DRONELIFE EXCLUSIVE: Our team of experts outlines what EASA’s U-Space means for European drone operations.
Below is a guest post Global Law Firm Richard Hakes, Oliver Beiersdorf and Julia Norsetter reed smithis a transportation group. DRONELIFE DOES NOT ACCEPT OR DELIVER PAYMENTS FOR GUEST CONTRIBUTIONS.
EASA’s U-Space: The Future of Drones and VTOL Air Traffic Management
The future of air mobility includes a multitude of unmanned aerial vehicles flying in complex environments. Initially, unmanned operations began in rural areas to reduce risk, but these aircraft must be integrated into congested airspace to realize important social and environmental benefits.
Continue reading below or listen:
Integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into urban environments also requires advanced air traffic management. After all, unmanned aerial vehicles do not have pilots on board to communicate with air traffic controllers about flight plans and airspace risks.
The European Union Air Safety Authority (EASA) has taken measurable steps to address this traffic management challenge with the development of an unmanned traffic management system called ‘U-Space’. According to EASA, its U-Space framework “will enable the secure integration of drones and manned aircraft in Europe from 2023. [onwards]This will be accomplished through U-Space’s digital and automated services within designated airspace.
Not all airspace of a given EU Member State will adopt the U-Space framework. Member States must specify the volume of airspace in which the framework will be deployed. U-Space will be particularly beneficial in urban areas, where a myriad of manned and unmanned aircraft are expected to be operated for a myriad of services, including the delivery of packages by drones and, ultimately, the possibility of passenger transport. .
In January 2023, the European Commission Implementing Regulation entered into force. It generally consists of U-Space’s technical and operational requirements. These U-Space actors and their functions are briefly described below.
- U-Space Service Suppliers (USSP). The U-Space Service Provider delivers specific information to drones in U-Space. Critical services for the USSP include geospatial awareness, flight clearance, network identification, and air traffic information. Optional services may include weather data. USSP is also required to coordinate U-space services with existing air traffic control (“ANSP”). Specific certification requirements are set by EASA.
- EASA’s responsibilities under the U-Space concept include providing certification requirements and compliance measures to USSPs, and providing certification to some USSPs.
- Common Information Service (CIS) supplier. CIS is the basic central data backbone of U-Space. This data backbone has many roles, including data transmission with both the USSP and unmanned aerial vehicle operators.
- competent authorityThe competent authority of a Member State is often its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As explained above, from January 2023 onwards, Member States (and their CAAs) are permitted to begin the process of defining airspace for U-Space services. In addition to certifying USSPs under EASA requirements and ensuring a central authority for U-Space information coordination (Common Information Service Provider), this is an essential role for the competent authority.
- Aviation navigation service supplier. ANSPs are entities (often government or private) that provide air traffic navigation services to existing conventional aviation. In the United States, this service is provided by the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System. Under the U-Space concept, ANSP’s responsibilities include coordinating data with USSP and dynamically reconfiguring airspace to enable multiple operations.
U-Space Actor Requirements
U-Space’s operating and service entity specifications are set out in the ‘Acceptable means of Compliance’ (AMC) and Guidance Documents (GM) decided by EASA in December 2022. Member States and potential service suppliers seeking approval for use within U-Space. Specific topics covered within AMC and GM include:
- For CIS, operational functions and certification processes
- For USSPs, certification processes and standards for connecting CIS to USSPs
- In the case of Member States, information on the risk assessment required to designate U-Space and Member State responsibilities
- For manned aircraft, acceptable means of conspicuous entry into U-Space
Current Choices for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations
U-Space is still a framework under development and undergoes additional testing and evaluation before ubiquitous unmanned operation becomes possible. Nonetheless, UAS operators have the option to use the existing EASA drone regulatory framework to obtain approval for various UAS operations (unrelated to U-Space). For example, certain operations beyond a UAS pilot’s line of sight may be approved using EASA’s Risk Assessment (SORA) and receive a Risk Score (SAIL) to aid in the approval process. This existing pathway could be a good first step for stakeholders seeking to familiarize themselves with EASA’s operational acceptance criteria.
In connection with the new opportunities, EASA recently announced plans to disseminate regulations on high-risk operations of UAS and VTOL aircraft. The first tranche of information may address certain high-risk UAS operations and manned VTOL aircraft.
read more:
reed smith‘s global aviation team has decades of experience helping clients achieve their goals and mitigate risk. Our firm has in-depth knowledge of the aviation industry, from lenders, arrangers, lessors, lessors and export credit agencies, to airlines, operators, aircraft and parts manufacturers, aerospace and satellite companies.
Richard Hakes He is chairman of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group. He is an asset finance partner focused on aviation and shipping. He acts for clients across the full range and lifecycle of shipping and aviation transactions, with a primary focus on financing, leasing, trading and repackaging of transportation assets, and in relation to a wide range of aviation and shipping operations. Advise clients.
Oliver Beiersdorf Co-Head of Reed Smith’s Global Aviation and Aerospace Group. His practice focuses on aviation, marine, commercial and product liability litigation. Oliver has represented foreign and domestic airlines, manufacturers and distributors of products, ship owners and operators, automobile manufacturers, and other corporate customers in federal and state courts throughout the United States. I’m here. Oliver has extensive experience in the fields of contract and insurance law, as well as international treaties such as the Warsaw and Montreal Convention, the New York Arbitration Convention, High Seas Law, Jones Law and Carriage of Goods by Sea Law.
Julia Northetter Reed Smith’s Transportation Policy and Analysis Lead. Leveraging her deep industry knowledge and market analysis skills, she advises on sector and regulatory developments and plays a key role in helping develop and shape the company’s transportation industry strategy. Her insight and industry analysis keep Reed Smith at the forefront of industry developments and trends.
Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a fascinating observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. With her 3,000+ articles focused on the commercial drone space, Miriam is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and high tech she has over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, please email Miriam.
twitter:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to Drone Life here.
