Murzilli Consulting Supports Pirineos Drone in Securing Spain's First Operational Authorisation for Heavy-Lift BVLOS Logistics

Murzilli Consulting Supports Pirineos Drone in Securing Spain's First Operational Authorisation for Heavy-Lift BVLOS Logistics

M&K UAS & SPACE SPAIN SL, dba Murzilli Consulting, the consultancy firm offering 360° services for regulation, technology and strategy for innovative aviation stakeholders, has successfully supported Pirineos Drone Aviation SL in obtaining an operational authorisation from AESA, the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority, for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights with the 95 kg MTOM DJI FlyCart 30; the first of this kind achieved in Spain. This approval, achieved through a constructive and collaborative process with the regulator, enables real, continuous logistics operations rather than test or demonstration flights. It also represents a major step forward for large-UAS commercial operations in Spain.

The authorised mission will take place in mountainous areas, including the Val d’Aran in the Pyrenees, and will cover BVLOS routes of up to several kilometres. The heavy-lift UA will transport salt for livestock farming, supplies for remote shelters and materials used for antenna maintenance. The operation demonstrates how large multirotor platforms can support practical logistics tasks in challenging terrain, reinforcing the role of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology in high-altitude infrastructure support.

A Milestone for Real-World UAS Logistics and Advanced Air Mobility

This authorisation represents a significant step forward for the wider drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem. Commercial heavy-lift BVLOS operations remain complex to approve due to terrain, weather exposure and the safety expectations placed on operators of high-risk missions. The Pirineos Drone authorisation shows that it is possible to establish a credible, regulator-accepted framework using current drone regulations; including Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodologies, U-Space concepts, Remote ID requirements and established safety objectives for large UAS operations.

The DJI FlyCart 30, with its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and robust payload performance, is well positioned to support real logistics operations in the Pyrenees. The aircraft’s reliability further strengthens the case for drone autonomy in environments where traditional ground transport may be restricted by weather, distance or seasonal demand.

This operation also highlights the progress being made globally towards scalable, sustainable aviation solutions. In mountainous regions, UAS logistics can reduce the environmental footprint of ground transport and support aviation sustainability objectives by enabling targeted, low-impact operations. At the same time, real commercial operations of this kind present challenges that will need to be addressed as they scale. Each authorised mission creates an opportunity to learn from operational realities, refine procedures and drive continuous improvement in safety and performance.

Murzilli Consulting’s Role: Regulatory Strategy and Technical Leadership

As one of the world’s leading advanced aviation and drone consulting regulatory advisory firms, Murzilli Consulting guided the end-to-end approval process. Led by Juan José (Juanjo) Sola, Murzilli Consulting's Director of Regulatory Affairs and Commercial Space, this project allowed for successful support of Pirineos Drone in developing a compliant BVLOS concept of operations, producing the SORA safety case and aligning all documentation with AESA’s operational, technical and organisational requirements.

“Our support to Pirineos Drone demonstrates how rigorous safety analysis, a strong regulatory strategy and close collaboration with authorities can lead to real-world operations with large, heavy UAS platforms,” said Juanjo Sola. “This authorisation shows that heavy-lift BVLOS can move beyond trials and start delivering measurable value. It is another example of how our team accelerates safe, compliant drone technology adoption across Europe and beyond.”

Luis Antolín Sainz, Murzilli Consulting's Senior Consultant for Operational Authorisations, was also a major contributor to this effort. Additional support from the wider team, including Alejandro de San Félix Herrera Perdomo, Senior Consultant for Product Safety; Javier Diana López, Senior Consultant for Aviation Systems; Laura Parga Gata, Consultant for Airspace; and Julio Gómez San Juan (Flight Authorisation Assistant for Drone Operations), ensured comprehensive technical and regulatory oversight throughout the process.

Murzilli Consulting continues to expand its position as a global leader in advanced aviation and drone consulting, drone regulations, CE Marking for drones, UAS certification, U-space implementation and vertiport-related regulatory work. The firm’s international footprint, supported strongly by its diverse team, has made it a trusted regulatory partner for drone operators, manufacturers and aviation authorities worldwide.

Strengthening Europe’s Drone Ecosystem

This BVLOS approval contributes to Europe’s broader ambition to build a safe and scalable drone ecosystem that can support logistics, inspection, emergency response and research activities across both remote and urban environments. It demonstrates practical progress in key areas such as regulator-accepted drone autonomy in high-risk mountain conditions, the integration of cross-border operations with emerging U-Space services and the development of AAM by showing how UAS logistics can complement future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems. The authorisation also highlights the value of applying the latest SORA methodologies, Remote ID requirements and CE compliance frameworks to complex operations in challenging terrain.

This milestone is part of Murzilli Consulting’s expanding portfolio of large-scale aviation and drone innovation projects. These include the early-phase U-Space airspace risk assessment delivered for the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS in Fuerteventura, a project that is pioneering Europe’s integration of high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) with UAS and airspace management frameworks. The firm’s wider work, which includes its involvement in U-Space Berlin, UK Remote ID strategy project with Baringa and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and multiple cross-border and stratospheric aviation studies, underlines Murzilli Consulting’s role in advancing drone delivery, AAM concepts and regulatory innovation across Europe.