | Reference 3 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/142898/en |
| EASA’s opinions, certification specifications, AMC and GM; the Commission adopting implementing acts on unmanned aircraft | Sourced | Reference 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1139 |
| The conditions of the three categories (Articles 3 to 6) and the tasks of national authorities (Articles 17 and 18) | Sourced | Reference 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0947 |
| Class labels and Remote ID add-ons, the conditions requiring certification (Article 40), and the rule for third-country operators (Article 41) | Sourced | Reference 6 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0945 |
| The U-space regulation’s date (22 April 2021) and application from 26 January 2023 | Sourced | Reference 7 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R0664 |
| The regulation on operating VTOL-capable manned aircraft (10 April 2024; applies from 1 May 2025) | Sourced | Reference 8 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1111 |
| The drone rules framework, application since 31 December 2020, and application in Norway and Liechtenstein | Sourced | Reference 9 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/rules-standards |
| Open-category class labels C0 to C4 and the conditions since 1 January 2024 | Sourced | Reference 10 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones |
| The certified category and the size of the rule changes it needs | Sourced | Reference 11 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/certified-category-civil-drones |
| What a DVR is, design checks by SAIL, the pre-application meeting and agreement of means of compliance | Sourced | Reference 12 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/specific-category-civil-drones/design-verification-report |
| The four mandatory U-space services, the sharing of USSP certification, designation of U-space airspace by Member States | Sourced | Reference 13 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/u-space |
| VTOL special conditions and means of compliance, and the separate SC E-19 for electric and hybrid propulsion | Sourced | Reference 14 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/rotorcraft-vtol/VTOL |
| SC-VTOL-02, Issue 2 (10 June 2024) | Sourced | Reference 15 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/139946/en |
| The FAA-EASA joint pledge (18 June 2026) and the Executive Director’s name | Sourced | Reference 16 https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/press-releases/faa-and-easa-pledge-cooperation-new-era-aviation |
| When the certified-category framework will be finished, when the rules will be updated, and whether an eVTOL type certificate has been issued | Not yet confirmed | No completion date or issuance is stated in References 3, 11 or 15. This article does not estimate them |
| Staff and budget for drone and eVTOL work alone, and the number of DVRs issued | Not yet confirmed | No such totals in References 3 or 12. This article does not estimate them |
| The grouping into four types of institution, the 66% and 17% shares, the simplified three categories, and the can-decide and cannot-decide split | Our calculation | Our own arrangement (the shares are computed from the budget figures in Reference 3) |
| The readings in sections 3 and 6 (supplier position, US rules versus EU rules, start of eVTOL services) | Inference | This article’s reading of the text and structure of References 6, 12, 14 and 15 |
Last updated 25 October 2026 / Troy Technical
Figures come from EASA’s web pages and planning document and from the text of EU regulations on EUR-Lex. This field moves quickly, and the status of each rule is as of the date checked. Items marked “Inference” are this article’s reading of the primary information.