BVLOS drone operational authorisations in Europe: SORA case studies from Telefonica and Swisscom Broadcast

In 2026, the European drone industry will have transitioned from experimental vision to verified industrial utility. Murzilli Consulting is a primary driver of this shift, reinforcing its role as the digital Outsourced Regulatory Department by securing landmark SAIL operational authorisations across the continent’s most challenging environments. 

From pioneering a decentralised drone-in-a-box network with Telefónica in Spain and scaling nationwide DaaS Infrastructure with Swisscom Broadcast in Switzerland, these milestones prove that complex BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations are now certifiable and scalable. By leveraging the SORA methodology and navigating the quantitative revolution of SORA 2.5, Murzilli Consulting is aligning innovative technology with rigorous aviation standards, transforming uncrewed aircraft into a regulated, nationwide industrial grid. 

Case studies: Precision consulting in action

Telefónica: Connectivity with decentralised drone-in-a-box systems

Telefónica has recently achieved a SAIL II operational authorisation with a decentralised operator. This project highlights the future of UASs in integrated telecommunications and security. 

Telefónica has achieved a significant regulatory milestone by obtaining a SAIL II operational authorisation with a decentralised operator from the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority (AESA). This project, supported by Murzilli Consulting, introduces Spain’s first large-scale drone-in-a-box Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone framework. A key breakthrough of this authorisation is the operational flexibility it provides: once the drone-in-a-box units are active, the pilot and the drone can be located in entirely different cities. Unlike traditional operations that require on-site oversight, this model allows pilots stationed in a central command centre in Madrid to manage flights occurring hundreds of kilometres away. By utilising automated docking stations, the drones can be deployed remotely, shifting the industry toward a centralised fleet control model.

The operation leverages a multi-vendor fleet of advanced multirotor drone platforms with a maximum dimension below 3 m, capable of covering operational areas of up to 10 km while ensuring high flexibility, scalability, rapid deployment, and efficient mission performance in complex environments. These semi-automated systems serve as a critical force multiplier for surveillance and environmental protection, particularly during high-risk summer months when wildfire threats escalate. By identifying early heat signatures and providing instantaneous, high-definition situational awareness to emergency services, this infrastructure acts as a first line of defence. The ability to deploy these assets remotely ensures that response teams can protect natural environments, vital infrastructure, and local communities with unprecedented speed and accuracy.  Murzilli Consulting led the end-to-end approval process, using the SORA methodology to develop a flexible Concept of Operations (ConOps) capable of adapting to varying levels of population density and airspace complexity.

Swisscom Broadcast: National drones-as-a-service (DaaS) infrastructure

Swisscom Broadcast is actively advancing its mission to establish a nationwide "Drones-as-a-Service" (DaaS) infrastructure, moving beyond its initial January 2025 steps toward a comprehensive SAIL III operational authorisation across multiple Swiss cities. Working closely with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), this phase aims to expand automated Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone missions using the NDN Nokia Electric Drone (12.6 kg MTOM). These operations are designed to navigate high-density urban centres below 500 ft AGL, covering both controlled and uncontrolled airspace to provide critical infrastructure inspection, surveillance, and emergency services. 

The core challenge of this scale-up lies in the rigorous safety requirements of SAIL III within populated environments. Murzilli Consulting has led the end-to-end safety case and documentation, ensuring strict alignment with the SORA methodology and evolving regulatory frameworks. To manage the unique ground risks of city flight, the project integrates Dynamic People Density Data, utilising anonymised mobile network data to predict and avoid population gatherings in real time. For airspace safety, the Swisscom Air Scout system utilises Mode S via MLAT (Multilateration) technology, including ADS-B and FLARM solutions, providing the high-precision tracking necessary to maintain superior situational awareness at low altitudes. Together, these strategies enable Swisscom Broadcast to transform its Swiss Drone Network, which ultimately comprises of an extensive fleet of automated "drone-in-a-box" units, into a reliable, compliant, and scalable national utility.

What does SAIL mean? Why Is the SORA framework essential for BVLOS drones?

To operate BVLOS drones in Europe, all missions must be classified under the Specific category. This requires the application of the Specific Operation Risk Assessment (SORA) method to determine the Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL) required for the mission. The SORA process evaluates the inherent risks of a flight and dictates the safety objectives that must be met before an authorisation is granted. 

The SAIL assessment serves as a complexity ladder for the safety case. SAIL I and II are reserved for lower-risk operations and focus primarily on robust operational procedures. As the risk increases to SAIL III and IV, the requirements become more technical; specifically, SAIL IV missions require a Design Verification Report (DVR) to prove the aircraft’s technical airworthiness. At the highest level, SAIL V and VI represent high-risk operations that require a full Type Certificate (TC), aligning drone standards with those of traditional crewed aviation. 

Is the industrial grid ready? Defining the future of scalable BVLOS drone operations

The evolution of uncrewed aviation is defined by a transition from isolated flight tests to a permanent, regulated industrial utility. Looking toward 2030, the objective is the total normalisation of BVLOS operations, moving away from ad-hoc waivers toward area-based authorisations. This will allow drones to fly routine, long-range corridors for energy and transport infrastructure without site-specific regulatory approval for every mission.  

As Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems mature, the technical burden of safety will shift from the individual pilot to automated digital service providers. This allows for a centralised corporate oversight model where a single supervisor manages an entire fleet across vast distances. 

Reflecting on this transition, Luis Antolín Sainz, Senior Consultant for Operational Authorisations at Murzilli Consulting, notes: "We are moving past the era of the 'one pilot, one drone' mindset. The future belongs to integrated systems where the complexity of the airspace is managed by robust safety cases and digital deconfliction. Our work today in securing SAIL III authorisations is not just about individual approvals but also building the regulatory infrastructure that will allow thousands of automated systems to operate safely as a standard part of our industrial economy, apart from swarm operations."

Why do clients choose Murzilli Consulting as their trusted partner?

Organisations turn to Murzilli Consulting because we don’t just advise, we implement. The success of Telefónica and Swisscom Broadcast projects underscores our ability to anticipate regulatory hurdles before they arise, keeping high-stakes BVLOS projects compliant, efficient, and on schedule. Our unmatched expertise is built on first-hand experience in engineering and operational safety. This gives our clients the confidence that their projects are being managed by the same experts who helped shape the very frameworks, like SORA, that they must now meet. Our international footprint adds another layer of strength, combining global reach with local knowledge to ensure that national nuances are respected while following international best practices.

We provide total continuity across the full spectrum of uncrewed aviation needs, from establishing certification pathways and design verification to implementing decentralised technology and strategic growth models. This breadth of coverage is reinforced by our commitment to quality: our Spanish entity, M&K UAS & SPACE SPAIN SL, is ISO 9001:2015 certified for consultancy, training design, and Flight Procedure Design (FPD). This certification emphasises our dedication to upholding the highest safety and quality standards in every authorisation we secure.

The future of advanced air mobility  

As uncrewed aviation and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) move toward a model of decentralised autonomy and nationwide DaaS infrastructure, the role of specialised consultancies is vital. 

Murzilli Consulting supports organisations throughout this journey, from regulatory feasibility and SORA development to operational authorisations, airspace integration and Design Verification. By combining regulatory expertise with practical experience in complex BVLOS projects, we help clients turn innovative  concepts into compliant, repeatable operations.

Whether you are developing a single BVLOS use case, deploying drone-in-a-box technology or establishing a decentralised drone network across multiple locations, contact Murzilli Consulting to define the regulatory pathway for your next project.