Unmanned aviation has the potential to reshape many areas of our lives and is one of the key industries of the future for Europe. However, there are still hurdles to overcome. As the most important European industry association, UAV DACH is committed to creating optimal conditions for a growing and globally competitive European UAS industry on behalf of its more than 250 members. And it has been doing so for more than 25 years.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: For a quarter of a century, UAV DACH has been working to help commercial drone operations achieve a breakthrough in Europe. How close are you to your goal?
Dr Gerald Wissel: A great deal has been achieved in many areas. Nevertheless, we know that there are still major challenges to overcome. After all, we are talking about a completely new technology that is supposed to succeed in one of the most comprehensively regulated sectors in the world, aviation. This means that numerous aspects have to be considered – from legal and technical fundamentals to the development of standards and harmonised approval processes that guarantee the highest safety requirements, right through to questions of societal acceptance. All of this with an eye on an enormous variety of application areas. And as if that were not complex enough, we are operating not only at the national level but also within the EU and internationally within the framework of ICAO.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: Was it also this complex situation that led to the founding of UAV DACH? In other words, the need to join forces to pave the way for unmanned aviation?
Dr Gerald Wissel: Basically, that is exactly what it was. UAV DACH was created as a joint working group of six companies that recognised the enormous potential of unmanned aviation systems at a very early stage. It is important to remember that, 25 years ago, only a small specialist audience was dealing with the topic of drones. For example, it would be several years before the first toy drone was introduced. All the rules, procedures and processes we have today were unthinkable at the time. The main focus was on producing and testing the first applications and on collaborating with European partners and authorities. Incidentally, even back then, the founding companies were particularly focused on military applications, which are currently providing very strong growth momentum.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: The fundamental need to establish reliable solutions for the industry still exists today. And from your perspective, things could certainly move faster in some areas. For example, U-space areas could have been established almost three years ago. But in Germany there is still no law for this. How do you deal with such delays?
Dr Gerald Wissel: In the UAS/AAM industry, reliability and planning certainty are extremely important, as in all other sectors of the economy. That is why we are, of course, closely engaged with the U-space legislative process. However, from the perspective of UAV DACH, the issue of U-space is a prime example of how we in Europe are still not going “all in” when it comes to drones. Politicians and society must pull together and create the right framework conditions as quickly as possible. We should not miss out on the opportunities that this future industry offers, as we have done to some extent in Europe with solar energy and AI.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: In your opinion, why is unmanned aviation not yet widely accepted despite its enormous innovation potential?
Dr Gerald Wissel: If there were one decisive reason, it would be much easier to address. I believe there are many reasons, some of them very individual. In the past, there were reservations about the military use of drones, which has changed recently in view of the security situation. Then, of course, there are fears about the potential risks posed by illegally used unmanned systems. And there is still a general, vague concern about being spied on by drones. At the same time, however, we are seeing increasing attention being paid to the positive aspects associated with commercially operated drones. Perhaps also because other parts of the world are showing us how this can be achieved.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: What needs to happen for the full potential of drones to be realised?
Dr Gerald Wissel: The work of UAV DACH is based on three pillars: informing, networking and shaping. We must invest in education and outreach to counter existing reservations and highlight the many opportunities that a strong drone economy offers for a safe and resilient Europe. This is a task that all stakeholders must tackle together and can only be solved through cooperation. Platforms such as XPONENTIAL Europe are crucial in bringing together all players in the field of autonomous systems. I am therefore very much looking forward to welcoming all relevant stakeholders and companies from across Europe in person in Düsseldorf and to shaping the future of our industry together with them.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: Which topic will you be particularly active in addressing there?
Dr Gerald Wissel: In my view, the mandatory electronic visibility of all participants in lower airspace using ADS-L technology is an essential basis for further increasing flight safety, enabling the widespread BVLOS use of drones and, last but not least, improving the protection of sensitive areas from illegal UAS use. The topic of eConspicuity will therefore feature prominently in many of my discussions.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: In addition to such a technical issue, there are certainly structural deficits that need to be discussed as well, aren't there?
Dr Gerald Wissel: That’s right, the challenges here remain complex. In Europe, we urgently need to step up our efforts in industrial and research policy so that we do not fall behind the USA and China when it comes to unmanned systems. This is not a question of expertise or innovative strength – we are still very well positioned in that respect. It is about making economically successful use of the many fantastic ideas and product developments coming out of companies and research institutions. Ultimately, the question is how we can remain – or once again become – internationally competitive.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: And what can – or must – the UAS industry do to accelerate this process?
Dr Gerald Wissel: Our industry will – and must – change in the coming years. On the one hand, there will be certain consolidation phenomena, and on the other hand new players will continue to enter the market. And we need to talk about issues such as meaningful cooperation and necessary professionalisation. Start-ups and spin-offs from the university environment, where innovative technologies are developed, are gradually becoming larger companies that have to scale up from single-unit production to large quantities – with all the challenges that entails. A manufacturer of drones will not take on operations and maintenance in future but will leave this field to professional service providers. At UAV DACH, we are committed to helping shape this process for the benefit of our members and the industry. And XPONENTIAL Europe is the perfect place to drive these efforts forward.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: There are already many areas in which drones are used, for example in rescue services or for monitoring critical infrastructure. What other areas of application can you imagine in the future?
Dr Gerald Wissel: I do not really need much imagination here, because what may sound like science fiction to some is already a reality. And it could be used even more if the legal situation did not slow us down here and there. Many people are already familiar with fawn-rescue operations, but there is a whole range of other useful use cases. For example, supplying spare parts to large construction sites, securing sensitive facilities, delivering defibrillators in medical emergencies, supporting fire and police forces in action, detecting methane gas leaks in pipelines, reforesting after storms, disaster response, building inspections, growth monitoring in modern agriculture, documenting progress in construction projects – and the list could easily go on.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: This versatility is certainly impressive. But wouldn’t greater specialization be helpful in sharpening technology’s profile and capturing market share more quickly?
Dr Gerald Wissel: At the end of the day, drones are a tool that can be used to do many things more easily, efficiently, quickly and better. Not to mention the possibility that unmanned systems can take on dangerous work, thereby avoiding risks to humans. Wherever the advantages of drones outweigh the disadvantages, they will find application. Ultimately, the aim here is also to create new value chains through partnerships and cooperation.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: XPONENTIAL Europe will be expanded to include the topic of “Defense” in 2026. What do you at UAV DACH expect to gain from this?
Dr Gerald Wissel: Basically, we are talking about two ends of the same spectrum. The boundaries between civilian and military use of unmanned systems are fluid. And dual-use technologies are, by definition, located in the middle of that spectrum. What we need in Germany and Europe, therefore, is exchange between industry and users – regardless of the subsequent operating scenario. From the outset, XPONENTIAL Europe has shown that, as the leading trade fair for autonomous systems, it is the ideal platform for bringing all stakeholders together. This step is therefore a logical one. As co-hosts, we fully support the initiative and expect it to have a positive effect on the development of the entire European UAS/AAM industry.
XPONENTIAL Europe Magazine: Thank you very much for your time, Dr Wissel.
