Adding a Parachute Recovery System (PRS) to a drone can help ensure safety in the event of a technical failure or critical problem during flight (extreme weather conditions, radio transmission failure, technical failure of the propulsion system, loss of GPS signal, etc.).

Parachute Recovery Systems (PRS) help attenuate impact and minimize damage to the drone and its environment in the event of an emergency landing. They can also help protect nearby people in the event of a problem during flight.

From January 1, 2024, a new drone class, C5 Class (for specific category flights (STS-01)), will come into force throughout Europe.

The STS-01 scenario concerns line-of-sight flights at an altitude of 120 meters, whether in a populated or unpopulated environment.

To fly in this scenario in Europe, you need to obtain a C5 class label for your drone. There are two ways of doing this: either the manufacturer develops his drone to meet the requirements of this class, or the drone operator installs an accessory kit (or conversion kit) on his C2 or C3 class drone (DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise/Pro/ProCine / DJI Matrice 350 / DJI Inspire 3 / DJI Matrice 3D), enabling his drone to become C5 class compliant and obtain this marking.

Dronavia is proud to be the first manufacturer to offer accessory kits or conversion kits (consisting of a parachute system (PRS) and a Flight Termination System (FTS)) compliant with EASA regulations, enabling your drone to obtain the C5 class label.

To obtain C5 class label for your C2 class drone (DJI Mavic 3 series), the operator doesn’t need to install an accessory kit directly on his drone, but to convert it from C2 to C5 class.

To carry out this conversion, the C2 class drone must pass through our workshop (or that of an authorized reseller) so that our experts can install an internal Flight Termination System (FTS).

Equipped with our internal PRS + FTS conversion kit (PRS-FTS-MOC Kronos AD Mavic 3), for example, the DJI Mavic 3E drone becomes a Kronos AD Mavic 3E drone.

To achieve C5 conformity, Dronavia started from scratch, checking all the requirements of class C5 for the drone + PRS + Internal FTS package (unlike an accessory kit, for which it is sufficient to check the requirements for the accessory kit alone).

Dronavia offers conversion kits for C2 DJI Mavic 3 drones: Enteprise / Multispectral / Thermal / Pro / Pro Cine. For the moment, these are the only C2 drones available for conversion.

You retain your DJI warranty when you upgrade your drone from class C2 to class C5. To do this, simply dismantle the entire C5 conversion kit (PRS + internal FTS) before sending your drone to DJI under warranty.

To return to C2 configuration and fly in this configuration, simply remove the Parachute Recovery System from the drone. The internal FTS can remain in place inside the drone.

A MoC is a way for professional drone operators to demonstrate that they comply with the regulations and standards that apply to their activities and to guarantee the quality and safety of the products they use. To obtain it, it is necessary to meet the current regulatory requirements published by the EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Beyond quality and safety, with a MOC compliant product, professional drone operators can obtain a SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) or PDRA (Pre-Defined Risk Assessment), a flight authorization delivered for specific missions, in an easier and faster way.

The Ground Risk Class (GRC) assessment is covered by the steps #2 and #3 of the SORA. The first step covers the definition of the Intrinsic GRC which is the initial level of ground risk, while the second one covers the mitigations that can be applied to reduce the risk and obtain the Final GRC.

EASA has published a new compliance proposal for systems installed on drones to reduce ground impact in the event of a crash. The document is aimed at drone operators planning to fit a drone with a parachute, or to demonstrate that the drone is equipped with a function that reduces its impact energy in the event of a collision. The document is also aimed at drone manufacturers and manufacturers of Parachute Recovery Systems (PRS).

MOC2512 (M2) designates the level of robustness required for the safety system in the event of a drone losing control and falling to the ground.The three key elements of an effective M2 mitigation system are as follows:

• Reduce the effect of ground impact
• Operate reliably in the event of loss of control
• Do not introduce any additional risk

Drone manufacturers must declare that they meet these three requirements and provide evidence, in the form of tests, analyses, simulations, inspections, design reviews or operational experience, to back up these declarations.

Mitigation measures are divided into three stages:

M1 – Strategic mitigation: this stage involves implementing strategies to reduce risks at source. For example, by choosing flight routes that avoid high-risk areas, or by using technologies that reduce the risk of accidents.

M2 – Reducing effects in the event of an impact: this stage aims to minimize the consequences of an accident should it occur. For example, by using containment devices to protect people and property on the ground, or by implementing evacuation plans in the event of an accident.

M3 – Contingency planning: this stage involves putting in place protocols to manage the consequences of an accident and ensure the safety of people and property on the ground. For example, by providing emergency communications or establishing working relationships with local authorities and emergency services.

Each of these steps has a corrective value, which can reduce or increase the GRC depending on the strength of the measures put in place. The more effective the measures, the higher the correction value and the lower the GRC. If the final GRC is higher than 7, it is not possible to apply for a SORA file.

The Kronos MVC3 Parachute Recovery System (PRS) is equipped with automatic takeoff and landing detection technology, to prevent inadvertent deployment of the parachute system (PRS). The parachute autonomously detects the drone’s take-off and landing (vibration, propellers, altitude, etc.). It activates and deactivates automatically without human intervention. The only action required of the drone operator is to switch on the parachute.

The Kronos MVC3 Parachute Recovery System (PRS) can be installed and uninstalled in less than a minute. Simply attach the adhesive bracket to the front of your drone, clip the parachute onto the bracket, loop the lines around the drone and switch on the Kronos MVC3 Parachute Recovery System (PRS).

Dronavia provides a user manual and tutorial videos to help drone operators carry out the installation on their drone, simply and quickly.

There are no constraints for drone operators traveling by air. Most airlines offer the option of putting the Kronos MVC3 Parachute Recovery System (PRS) in the hold or in the cabin.