AVSS Completes ASTM F3322-22 Parachute Recovery System Compliance Testing for the DJI Dock 2 with Third Party Testing Agency, ACUASI

AVSS has completed ASTM F3322-22 parachute recovery system third-party testing for the DJI M3D and M3TD, commercial drone platforms for the DJI Dock 2.

AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions (AVSS), with support from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA)-designated test site, acting as the third-party testing agency, Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft System Integration (ACUASI) is proud to announce that they completed the ASTM F3322-22 testing requirements for the DJI M3D and M3TD, the commercial drone platforms used in the new DJI Dock 2 earlier in June. Completing this third-party validated testing is a critical component for legally and safely flying commercial drones over people.

This validation testing enables commercial drone operators of the DJI Dock 2 to receive approval for flight over people in key markets, such as the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. This testing is also a critical component of the Means of Compliance (MOC) requirements for the FAA’s Category 2 and Category 3 requirements, European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) MOC 2512 for Medium Robustness for M2 mitigation, EASA MOC 2511 for enhanced containment, EASA’s proposed MOC for High Robustness for M2 mitigation, and CASA (Australia) flying near people rule.

For AVSS’s PRS-M3DT to be compliant with the ASTM F3322-22 International standard, the company had to complete rigorous safety and failure scenarios testing with a third party. The 45 successful tests on the DJI M3D and M3TD demonstrate the reliability and performance of AVSS’s PRS-M3DT.

AVSS is now the first parachute recovery system company in the world to pass this testing standard for the DJI Dock 2. The successful completion of this industry-leading standard also comes at a perfect time for global operators who have adopted the recently launched DJI Dock 2. AVSS will commence shipping the PRS-M3DT to more than 50 authorized dealers across the world this summer. For more information on where to purchase the PRS-M3DT from an authorized dealer, please visit http://www.avss.co/partners

“We are proud of the hard work of our engineering and testing team. The group was able to collaborate with ACUASI to complete another successful testing campaign of an ASTM F3322-22 parachute recovery system in early June. The PRS-M3DT will unlock flight over people and enable Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations in key markets.

It is important to note that the ASTM F3322-22 testing has become a requirement for AVSS’s Means of Compliance (MOC) for FAA Category 2 and Category 3 flight over people operations in the USA and aligns with the proposed MOC 2512 High Robustness requirements by EASA. AVSS has already completed the final testing requirements, which include ASTM F3322-22 and ASTM F3389, and submitted the FAA Declaration of Compliance (DOC) paperwork to unlock flight over people without waivers in the USA. End users should expect the formal publication on the FAA’s UAS Declaration of Compliance website over the next few weeks. As a final sneak peek, this is not the only AVSS drone and parachute combination that will comply with the FAA’s over people rule. We will have more announcements coming throughout the summer for those looking to fly over people with popular DJI, Skydio, and Brinc models (Josh Ogden, CEO).”

ABOUT ASTM F3322-22
The ASTM F3322 parachute recovery system testing standard was developed by industry stakeholders as well as representatives from the FAA in late 2018 after more than a year of work. The ASTM F3322-22 version is a revised version published in 2022. The completion of the ASTM F3322-22 testing with ACUASI, along with the required engineering analysis, has also been acknowledged by numerous regulators world-wide as a key third party validated test to enable commercial drones to fly over people.

About AVSS: Founded in 2017, AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) is a Canadian aerospace company commercializing drone technology for Urban Air Mobility. AVSS’s current products are ASTM F3322 parachute recovery systems for commercial drones, independent flight termination systems, and precision-guided delivery systems for last-mile delivery.

AVSS’s retrofit products (DJI M200, DJI M300 RTK, DJI M350 RTK, DJI M3D and DJI M3TD for Dock 2) are distributed worldwide through their more than 50 authorized dealer network and sold directly to drone manufacturers across the world. AVSS also provides direct support to drone manufacturers and pilots who integrate the PRS product line for flight over people and BVLOS compliance, such as Skydio X10, Brinc Responder.

ABOUT ACUASI:
The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) in the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a world-leader in UAS research and operations. ACUASI’s 23-year track record of advancing UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS) has led to ACUASI leading the FAA’s University of Alaska UAS Test Site, being a core university in FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research (ASSURE), heading the FAA’s BEYOND effort in Alaska, participating in the FAA’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and having ACUASI’s Director sit on the FAA’s Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee.

The ACUASI team is expert at obtaining airspace approvals in the NAS, planning missions under unusual conditions, conducting safety reviews and implementing practical mitigation strategies to reduce risk, modifying aircraft and payloads to achieve the mission goals, conducting safe drone operations under challenging environmental conditions, handling large data sets, and reporting data back to relevant stakeholders.