Matternet, a drone-based delivery provider, has received the first Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) for higher-risk operations, including beyond visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights over populated areas.

The LUC enables Matternet to independently authorize new operations within Switzerland and the Federal State of Berlin while expediting the approval process for similar activities across the EU.

The LUC required Matternet to demonstrate a robust safety management system to mitigate and manage aviation risks effectively.

Analyst QuickTake: The LUC, available under EU drone regulations since December 2020, is recognized across all EU Aviation Safety Agency member countries. Matternet now joins the handful of peer startups that have obtained the certification to date, including Dronamics (May 2022), Manna Drone Delivery (May 2021) , and Skyports (September 2021).