In 2024, the drone industry remains a relatively new and rapidly evolving field. Although drones have come a long way in a short period of time, the importance of regulation and standardization has become increasingly clear. When AVSS was founded in 2017, there were limited industry-specific certifications for designing and operating drones. This lack of standardized guidelines left a significant gap, both in terms of safety and innovation. “At AVSS, we recognized early on the potential of drone technology, but we also understood the potential risks drones present when not operated properly. As drones become more widely adopted, the need for standardized safety practices becomes critical to ensure their safe integration into enterprise markets. At first, AVSS became involved in the design standards and joined the ASTM F38 committee”, said Omar Husain, Integration Engineer at AVSS.
Unknown to AVSS at the time, in 2019, the International Standards Organization (ISO) took an important step forward by introducing ISO 21384-3 – Unmanned Aircraft Systems. This was the first globally recognized set of standards for drone operators to ensure the safe operation of modern drones. The new ISO 21384-3 set a high bar, encompassing guidelines for both consumer and enterprise-grade drones, covering essential safety protocols and best practices for operators and manufacturers alike. For companies like AVSS, these standards offered a roadmap for achieving a higher level of safety and reliability when operating drones, which are essential to gaining trust in the global market.
However, there was one significant challenge: despite the release of these standards, there were no certification bodies available to validate compliance with ISO 21384-3. With such a new standard in place, there simply weren’t any organizations equipped to offer certification yet. This gap presented a major hurdle for companies like AVSS that were eager to demonstrate their commitment to operating a drone safely but lacked a clear path to formal recognition.
It was then that AVSS was introduced to Altomaxx Technologies, a Canadian company that had recently become the first and only certification body for ISO 21384-3. Like AVSS, Altomaxx has long recognized the need for greater standardization in the rapidly growing drone industry. They, too, had faced the frustration of knowing that an important new standard was available but that no one had the authority to certify companies against it. In 2020, Altomaxx saw an unmet need and expanded its offerings towards becoming a certification body, seizing the opportunity to fill a critical need within the industry. More about Altomaxx and ISO 21384-3 can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMnF1scr7RU
With Altomaxx leading the way as a certifying organization, AVSS embarked on its journey toward certification in 2021. The process was rigorous and required a thorough evaluation of our products, manufacturing processes, and operational practices to ensure they met the stringent requirements set forth in ISO 21384-3. Certification is not a simple, one-time event. It involves continuous adherence to the standards, including regular audits, quality control checks, and updates to both processes and products. Working closely with Altomaxx, AVSS was able to refine its operating practices and ensure that every aspect of its operations aligned with these high standards. The journey was long but rewarding, as it gave AVSS a deeper understanding of safety requirements and elevated the quality of our offerings.
In 2022, after months of hard work and collaboration with Altomaxx, AVSS proudly became the first company in the world to achieve certification under ISO 21384-3. This milestone was not just a point of pride for the team, but has been used to secure commercial and government-related contracts. AVSS has leveraged the ISO 21384-3 when testing new innovations in complex environments, such as their recent contract to test a novel method to trigger an avalanche using a heavy-lift drone.
Beyond the business advantages, ISO certification also contributes to the larger goal of standardizing drone operations globally. As the drone industry continues to expand, the need for universally accepted safety standards becomes more pressing. By achieving ISO 21384-3 certification, AVSS is not only safeguarding its operations but also playing an active role in shaping the future of the industry.
For more information on our journey please visit https://www.avss.co reach out to info@avss.co. For information on ISO 21384-3 Certification visit: https://altomaxx.com/iso-certification/ or send an email to iso@altomaxx.com.
ABOUT AVSS: Founded in 2017, AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) is a Canadian aerospace company commercializing drone technology for Urban Air Mobility. AVSS’s current products are ASTM F3322 drone parachute recovery systems for commercial drones, independent flight termination systems, and precision-guided delivery systems for last-mile delivery.
AVSS’s retrofit products ( DJI M3D and M3TD for Dock 2, DJI M200, DJI MAVIC 3 ENTERPRISE, DJI M300 RTK, DJI M350 RTK) are distributed worldwide through their more than 50 authorized dealer network and sold directly to drone manufacturers across the world. AVSS also provides direct support to drone manufacturers and pilots who integrate the PRS product line for flight over people and BVLOS compliance.
