As 2025 came to a close and the new year began, regulators around the world continued to push forward with drone integration, airspace modernisation, and stakeholder engagement. In this edition, we cover key updates from EASA, FAA, CASA, ANAC and others - ranging from national drone strategies and safety campaigns to new U-space consultations, updated training requirements, and enforcement during wildfire emergencies.

Catch up on what’s happening across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, as well as the latest developments from global standardization bodies.

EMEA – Regulatory Updates & News

• EASA and DJI Partner on Safe Drone Use – EASA and DJI launch a new joint effort to raise awareness among drone users about flying legally and safely in European airspace. Read more

• EPAS 2026 Released – EASA published the 2026 edition of the European Plan for Aviation Safety, setting key priorities for innovation and safety management, including uncrewed systems. Read more

• New UAS Airspace Rules in Finland – Traficom released OPS M1-29-2026 introducing new airspace structures and zones for UAS, enhancing situational awareness and risk management. Read more

• Denmark Publishes Draft National Drone Strategy – The Danish Civil Aviation Authority opened a stakeholder consultation on its strategy for integrating drones into Danish airspace. Read more

• Germany Highlights Use Cases for Public Services – The LBA shares insights from the FAST-Flight project and UAS applications in support of German emergency services (BOS). Read more - FASTFlight | Read more - BOS

• UK Civil Aviation Authority Urges Public to Review Drone Rules – With growing drone adoption, the CAA calls on new and existing users to familiarise themselves with regulatory updates. Read more

• EASA Launches Survey on Training in Specific Category – EASA invites input on qualifications and training needs for operations in the Specific Category. Read more

• Spain: Over 150,000 Registered Drone Operators in 2025 – AESA reports strong growth in drone operator registrations and urges preparedness for 2026 regulatory changes. Read more

• STS-ES Scenarios Expire – Spain confirms that national standard scenarios (STS-ES) will no longer be valid from 2026. Read more

• Italy Launches U-Space Regulation Consultation – ENAC seeks feedback on its U-space regulatory draft, aiming to align national efforts with EU frameworks. Read more

• UAE GCAA Continues Regulatory Push – The UAE continues to build out its UTM and UAS ecosystem with further developments announced by the GCAA. Read more

Americas – Regulatory Updates & News

• FAA and FBI Announce No-Drone Zones for Super Bowl LX – The agencies outlined strict enforcement zones to ensure public safety at the major sports event. Read more

• FAA Leadership Presents New Initiatives – FAA Administrator Bedford and Secretary Duffy announce plans for accelerating integration and oversight of uncrewed aviation. Read more

• Brazil Uses Starlink and Drones for Inspection – Brazil’s ANAC incorporates drones and satellite comms into remote inspection and surveillance operations. Read more

• Chile Bans Drones During Wildfires – Chile’s DGAC reaffirms drone restrictions during active wildfire response to safeguard manned aviation and firefighting efforts. Read more

• Peru Uses Drones for Spectrum Monitoring – Peru’s Ministry of Transport deploys drones to detect illegal radio signals and improve spectrum enforcement. Read more

Asia-Pacific – Regulatory Updates & News

• China Updates RPAS Roadmap – CAAC continues to refine national frameworks for uncrewed aviation integration. Read more

• CASA Publishes RPAS News for December and January – Updates include new resources, policy developments, and insight into drone operations over people. Read more - Jan | Read more - Dec

• Australia Trials New Training Pathways for Medium RPAs – CASA launches trial projects to evaluate future RPAS licensing structures. Read more

• CASA Simplifies Drone Flights Over People – CASA is working on revised policies to make compliant operations over people easier to manage. Read more

• Japan MLIT Continues UAS Regulatory Development – Japan’s MLIT shares updates on ongoing efforts to enhance UAS governance. Read more

Standardisation Bodies – Regulatory Updates & News

• EUROCAE Opens Consultation on ED-334A and ED-348 – Industry feedback is requested on two updated standards for RPAS detect-and-avoid (ED-334A) and test scenarios (ED-348).

