Draft Institutional Framework For U-Space Is Published

Unmanned aircraft — commonly called drones — are a promising source for delivering innovative services. Yet, these emerging technologies also present a challenge. The rising number of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations in the European airspace poses a safety issue: how to ensure safe UAS traffic management and how to ensure that unmanned aircraft can safely operate within the existing air traffic environment?

On 8 October 2019, EASA published its draft Opinion entitled ?High Level Regulatory Framework for U-Space?.

This Opinion intends to create the necessary conditions for manned and unmanned aircraft to operate safely in the airspace where U-space services are provided, using an appropriate platform that will enable the exchange of essential information between the U-space service providers and the aircraft operators. It proposes an institutional framework for a competitive U-Space services market and how drones need to be operated in the Single European Sky.

The final objective of the U-space system is to prevent collisions between aircraft and mitigate the air risk. Therefore, the U-space regulatory framework, supported by clear and simple rules, should permit safe aircraft operations in all areas, in all fields of application and with all types of unmanned operations.