Bridging International Perspectives in Innovative Air Mobility
On March 6, 2025, AUVSI launched XPONENTIAL in Europe, collaborating with Messe Düsseldorf, a prominent trade fair organizer. I had the honor of moderating a keynote panel discussion alongside Dr. Gerald Wissel, Chairman of UAV Dach (European Association for Unmanned Aviation), featuring insights from Rachel Daeschler, Certification Director at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and U.S. aviation safety expert Captain Lee Moak.
A key takeaway from our engaging conversation is the remarkable progress our industry has achieved in informing global leaders about the benefits of uncrewed systems and their profound impact on transportation and national security. As we move towards a future with expanded operations, we must embrace a global perspective to tackle regulatory challenges and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.
The primary obstacle we face is the absence of enabling legislation; however, there exists a chance to synchronize regulatory frameworks, enhancing our access to various markets. The innovative technologies showcased at XPONENTIAL Europe illustrate their potential to save lives, yet outdated regulations present significant hurdles. The rapid advancement of our technologies is outpacing regulatory adaptations, and to realize our vision of seamless integration—where drones and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions coexist with commercial and general aviation—we need to pursue comprehensive air traffic modernization, along with concurrent regulation enhancements and type certifications.
Rachel Daeschler from EASA emphasized the agency’s strong commitment to nurturing and expanding the drone sector, recognizing its potential for widespread social benefits. This year, EASA’s focus is to facilitate broader operations by reviewing current regulations to determine their effectiveness and identifying areas for refinement. They actively welcome industry feedback as part of this process.
Furthermore, EASA has adopted a global perspective, having established collaboration agreements with countries outside Europe, and is working with other aviation authorities to develop harmonized regulations beneficial to the industry.
The agency’s engagement with the FAA and civil aviation regulators in Canada and Brazil aims to create compatibility in airworthiness frameworks for low and medium risk UAS, ensuring that manufacturers can export across regions without facing cumbersome additional verifications.
AUVSI’s Commitment
In the United States, XPONENTIAL has stood as the premier annual gathering for uncrewed systems, autonomy technology, and robotics for decades. It was immensely energizing to partake in the inaugural launch of the European segment in Düsseldorf.
During my participation at the trade show and conference in the U.S., Düsseldorf Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller remarked that XPONENTIAL transcends being merely an event; it represents a transformative movement shaping the future of mobility.
At AUVSI, our focus is on progressing toward resolutions for friction points within the industry, whether technologically or legislatively. We are dedicated to advocating for regulations that bolster aviation safety while unlocking opportunities in high-value sectors including drone delivery, inspections, agriculture, and public safety operations. Our advocacy efforts have intensified at the federal level, and we have emerged as one of the most active organizations championing these causes at the state, tribal, and local levels. Additionally, with rapid shifts on the global stage, we are forging essential partnerships and influencing critical discussions across regions from Germany to Taiwan.
I am appreciative of our community’s shared dedication to seamlessly and securely integrating uncrewed vehicles into our future. Thank you for being an integral part of this global initiative.
About the Author: Michael Robbins serves as the President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the largest global trade association for uncrewed systems, autonomy, and robotics within the commercial and defense sectors. Robbins joined AUVSI in 2020 after holding the positions of chief advocacy officer and executive vice president.
