In today’s segregated airspace, there are different procedures for managing crewed and uncrewed traffic. The first step towards unification involves sharing ATM data with UTM service providers, so that they can safely and efficiently integrate drones into the airspace. The next step will be the two-way exchange of data between ATM and UTM service providers, creating a more complex and dynamic shared airspace that will include Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. As complexity and traffic volumes grow, it will be necessary to introduce automated decision-support systems based on shared data. The longer-term vision for full convergence of crewed and uncrewed traffic in a unified airspace will depend on increasing the level of automation in decision-making – but without taking human experts out of the loop.

Each of the steps on the convergence journey will require service providers to fuse data from new external sources with their own data, creating shared situational awareness. Frequentis offers the technology to achieve this data fusion. As one of the pioneers in this space, Frequentis worked as a member of SESAR on the GOF U-space project in Estonia and Finland, helping to demonstrate the feasibility of safe drone traffic management alongside conventional crewed air traffic. The project included tests of urban delivery drones, international parcel delivery, and cooperation with search and rescue services.

Frequentis presented the integration of drone traffic management with the Advanced Automated Tower solution at Airspace World 2024, providing the visibility of drones directly on the TowerPAD screen of the air traffic controller, offering perfect situational awareness and integration with all supporting safety net procedures. For a presentation, please get in touch with our representatives.