One of the guarantees for Advanced Air Mobility, AAM, to be a success is to have a common framework for regulatory and technological integration, such as U-space.
Unmanned or manned aerial vehicles constitute a sector that is growing rapidly worldwide. They are part of a scenario that, precisely now, is being configured to become a common part of our society shortly. We are talking about the development of Advanced air mobility and its coexistence with the air traffic we know today.
Not only small drones, but larger UAS and VTOLs will provide services in all environments, including urban and peri-urban areas. Surveillance, infrastructure inspections, precision agriculture, package delivery, emergency services, or passenger transport are just some of the services that will coexist in a space hitherto forbidden to all of them. It is inconceivable to think that all these aerial vehicles could fly over our cities freely, without a common regulatory and service framework that foresees an ordered, safe, and efficient development of operations.
If we had to define U-space In a single sentence, it could be said that it's about A regulatory, management, and operational environment in which will be integrated all types of aircraft so that they can coexist and cooperate with security within our entire airspace, especially urban environments.
The main objective of U-space is to have a regulatory framework for air traffic, taking into consideration not only flights carried out with manned aircraft but also those carried out with UAS/drones in the various categories.
Ultimately, we're talking about A suite of new services based on a high level of digitisation and automation of specific functions and procedures, both in the performance of the unmanned aerial vehicles themselves, as in their coexistence and ground control. These services will be designed to support the secure, efficient and protected access to airspace for a large number of aerial vehicles of different categories. In this regard, U-space is a framework designed to facilitate all types of missions, in different airspace classes and environments, under air traffic control parameters that guarantee their operation and safety, both of the vehicles themselves and of the property and people in the environment where they operate.
To achieve this, the entire a regulated spatial structure with which it is planned to manage air traffic operations, creating segregated spaces with different security levels as well specific to the risk that operations with aircraft, whether manned or unmanned, may pose (personnel safety, environmental protection, health risks, etc.).
This environment will be responsible for regulating various aircraft operations, as well as to provide services to pilots or supervisors so that they can have a safe flying experience. From this perspective, U-space is also A digital tool that integrates air service providers, local authorities, and security forces.
In addition, the creation of a clear framework at the European Union level will allow for the creation and promotion of a more dynamic market with very clear rules of the game. The most direct consequences of this will be the orderly development of a new economic sector and the creation of new jobs.
U-space is the name the European Union has given to the project of integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, drones, VTOL, etc.) with other aircraft sharing airspace into a unified platform. That space will be regulated by local authorities to manage air traffic in a simple and safe way.
And how was U-space born? SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR Joint Undertaking) is an institutionalised European partnership between public and private sector partners that uses research and innovation to facilitate the realisation and materialisation of the digital European sky. In line with this, SESAR drafted a plan in 2017 to allow U-space to be operationally possible.
For a perfect evolution towards the ideal scenario envisioned by the U-Space concept, provision has been made four progressive phases, over the next ten years, to apply process automation. The implementation of the different phases is associated with the availability of services and technologies.. The services will continue to evolve, as will the level of drone automation.
The U1 phase It can be said that it is the one we have been immersed in since 2017 and it includes the putting the most basic services into operation from the platform, such as:
- Electronic registration and identification system for pilots (and supervisors) and aircraft.
- Provision of basic information on registered pilots and aircraft.
- Flight data supply for drone operators and pilots (flight zones…).
- Geofencing, which is the determination of the geospatial perimeter around a zone or area that delimits your access authorisation.
- Enabling new types of operations and expanding the scope of VLOS operations (Visual Line of Sight) or the opening of limitations for BVLOS flights Beyond Visual Line of Sight.
The U2 phase it is expected to start during 2023, and includes a series of services that will be of great use in supporting riders. The gradual digitisation of procedures will also allow, increase in operational density. Among the services that will be enabled in this phase are:
- Immediate effect geofencing system (tactics).
- Digital flight planning system.
- Aircraft and flight tracking.
- Permit application and approval system for specific operations.
- Air traffic information.
- Weather information.
- Emergency management.
- Real-time emergency information.
- Airspace conflict management.
- Support for incursions into controlled airspace.
- Airspace monitoring.
The U3 phase the application of U-Space regulation contemplates the implementation of more complex and advanced services that help the Automated air traffic optimisation. This is about enabling new and improved operations in areas with higher population density or those involving greater procedural difficulty. The services planned for this phase will be:
- Dynamic geofencing.
- Obstacle detection and avoidance system.
- Automation of evasion actions.
- Dynamic capacity management.
- Automated air traffic conflict management.
- Active communication with air traffic control.
- Collaborative interface with Air Traffic Control.
The Phase U4 it will be the last one for the implementation of the U-Space regulatory system and is scheduled for 2030. In it, the process will be completed integration of all services offered in previous phases, advancing in its full automation, connectivity and digitisation. There will be additional services that will be completed in this phase.
- Automatic interconnection between all aircraft operating in airspace.
- Integration of flight pilots and supervisors with managers and regulatory authorities through digital channels.
- Integrated interfaces with ATM/ATC and manned aviation.
- Full VFR and UAS/drone interaction.
But, What services will U-space provide?
U-space will encompass services such as information provision, flight planning support, and aircraft tracking, among others. New services will even emerge as the concept matures.
For the provision of the services, arising new types of providers, called CISP and USSP, which will be integrated with the current air traffic management system, ATM.
The Common Information Service Providers or CISP Their main objective is to disseminate static and dynamic data that can serve as a basis for providing services related to the management of unmanned aircraft traffic. They are the sole and reliable source of all common information in the U-space airspace under their responsibility. There can only be one certified CISP for each U-space airspace.
The provision of services within U-space in all phases of operation will be managed by the USSR U-space Services provider certificates, with there potentially being several providers within each U-space volume. They will need to coordinate with the other service providers, both within the U-space itself and with air traffic control.
Moving on to the services that will be provided, there are several that are mandatory for any operation in U-space and which must therefore be available in all cases. These are as follows:
Network identification service, by which air traffic managers will be able to identify any aircraft for the entire duration of the flight and link it to information stored in the register.
Geoconsciousness service, aimed at providing information concerning operational conditions, the relevant geographical areas for the flight, any applicable airspace limitations for each aircraft, and existing restrictions (static or dynamic).
Authorisation Service, which will make it easier for operators to obtain permission (if applicable) for each individual flight, by setting out their terms and conditions.
Air traffic information service, which will allow you to know any other traffic near the aircraft's position or planned flight path.
Aside from these services, which are considered mandatory, there are others which are optional, such as:
Weather information service, provided by trusted sources and at various scales (climatic, regional, and local), which will serve, both in terms of real-time information and forecasts, to maintain safety and support the operational decisions of other services.
Compliance monitoring service, which will allow operators to verify whether they meet the requirements and terms of the UAS flight authorisation.
In addition to these services, there will be others that will be added in each airspace depending on their availability and capacity.
From the current perspective, and especially if one is not familiar with the evolution of technology, regulations or innovations in the field of advanced air mobility, all of this may seem unreal. The truth is that much progress has already been made (we are finishing phase U1 without excessive delay) and In a short while, we will be able to have an integration framework for aircraft in urban and suburban airspace..
In Europe, where regulations, working groups and agreements between countries tend to be very slow, exasperatingly slow, the development of the U-space concept is a very positive and, certainly, promising example.
#you are #I am
