Drone projects summarized in Europe air traffic management report

Cover: SESAR JC

Drone technology takes center stage in a new European report on the continent’s air traffic management.

U-Space: Supporting Safe and Secure Drone Operations in Europe, is a 42-page preliminary summary of SESAR U-space research and innovation results, following 19 demonstrations that took place from 2017 through 2019.

The research and demonstration projects addressed topics such as drone operations; critical communications; surveillance and tracking; information management; aircraft systems; ground-based technologies; cyber-resilience; and geo-fencing.

“Drones are disrupting business as usual in air traffic management,” said Florian Guillermet, executive director, SESAR Joint Undertaking. “A simple adaptation of our current air traffic management system is not enough; accommodating these air vehicles in the numbers forecast requires a new approach.”

The projects map progress on development of the technological capabilities and all services
required for making U-space a reality, starting with foundation services (U1) before progressing to initial services (U2), advanced services (U3) and finally full services (U4).

Results of the projects summarized in the brochure will be fully detailed in a comprehensive report, expected to be published in the second half of 2020.

Chart: SESAR JC

SESAR 2020

SESAR 2020 is a European Union innovative program for researching the future of air traffic management in Europe. It builds on its predecessor, SESAR 1, to deliver high-performing operational and technological solutions for uptake by the aviation industry.

With a budget of 1.6 billion euros between now and 2024, SESAR 2020 will support projects to deliver solutions in these four key areas:

• airport operations
• network operations
• air traffic services
• technology enablers.