Safety & Certification

To be able to market our technology, it is crucial that we comply with the highest safety standards and to develop a system at a high level of measurable reliability and quality.

It is because of this focus on safety, that we obtained all necessary permits and exemptions from the Dutch aviation authorities in 2010 to fly our prototypes. Our reputation with the Dutch aviation authorities has also allowed us to consult directly with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)  regarding the establishment of clear certification standards for Airborne Wind Energy Systems. From 2015 tethered aircraft have been categorized as a separate aircraft class by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)  in European legislation for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (EASA NPA 2014-09).

Ampyx Power was one of the first companies worldwide to register a “Remotely Piloted Aircraft” in a National Aircraft Register in 2013. Today we are the only registered company within the Airborne Wind Energy sector.

Related articles:

• New regulatory approach EASA for Remotely Piloted Aircraft beneficial to Airborne Wind Energy
• EASA proposes legislation for tethered aircraft

SAFETY IN DESIGN AND OPERATIONS

We have put a lot of effort in certifying our products according to strict civil aviation standards. In the last few years we have automated our processes to a high degree and integrated them in our way of working. Just like aircraft manufacturers, we work on:

• Project planning
• Identification and detailing of design requirements
• Registration of decisions and considerations
• Systematic evaluation and design testing
• Systematic safety analysis
• Configuration management.

We have a ‘product assurance officer’ who ensures that we follow our processes and improve them. We regularly register and evaluate any risks that we take. Incidents are processed according to an aviation authority approved ‘Safety Management System’. And, our flights are performed by certified pilots who adhere to strict protocols.