The use of unmanned aircraft requires appropriate regulation and airspace management. To address these issues, the European Union has established a regulatory framework to facilitate airspace management, U-space.
What is U-Space?
U-Space services are responsible for regulating and managing airspace with a high level of automation and digitalization. It's important to note that U-Space services only handle low-altitude air traffic management, meaning up to 120 meters. They provide information on available airspace, drone operation safety, and air traffic management to enable the safe and efficient use of drones, while also ensuring environmental protection and privacy. One of U-Space's primary objectives is to guarantee that drones do not disrupt existing air traffic.
U-Space services offered to drone operators:
- Network identification which provides the identity of operators and UAS, as well as their geolocation, and the dissemination of information on operations to share relevant information with other airspace users
- Geovigilance which informs UAS operators of the operating conditions to be applied in U-space and the constraints related thereto, made available within the framework of common information services.
- UAS Flight Authorization which grants flight authorizations to operators based on operating areas and U-space constraints. This service also provides for the review and/or suspension of authorization depending on operating conditions.
- Traffic information which provides the operator with all information relating to air traffic that could occur in the vicinity of the UAS flight's intended position. And that it can implement the necessary measures to avoid a collision.
Two other services may be offered, iThey depend on the risk assessment in the airspace, and can be suggested at the initiative of the USSP (U-space Service Providers).
- Weather information which are put in place to allow operators to facilitate the planning and execution phases of the flight
- Compliance control which is used to verify whether UAS operators comply with flight authorization conditions. It also allows the UAS operator to be alerted if there is a compliance issue.
U-Space service providers are companies or organizations that provide services related to U-Space, such as traffic control, flight planning, activity monitoring, and more. Many U-Space service providers exist to help manage drone traffic. For example, several companies have joined the European U-Space network, such as U-Space Keeper and AirSpace Drone.
It is worth noting that the software mentioned above allows you to share U-Space for easier management. Our Gesta softwareDRONE is a universal tool that can interconnect with these different platforms in a cross-cutting manner, that is to say, it is connected with all actors to manage the procedures with the competent authorities issuing flight authorizations.
If this topic interests you, please note that additional articles will be available soon to follow up on this introduction.
