EU - South Asia
Aviation Partnership Project II
Strengthening the partnership in aviation between the EU and South Asia

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA India) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Innovative Air Mobility to ensure the highest standards of aviation safety and environmental protection. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a follow-up to the Letter of Intent (LoI) signed by EASA and DGCA India during the EU-India Aviation Summit held in Delhi, 20-21 April 2023, for which the EU – South Asia Aviation Partnership Project II pathed the way. The agreement was signed by Mr. Vikram Dev Dutt, Director-General of DGCA, and Mr. Luc Tytgat, Strategy and Safety Management Director, EASA, on 4th July 2023.

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Under the MoU, EASA and DGCA India will collaborate in the following three areas:

 

1. Development of Regulatory Standards - Development of regulatory safety and environmental standards and related requirements for the certification and operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Innovative Air Mobility, as well as for the competencies of personnel and organizations involved in such operations, including aspects related to airworthiness, operations, licensing, training, air traffic management, and infrastructure, including U-space (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management – UTM) standards and services.

2. Outreach:

   • Information on technological developments and research on unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility and their operations, including airspace integration aspects and U-Space (UTM).

   • Strategies for outreach to relevant stakeholders on unmanned aircraft operations and innovative air mobility, including educational outreach to the public and industry.

   • Analysis of public attitudes towards unmanned aircraft operations and innovative air mobility.

3. Conferences and Other Activities - Joint organization of conferences, workshops, training programs, and other activities on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Innovative Air Mobility.

 

Both EASA and DGCA India note that Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Innovative Air Mobility operations are novel, dynamic, and fast-growing sectors for which national and international safety and environmental standards are still evolving, therefore recognize the importance of establishing cooperation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and innovative air mobility which is underlined by this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).