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GDDC GmbH — first LUC company in Germany
On 19 September 2023, GDDC's certification for the LUC category was approved by the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA). This is the first company in Germany to receive this type of certification.
To obtain it, GDDC went through a long and complex formal process and audits demonstrating the company's professionalism and resources for conducting complex drone operations with LBA-approved safety compliance management.
What is LUC certification?
On the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) website it states:
"LUC is an optional operator certificate whose holder is granted certain privileges. The highest privilege may be the ability to commence operations at a specific site without obtaining an operating authorisation from the aviation authority."
An LUC certificate saves many hours required to register a flight in the specific category and speeds up the formal process by weeks. The LUC certificate is valid with all aviation authorities in the European Union.
How is the certificate used?
GDDC uses the certificate for drone services — for example the legally required inspection of solar installations according to DIN IEC/TS 62446-3 with drones such as the DJI Matrice 350 RTK in high-risk areas, i.e. wherever open-category flight is not permitted.
"With LUC certification we shorten approval time by 95%, so many tasks can be completed in less time."
Automated systems (DJI Dock)
The certification is also extremely important for automated drone systems such as DJI Dock. In this system the drone carries out planned tasks fully automatically after programming. With an LUC certificate and the privilege of self-determined site authorisation, aviation permits can be created and approved in-house.
The future is today
The drone industry is growing rapidly across Europe. Drones are tools in industry, surveying and security today. LUC certification in the hands of a German company raises the entire drone industry in Germany to a new level.