Our heavy-lift Alta X is cleared to fly under the specific category in Europe and Part 107 in the US — here's why that's on the call sheet.
Credentials aren't glamorous, but on a professional shoot they're the difference between a plan and a problem. Our operation is authorised to fly on both sides of the Atlantic: under EASA's specific category in Europe — with a PDRA-S01 operational authorisation from the Swedish Transport Agency — and under FAA Part 107 in the United States.
That means the same aircraft, including our Freefly Alta X heavy-lift, can travel and work legally whether a job lands in Sweden, elsewhere in the EU, or in Florida. Here's what those licences actually cover and why they belong on the call sheet.
PDRA-S01: flying in Europe's specific category
In the EU, drone operations are split into the open, specific and certified categories by risk. Heavier and more complex flights — the kind a cinema heavy-lift rig involves — fall into the specific category, which requires an operational authorisation from the national aviation authority against an assessed risk model.
PDRA-S01 is a predefined risk assessment for exactly this kind of operation. Being authorised against it means our operations manual, procedures and crew competency have been reviewed and cleared by the authority — not self-declared. In practice that's what lets us fly bigger aircraft, in controlled conditions, for productions that need more than a consumer drone can safely deliver.
FAA Part 107: flying commercially in the US
In the United States, commercial drone work is governed by FAA Part 107. Our pilots have held Part 107 certification for years, which lets us fly paid work legally across the country and request the airspace authorisations a shoot needs — including operations near controlled airspace where much automotive and city work happens.
Holding credentials in both jurisdictions is deliberate. With offices in Greater Miami and the Stockholm area, we can put a compliant, insured aerial unit on the ground on either continent without a client having to worry about the paperwork.
Why it matters when you book
Licensing is really about risk and reliability. A properly authorised, insured operator has the procedures to fly safely, the paperwork to keep a production legal, and the standing to get permits approved rather than turned down. It's the unglamorous foundation that lets the interesting shots happen at all.
We carry liability insurance and handle permits and airspace as part of the job — so the credentials are our problem to manage, not yours.
Frequently asked
- Is Hammarstrom Aerial a licensed drone operator?
- Yes. We operate under EASA's specific category in Europe with a PDRA-S01 operational authorisation from the Swedish Transport Agency, and under FAA Part 107 in the United States. We also carry liability insurance and handle permits and airspace as part of every job.
- What is PDRA-S01?
- PDRA-S01 is a predefined risk assessment used to authorise drone operations in the EU's 'specific' category — the risk tier that covers heavier, more complex flights beyond the open category. An authorisation against it means the operator's procedures and crew competency have been reviewed and cleared by the national aviation authority.
- Can you fly the same drone in Europe and the US?
- Yes. Because we hold credentials in both jurisdictions — EASA specific category in Europe and FAA Part 107 in the US — our aircraft, including the Freefly Alta X heavy-lift, can travel and work legally on either continent. We have offices in Greater Miami and the Stockholm area.
Originally shared on Instagram.