Read more – ED-334A | Read more – ED-348

We will continue tracking these developments closely as 2026 unfolds, with particular attention to U-space rollouts, SORA 2.5 adoption, and the evolving training, certification, and safety requirements impacting both commercial and government drone operators.

Have a regulatory update we missed? Let us know. → www.airhub.app/consultancy

As regulators continue shaping the future of uncrewed aviation and advanced air mobility (AAM), February brought notable developments across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. From electric aviation test milestones and temporary operational exemptions to stricter enforcement actions and international AAM cooperation agreements, this month reflects a continued global push toward safe and scalable drone integration.

🌎 EMEA – Regulatory Updates & News

• Norway Completes First Electric Aviation Test Project: Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority announced the completion of its first electric aviation test project, marking an important milestone in the country’s transition toward sustainable aviation and AAM development. Read more

• Finland Opens Consultation on UAS Airspace Zones (OPS M1-29-2026): Traficom has launched a public consultation on updated UAS airspace zoning rules under OPS M1-29-2026, aiming to refine drone access and improve risk-based airspace management. Read more

• Poland Grants Temporary VLOS Exemption for FPV Operations: Poland’s Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) has introduced a temporary exemption from the VLOS requirement for certain FPV operations in the Open Category, providing operational flexibility under defined safety conditions. Read more

• Italy and UK Sign Cooperation Agreement on Advanced Air Mobility: ENAC and the UK Civil Aviation Authority have formalised a cooperation agreement to support the development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), reinforcing strategic collaboration on certification, operations, and airspace integration. Read more

  
  

🌎 Americas – Regulatory Updates & News

• FAA Increases Drone Enforcement Efforts in 2025: The FAA announced strengthened enforcement measures against unsafe or unauthorised drone operations, highlighting increased oversight and penalties to protect the national airspace system. Read more

• Brazil Opens Public Consultation on eVTOL Pilot Requirements: ANAC has launched a public consultation on new licensing and qualification requirements for pilots of vertical take-off and landing aircraft, signalling continued regulatory preparation for AAM operations. Read more

• Brazil and Japan Sign Letter of Intent on Advanced Air Mobility: Brazil and Japan formalised cooperation on Advanced Air Mobility through a letter of intent, aiming to exchange expertise and align regulatory efforts for emerging air mobility technologies. Read more

• Colombia Reinforces Drone Safety During Carnival: Colombia’s Aerocivil reminded operators of drone safety rules during large public events such as Carnival, emphasising compliance and coordination to ensure safe integration with manned aviation. Read more

  
  

🌎 Asia-Pacific – Regulatory Updates & News

• CASA Publishes February 2026 RPAS Update: Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority released its February RPAS update, covering operational guidance, regulatory engagement, and safety initiatives relevant to drone operators and industry stakeholders. Read more

  
  

🌎 Standardisation Bodies – Regulatory Updates & News

• EUROCAE Opens Consultation on ED-352: EUROCAE has opened a public consultation on ED-352, inviting industry stakeholders to provide input on new or updated standards supporting UAS system performance and interoperability. Read more

  
  

We will continue tracking these developments closely as 2026 unfolds - with particular attention to U-space rollouts, SORA 2.5 adoption, and the evolving training, certification, and safety requirements impacting both commercial and government drone operators.

Have a regulatory update we missed? Let us know. → www.airhub.app/consultancy

Drone regulation is entering a new phase. Where previous months brought framework development and consultation, April reflects a clear shift toward implementation, enforcement, and operational maturity. From tightened enforcement in the United States to continued SORA adaptation in Australia and airspace zoning updates in Europe, regulators are moving from setting rules to actively applying them.

For drone operators in public safety, security and critical infrastructure, that shift has direct implications for compliance planning and operational scalability.

EMEA

Finland updates UAS airspace zoning rules Traficom has introduced amendments to its UAS airspace zoning regulation under OPS M1-29-2026, further refining how drone operations are structured and managed across Finnish airspace. The update provides clearer frameworks for operators planning missions in Finnish airspace and reflects a broader European trend toward more granular geographical zone management.

Germany improves transparency on operator registration processing times The German aviation authority (LBA) has published updated processing timelines for UAS operator registrations. For operators entering the German market or scaling existing operations, this improvement in planning visibility is a practical step forward.

