DORAI Initiative
Shaping the Future of Drone Operations
The Drone Operators Requirements Aero Initiative (DORAI) is a European industry initiative that brings together professional drone operators to define the requirements needed for safe, scalable, and economically viable drone operations.
As the drone industry continues to evolve, operators often face common challenges related to aircraft capabilities, interoperability, automation, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. DORAI was created to provide a unified voice for operators and communicate these real-world requirements directly to drone manufacturers (OEMs) and technology providers.
Rather than focusing solely on technical specifications, DORAI bridges the gap between those who develop drone technologies and those who use them in everyday operations. By gathering operational experience from across Europe, the initiative helps ensure that future drone systems are designed to meet real mission requirements and support sustainable industry growth.
A Collaborative European Initiative
DORAI was established by leading drone operators and organisations from across Europe, including:
- Helicus
- Hellenic U-space Institute
- ANWB
- AVIONORD
- Delivrone
- Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
- Bluenest by Globalvia
- Touring Club Suisse (TCS)
As a proud founding member, the Hellenic U-space Institute (HUSI) actively contributes to the development of DORAI’s vision and strategic direction, supporting the creation of a more open, interoperable, and operator-driven drone ecosystem.
Why DORAI Matters
For drone services to scale successfully, operators need systems that are not only technologically advanced, but also practical, interoperable, and compliant with evolving regulatory requirements.
DORAI promotes:
Ø Open and interoperable systems
Ø Scalable drone operations
Ø Modular drone architectures
Ø Standardised interfaces
Ø Regulatory compliance
Ø Sustainable and economically viable business models
The initiative encourages manufacturers to incorporate operator-driven requirements into future drone platforms, helping reduce market fragmentation and accelerating the deployment of professional drone services across Europe.
DORAI Statements
One of DORAI’s main activities is the publication of industry statements outlining the minimum requirements that drone operators expect from future drone platforms.
These requirements cover both hardware and software aspects, including:
Hardware
- Drone specifications and performance requirements
- Modular payload integration
- Automated charging solutions
- Landing systems and repositioning capabilities
- Containerisation and payload handling
Software
- Open software interfaces
- Ground Control Station interoperability
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operational support
- Integration with U-space services
- Future Command-and-Control interoperability
The latest DORAI statements:
Supporting Europe's Drone Ecosystem
DORAI’s vision aligns closely with major European initiatives focused on U-space, Advanced Air Mobility, and autonomous logistics.
Several DORAI founding members are also actively involved in the SAFIR-Ready project, which is developing the infrastructure, services, and operational procedures required to enable mission-ready BVLOS operations for medical and critical infrastructure applications.
Together, these initiatives contribute to a future where drone operations are safer, more automated, more interoperable, and capable of delivering real value to citizens, businesses, and public authorities across Europe.
Whether you are a drone operator, manufacturer, technology provider, researcher, or policymaker, DORAI provides an opportunity to contribute to the future development of the European drone ecosystem.