Drone Safety Takes Flight
AVSS has finished independent testing for its PRS-M30 parachute, which is made for DJI M30 Series drones.
Certification and Global Impact
This certification is essential for commercial drone operators to safely and legally fly over populated areas in various countries. On March 28, AVSS wrapped up the compliance process and immediately sent out its first batch of parachutes to customers in North America and Europe. New orders for the PRS-M30 are being accepted now, with deliveries planned for the second quarter of 2025.
People often wonder how these advancements might change our skies.
Public Safety and Drone Policies
The FAA’s new Certificate of Waiver (COW) process is a game-changer for Drone-as-First-Responder programs, especially those involving shielded operations. The Drone Responders leadership team explained that drones weighing more than 0.88 lbs must use a Parachute Recovery System (PRS) meeting ASTM F3322-18 or newer standards if flying over people in non-emergency situations.
The updated COW process allows public safety agencies to skip the slower Certificate of Authorization system. This could reduce approval times from months to weeks and includes a checklist requiring certified parachute systems for operations over people.
For U.S. public safety agencies interested in using drones, AVSS’s timely compliance and shipments might be a big help.
Understanding ASTM F3322-24a
The ASTM F3322 standard was developed with the FAA and industry partners to ensure reliable parachute system performance. The latest version, 24a, increases test requirements from 45 to 49, adding third-party validation and engineering analysis. Aviation authorities worldwide now consider ASTM F3322-24a a reliable standard for approving drone flights over people.
Introducing AVSS
Established in 2017, AVSS is a Canadian aerospace firm focused on making drones safer. They create products like parachute recovery systems, flight termination systems, and precision delivery solutions. AVSS designs its products to work with popular drones like the DJI M30, M350 RTK, M300 RTK, and MAVIC 3 ENTERPRISE. With over 50 authorized dealers worldwide, they collaborate with drone makers and pilots to ensure safety in operations over people and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
