EASA introduces new drone-related tools in new version of its Innovation Air Mobility Hub

On 9 October 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) launched the fifth version of its Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) Hub^[1]. EASA’s full press release is available here.^[2]

The IAM Hub promotes safe and sustainable use of drones and eVTOL aircraft across Europe. It supports delivery, inspection, and passenger transport drones by connecting cities, authorities, and manufacturers, harmonizing EU rules, and sharing data to guide innovation, manage noise and sustainability, and build public trust in new air mobility. It also serves as a central platform aligning national regulatory frameworks with the EU Drone Strategy 2.0^[3], helping Member States implement consistent certification, airspace management, and operational standards.

The Hub’s new features include:

• Drone Rule Navigator^[4]: a tool to help operators understand applicable regulations, determine the category of their operation, and identify the relevant requirements.
• A guide^[5] for cities and governments: showing how local authorities can help shape and manage urban drone services.
• eSORA tool: an automated version of SORA 2.5 that helps Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operators plan their operations and gather all required evidence for an authorisation. It also features a Cross-Border Operations function to simplify operations across multiple Member States. It walks operators through each step of the risk assessment, identifying ground and air risks, defining mitigation measures, and automatically generating documentation. The integrated Cross-Border Operations function simplifies compliance when flying in several EU Member States.

The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA[6]) is a 10-step methodology required before conducting higher-risk drone flights, such as those beyond the visual line of sight or in urban areas. The eSORA version makes this process faster and more accessible, especially for small operators and start-ups, by automating technical and administrative tasks.

According to EASA, the IAM Hub also reflects the growing maturity of Europe’s drone ecosystem. While several countries, such as France, Spain, and Finland, already operate national drone corridors and pilot programs, EASA expects broader integration of drones into logistics, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response by 2030. For maritime law enforcement and coast guard operations, these tools could improve surveillance, pollution monitoring, and search-and-rescue efficiency by standardising risk assessment and cross-border coordination.

The project is funded by the European Commission and Parliament and is part of the EU’s Drone Strategy 2.0.^[7]

[1] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/drones-air-mobility-landscape/innovative-air-mobility-hub

[2] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/press-releases/easa-presses-accelerator-support-drone-operations-eu

[3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7076

[4] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/drone-rule-navigator

[5] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/drones-air-mobility-landscape/roles-of-cities

[6] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/operating-drone/specific-category-civil-drones/specific-operations-risk-assessment-sora

[7] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7076