The drone services company has made investments in technical upgrades of more than €3,500 per aircraft to comply with new European regulations. The company is able to guarantee normal operations in urban environments after the expiration of the STS-ES-01 national scenario, thanks to having overhauled its entire documentation framework: new Operations Manuals, Operational Statements and EARO studies. This means that Airmedia360 is the first operator in Spain to complete the complex transition to the new European regulatory framework, effective from 1 January 2026. The company accordingly has overcome the two-part barrier facing the sector at the start of 2026: the supply chain crisis and the administrative block on equipment such as the DJI Inspire 3.
The expiry of the standard Spanish scenario STS-ES-01 on 31 December 2025 has invalidated previous permits, forcing operators to migrate to the new European scenarios. This process requires a profound technical and administrative restructuring that has brought activity to a halt in much of the industry. To take the next step, Airmedia360 has executed a comprehensive modernisation plan in record time. The company has made physical adaptations to each of its aircraft, installing state-of-the-art flight termination systems and parachutes, at a cost of more than €3,500 per unit.
On top of this, there is the supply chain crisis, which is keeping many European fleets grounded due to lack of component parts. Likewise, there were obstacles in moving forward with the registration of essential cinema drones such as the DJI Inspire 3, whose legalisation was delayed during the transition period.
Beyond hardware, Airmedia360’s engineering team has completely rewritten its operational safety architecture to align with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards. This technological and documentary adaptation has come alongside a rigorous training plan for the human team. Airmedia360 pilots have revalidated their accreditations for compliance with the new requirements of the EASA ‘Specific’ category. They’ve become one of the few teams in Spain with authorisation for high-risk operations in urban areas.
With a hybrid profile that combines cinematic sensibility with the discipline of aeronautics, the staff of pilots and camera operators have logged thousands of hours of experience on film sets. They now also have the specific technical training to manage the new impact mitigation systems and coordination protocols in CTR environments required by the new regulations, ensuring that operational safety never compromises the creative vision of the director.
As Fran Salazar, managing director of Airmedia360, says, “The entry into force of the 2026 regulations has not been a simple formality, but a formidable barrier to entry for the sector. With the end of STS-ES-01, it was not enough to have good pilots; a capital investment and a complete document reengineering with new EAROs and manuals were needed. While other operators are still looking for components or fighting with bureaucracy, we are already running in city centres with the fully legalised Inspire 3”.
Airmedia360 offers film and advertising production companies the assurance that their filming plans will not be affected by inspections, enforcement actions or stoppages for administrative reasons.
