Spain authorises first fully remote drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operation with support from Murzilli Consulting

Murzilli Consulting, the consultancy firm offering 360° services for regulation, technology and strategy for innovative aviation stakeholders, has successfully supported Telefónica, Spain’s leading telecommunications company, in obtaining authorisation from the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority, for Spain’s first fully remote drone-in-a-box beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operation.

This approval, achieved through a collaborative process with regulators, is a milestone for BVLOS drone operations in Spain, as the country is establishing itself as a leader in enabling this type of operation. By supporting surveillance and environmental monitoring activities, drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operations can provide important benefits for society, such as fire prevention and supporting emergency services.

Telefónica tests drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operations for wildfire monitoring in Spain

The operation included a series of BVLOS drone relocations, using a drone-in-a-box system. The pilot was located in a control centre in Madrid, hundreds of kilometres away from the location of the flight. The operation was conducted in a semi-autonomous manner, with drones deployed from automated docking stations. It involved different types of airspace and various aircraft platforms, and supporting technologies. This made it possible for the operation to be tested and developed under different operational conditions.

The operation was mainly designed for surveillance, fire prevention, and other operations that may deliver significant added value to society. These operations are especially important in the summer, due to the increased risk of wildfires over this period. Deploying drones remotely for environmental monitoring and assistance to emergency services can help in protecting natural environments, infrastructure, and local communities. Drones are able to monitor huge areas of land, identify early heat signatures, and provide instant situational awareness to emergency teams.

By helping Telefónica in obtaining authorisation for this operation, Murzilli Consulting strengthened Spain’s role in leveraging technology to protect our environment and our communities. 

Telefónica obtains a second BVLOS drone authorisation for industrial perimeter surveillance

Telefónica has now obtained a second authorisation, further advancing its BVLOS capabilities. This approval also covers a drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operation with a remote pilot, managed from Telefónica’s control centre. The operation is conducted in an industrial environment for perimeter surveillance, using automated functionalities and notably without requiring airspace segregation. This is a significant milestone in enabling automated and efficient monitoring of industrial perimeters, particularly in areas that are complex or difficult to access.

Murzilli Consulting’s work in enabling drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operations in Spain

Murzilli Consulting worked with Telefónica in the approval process for their drone-in-the-box BVLOS drone operations. Led by Juan José (Juanjo) Sola, Murzilli Consulting's Chief Regulatory Officer, this project provided support for Telefónica in developing a compliant drone-in-the-box BVLOS concept of operations based on the SORA methodology.

Juanjo Sola highlighted that “these types of applications allow for a very early response, but it is also very important to understand that this must be done under safe conditions. Therefore, what we have done at Murzilli Consulting, in collaboration with Telefónica, is to present a comprehensive study using the SORA methodology to analyse the risks of the operation.” He also expressed his gratitude to AESA for their support throughout the process.

Through the SORA process, Murzilli Consulting analysed ground and air risks, determined the required mitigation measures, and defined operational safety objectives. Another important aspect of this approval process was the ability to conduct operations across different airspace environments, as the operations may occur in areas with varying levels of population density and aviation activity.

Luis Antolín Sainz, Senior Consultant for Flight Authorisations at Murzilli Consulting, emphasises that “this has been a complex authorisation to secure, and it's a significant milestone for the industry.” 

Angel Alves, the Head of Drones at Telefónica, also pointed out the importance of this authorisation: “The Operational Authorization we've obtained in collaboration with Murzilli Consulting is not only one of the most complex in Spain, but it will also allow us to rapidly scale our drone service across the country.”  

This project is important because it set a strong precedent for safely integrating drone-in-a-box BVLOS drone operations into real-world environments, enabling faster and more effective response capabilities, helping to protect natural environments, infrastructure and communities.

Drone-in-a-box refers to a robotic warehouse in which a drone is housed within a docking station or box. The drone remains inside the station when not in use, where it automatically recharges. When a pilot, who can be 100 kilometres away, deploys an operation, the docking station opens, and the drone autonomously takes off and conducts the operation under remote control. The drone is always monitored by the pilot, but as it is equipped with sensors and aware of its surroundings, it can take off semi-automatically.

Murzilli Consulting continues to strengthen its role as a global leader in advanced aviation and drone advisory services, including regulatory strategy, operational authorisations such as SORA and LUC, airspace integration, U-space and UTM implementation, certification strategies for new aircraft systems, and broader aviation compliance frameworks. With an international presence and strong support from its diverse team, the company has become a reliable partner for drone operators, manufacturers, and aviation authorities.

Murzilli Consulting strengthens Spain’s drone ecosystem 

In this evolving regulatory environment, Murzilli Consulting contributes to advancing Spain’s drone ecosystem by offering services for regulation, technology and strategy for drone operators, manufacturers, and service providers. The firm supports stakeholders in developing compliant operational frameworks aligned with both AESA requirements and the wider European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulatory system.

Murzilli Consulting’s collaboration with Telefónica is the part of the firm’s growing portfolio of large-scale aviation and drone innovation projects in Spain. The organisation has already supported Spain’s first authorised civilian higher-altitude platform system flight, which is one of Europe’s earliest HAPS operations. This successful operation involved the ApusNeo18 HAPS platform from Mira Aerospace, reaching 2,000 feet over a 30-kilometre offshore route. Following this first successful flight, operations are now progressing toward higher altitudes and greater complexity.

Murzilli Consulting has also successfully collaborated with Pirineos Drone (now called "Cargo Drone Solutions") on securing Spain's first operational authorisation for heavy-lift BVLOS Logistics. During these operation, BVLOS drone flights carried significant payloads, requiring detailed risk assessments, operational safety cases, and compliance with the SORA methodology. By successfully completing these collaborations, Murzilli Consulting continues to shape the future of advanced aviation operations in the country.

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 technology, 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). 

The Murzilli Consulting team offers governments and private enterprises alike the opportunity to establish a high-performing internal regulatory function capable of tackling emerging technologies. We can also develop and implement regulatory strategies and roadmaps as well as execute specific projects such as UAS and USSP certification, type certification, design verification, SORA approvals and CE marking, among other services. Our customer base is unrivalled in the consulting and services industry and reflects the trust that leading organisations have in our services. 

About Telefonica

Telefónica is a leading Spanish telecommunications company, founded in 1924 and headquartered in Madrid. It has grown to become one of the largest telecommunications operators in the world, offering a wide range of services including fixed and mobile telephony, broadband, and digital television.

The company has been a leader in technological innovation, investing in fiber-optic networks, 5G infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives. Telefónica has been exploring the drone industry by providing advanced connectivity and data solutions that enable commercial and industrial drone operations. Its telecommunications infrastructure supports real-time control, data transmission, and AI-driven analytics, enhancing drone applications in sectors like agriculture, logistics, and surveillance.