The Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) are an important entity when it comes to defining an internationally harmonized legal framework and uniform process specifications for safe UAS operations. Perhaps the best-known result of the JARUS work at present is the SORA (Specific Operational Risk Assessment) procedure for evaluating and mitigating the potential risks posed by a UAS operating scenario.
Representatives from all over the world are currently taking part in the JARUS plenary session in Brussels (May 5 - 9, 2025), including an official delegation from India for the first time. An important topic on the agenda is the further development of SORA. On the one hand, the aim is to clarify open points in relation to the current version 2.5 and, on the other, to be able to bring the announced SORA version 3.0 to the decision-making stage within the next 12 to 15 months if possible. This is an undertaking that is as ambitious as it is important.
With regard to the most complete possible integration of drones into airspace, there is a debate about which specific services should be offered by air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and under which conditions. Developing a regulatory framework in this regard and defining interfaces between private-sector and public-sector services is an important step for the development of an economically successful UAS industry.
With a view to the highest possible international harmonization of regulations for unmanned aviation, intensifying relations between JARUS and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is also at the top of the agenda of the plenary session at EUROCONTROL's premises. The aim is to avoid any duplication of work and to prevent potentially contradictory regulatory efforts with regard to unmanned aviation.
UAV DACH will be represented by the two board members Michael Wieland and René Wagner, as well as numerous representatives from the committees and member companies of the Unmanned Aviation Association in Brussels. For example, Jörg Dittrich, who is significantly involved in the development of SORA as head of the Safety Risk Management Working Group. Veronica Schömer, Florian Michael Adolf, Markus Engelhart, Andreas Ritter, Stefan Hristozov and Lorenzo Murzilli are also on site and part of the strong UAV DACH community at the JARUS Plenary Session 2025.