Contributed by Patrick Lalor, Senior Consultant for Aviation Systems, Murzilli Consulting
As the aviation industry enters a new era of technological transformation, the process of certifying innovative systems such as drones, electric aircraft and autonomous vehicles is evolving rapidly. The frameworks that once governed conventional aviation are being re-examined to accommodate new types of aircraft, new use cases and new levels of complexity.
At Murzilli Consulting, we work every day to help regulators, manufacturers and operators navigate this evolution. Whether we’re supporting the UK Civil Aviation Authority on its Remote ID Strategy, assisting with Berlin’s U-Space implementation, or contributing to the Fuerteventura Stratoport project in the Canary Islands, our goal is always the same: to enable safe innovation through smart, pragmatic regulatory pathways.
What makes certifying drones and advanced aviation technologies so different from certifying traditional aircraft?
The first point is that they are fundamentally different in how they’re used and what they are capable of. Of course, that then flows back into how we demonstrate that they’re safe, or in other words, how we understand and manage the risk that their operations pose.
Emerging platforms such as electric or remotely piloted aircraft introduce operational factors that are entirely new to aviation. Traditional certification frameworks were developed over decades of historical experience, but these new systems do not yet have such a pedigree. Without this accumulated evidence, regulators must find new ways to assess risk and demonstrate safety. Another important distinction is where innovation comes from. In traditional aviation, certification often involved large, well-established manufacturers. Today, the most transformative ideas are coming from fast-moving start-ups. These smaller players think and operate differently, and regulators need to engage with them in a new way.
Perhaps most importantly, certification now extends beyond a focus on the aircraft itself. Systems such as ground control stations, communications networks and unmanned traffic management infrastructure are now integral to flight safety. Understanding and validating these interconnected components is a key part of certifying advanced aviation systems.
At Murzilli Consulting, we see this dynamic every day. We help innovators and authorities communicate effectively, bridge expectations and build mutual understanding. Certification is no longer just about ticking regulatory boxes; it’s about collaboration and education.
Are regulators still trying to fit new technologies into legacy frameworks?
We think we’re on the verge of a real transition. When these new technologies started to come out, the first reaction was to fit them into legacy frameworks, and that makes sense because that’s all we had; but we quickly realised new pathways were needed.
The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) has been one of the biggest advances in this area. It represents a move from prescriptive, rule-based oversight towards a more dynamic, risk-based model that recognises the diversity of new operations. Progress, however, depends on mutual effort and understanding.
At Murzilli Consulting, we’re proud to be applying that philosophy in practice. Our work on Berlin’s U-Space project is a perfect example. It’s an innovative real-world testbed for drone deliveries in urban environments, where our team supports the evaluation of technological, social and environmental impacts under a risk-based lens.
Similarly, in the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS project in Fuerteventura, we’re working with our partners to explore new use cases such as emergency response and rural connectivity; all while measuring public perception and social acceptance.
These projects show that certification is not just about compliance; it’s about integration into society.
What are the biggest hurdles in certification today?
Autonomy is a big one. It’s still a poorly defined term, and it can be intimidating for regulators. Basic automation is straightforward to validate, but when systems start making independent decisions; it becomes far more complex.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another major challenge. Many people assume AI can’t be certified, but that’s not true. We need to approach it systematically and transparently. At Murzilli Consulting, we’re exploring ways to frame AI evaluation within existing safety principles, ensuring that innovation and assurance can coexist.
Technical complexity is another factor. Systems such as detect-and-avoid, UTM and SWIM are critical to safe integration, but they’re still evolving; and we don’t know what we don’t know. The key is to build adaptability into certification, with a willingness to learn and iterate.
Beyond technology, social acceptance is becoming a decisive factor. Many communities remain cautious about drones due to concerns over privacy, safety and noise. And of course, even the safest systems will struggle without public trust. For certification to succeed, social licence must be considered alongside technical innovation.
In Fuerteventura, for example, we’re conducting social acceptance studies alongside technical trials. Understanding public attitudes to drones is just as vital as understanding their flight performance.
How do Europe and the United States differ in their approaches?
Europe’s risk-based approach, particularly under EASA, is leading the way. The adoption of SORA in Europe is, in my humble opinion, the best way to go about anything new or advanced. This framework provides a practical and adaptable foundation for emerging technologies.
The United States also embraces risk-based thinking, although its pathways differ in structure and terminology. While progress is being made toward international standardisation, variations remain across jurisdictions. Both systems share the same goal, but their processes and terminology vary. Even within Europe, we see subtle differences, such as between the UK and EU approaches.
That’s where Murzilli Consulting’s international footprint gives us an edge. We operate across Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Hungary and Spain, and we support clients worldwide. Whether advising an authority in Asia on its first U-space deployment or a start-up in the Americas on drone autonomy pathways, our global perspective helps clients navigate regulatory differences with confidence.
What advice would you give to companies preparing for certification?
My main piece of advice is to consider certification and alignment of the business case earlier than you think you need to. Firstly, on certification: Too often, organisations treat it as something to tackle once the product is built. In reality, certification shapes the design from the start. Early consideration can prevent costly redesigns and delays later.
That doesn’t mean you need to start the formal process right away. It means thinking ahead, identifying likely requirements and building them into your roadmap. At Murzilli Consulting, we support clients in doing exactly that; creating a tailored certification strategy that supports their commercial and technical goals.
The business case is an extremely important consideration as well. Alignment of the certification strategy with the business case gets forgotten more often than you might think. We repeatedly see amazing technical innovation happening at pace, but this laser focus on product development combined with the fast-evolving drone industry can result in a product coming to market with no current or applicable use case. Identifying certification pathways early in conjunction with an eye to the use case perspective is crucial to successfully bring a commercially viable product to market.
Through our projects with the UK CAA, Berlin U-Space, Fuerteventura Stratoport and various DVR initiatives, we’re demonstrating that it’s possible to balance commercial needs, safety, public acceptance and innovation.
As we head into Aerial Cities 2025, our invitation-only, C-level industry event, I’m encouraged by the progress our industry is making. The challenge now is to keep pushing forward, developing certification pathways that don’t just accommodate new technologies but actively enable them to thrive.
About Murzilli Consulting
Murzilli Consulting is a digital aviation consultancy business unit operating within the M&K Global AG group. It was founded in 2020 by Lorenzo Murzilli and is based in Bern, Switzerland, with further branches in Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Spain. The organisation is committed to helping clients succeed with their regulation and compliance strategies. We do this by acting as a digital outsourced regulatory department and working with clients to support them in establishing a high-performing internal regulatory function. Our primary focus is on emerging technologies in the sectors of crewed and uncrewed aviation, advanced air mobility and U-space (including all derivative focuses).