Americas

FAA launches programme to accelerate enforcement of drone violations The FAA has introduced a new programme aimed at speeding up enforcement actions against drone violations. The move reinforces the FAA's commitment to airspace safety and signals that compliance is increasingly a prerequisite for operating in US airspace, particularly for commercial and enterprise operators.

Crackdown on illegal drone use during sporting events US authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against unauthorised drone flights around Coors Field during games. The case highlights the importance of pre-flight compliance checks and situational awareness around temporary restricted airspace zones, which are increasingly common at large public events worldwide.

Chile coordinates safe drone operations for public events Chile's DGAC participated in coordination efforts to ensure safe drone operations during the Fiesta de La Tirana, emphasising operational planning and integration with public event safety measures. As drone use at public events increases globally, structured coordination between operators and authorities is becoming standard practice.

Asia-Pacific

Australia promotes AUS SORA for complex drone operations CASA is actively encouraging operators to use AUS SORA as the primary methodology for assessing and approving complex drone operations. The push reflects growing recognition that structured risk assessment frameworks are essential for scaling beyond simple VLOS missions. For operators already working with the European SORA methodology, the AUS SORA adaptation provides a comparable but locally calibrated approach.

CASA opens consultation on drone operations over people CASA has launched a policy consultation on operations over or near people, aiming to balance operational flexibility with safety requirements. The outcome of this consultation will be relevant for any operator planning to conduct drone operations in populated environments in Australia.

CASA consults on airworthiness annex for AUS SORA A draft airworthiness annex to AUS SORA has been released for consultation, further strengthening the regulatory framework for complex UAS operations. This development mirrors broader global efforts to align airworthiness standards with operational risk assessment methodologies.

CASA publishes April RPAS update The latest RPAS newsletter from CASA outlines ongoing regulatory developments, operational insights, and upcoming changes relevant to drone operators across Australia.

Standardisation

No major updates from standardisation bodies were published this month.

What this means for operators

April's regulatory landscape points to three clear trends.

The first is enforcement maturity. In both the US and Chile, regulators are moving from issuing guidance to actively enforcing compliance. Operators who have not yet embedded compliance workflows into their day-to-day operations are increasingly exposed.

The second is SORA as a global standard. Australia's continued development of AUS SORA, including a dedicated airworthiness annex, reinforces SORA's position as the methodology of choice for complex drone operations beyond Europe. Operators familiar with the European framework will find increasing transferability as regional adaptations mature.

The third is operational scalability. Processing time transparency in Germany and structured event coordination in Chile both reflect a broader push to make compliant drone operations more predictable and scalable for professional operators.

For organisations operating drones in complex environments, staying ahead of these developments is part of running a compliant and scalable operation. AirHub tracks regulatory changes across Europe and beyond to help operators understand what is relevant for their missions. For regulatory guidance and consultancy, visit airhub.app/consultancy, or book a demo to see how our platform supports compliant drone operations.

Frequently asked questions

What changed in drone regulation in April 2026?
April 2026 brought a clear shift toward enforcement and operational implementation. Key developments included a new FAA enforcement programme for drone violations, updated UAS airspace zoning in Finland, and continued SORA adaptation in Australia, including a new airworthiness annex consultation.

What is AUS SORA?
AUS SORA is Australia's adaptation of the European Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology, developed by CASA to provide a structured, risk-based framework for approving complex drone operations in the Australian regulatory context.

Why is SORA relevant for drone operators outside Europe?
SORA was developed in Europe but is increasingly being adopted and adapted globally. Australia's AUS SORA is one example. The methodology provides a consistent, evidence-based approach to demonstrating that a drone operation can be conducted safely, which regulators in multiple jurisdictions are now recognising as the standard for complex operations.

How does AirHub support regulatory compliance?
AirHub's drone operations platform integrates compliance workflows directly into mission planning and execution. This includes pilot qualification tracking, airspace data integration, operational authorisation management, and audit trail generation. AirHub also provides regulatory consultancy to help operators navigate frameworks such as SORA across multiple jurisdictions.