Germany aims to implement drone zones swiftly

Droniq GmbH and its parent company DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider, today published their recommendations for the establishment of U-space areas. The findings underlying the recommendations stem from a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). These ecommendations will help spur the introduction of U-space areas in Germany from 2023.

U-space areas allow drones to be safely integrated into airspace, including the interplay with manned aircraft. This will facilitate the routine use of drones, for example in logistics, agriculture, the supply of hard-to-reach areas and the transport of vital medical equipment. How U-space areas can function in practice was tested under realistic conditions in a so-called U-space real laboratory, or sandbox, which Droniq and DFS set up in the Port of Hamburg in the north of Germany. The seven-month research project had a budget of approximately EUR 1 million and was funded in part by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) (EUR 500,000).

Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: "With around 400 active
companies, Germany is one of the leading markets for drone technologies. We want to strengthen
and enhance Germany's technological lead. The U-space sandbox has answered many important
questions for us for the establishment of U-space. We are now using this valuable practical
experience to progress onwards. The first U-space areas are to be set up in Germany as early as next year. In doing so, we are ensuring safety in German airspace and facilitating more innovations in unmanned aviation."

The Ministry is using the findings and recommendations from the practical tests in the Hamburg Uspace sandbox to develop a concept for the establishment of U-space areas throughout Germany. The requirements of the European U-space Regulation (2021/664) are also being taken into account. The concept aims to lay all the legal and practical foundations for the implementation of U-space areas. The Ministry plans to designate the first U-space areas as early as 2023.

Research in this area is also being conducted in another project funded by the Ministry. Known as the LUV project, it is looking into solutions and recommendations for action for the implementation of the U-space Regulation throughout Germany. The aim is to advance the technology of unmanned aviation and to strengthen Germany's position as an innovative business location in international competition.

Recommendations

The results of the U-space sandbox include recommendations and measures for the establishment of U-space areas, their operation and the design of the roles and services applicable in U-space.

First implementation of U-space areas in pilot regions 

Among the proposals is the recommendation to establish U-space areas in pilot regions to gain
further experience about their implementation and operation. For this purpose, Droniq and DFS
recommend using complex airspaces with high levels of unmanned and manned air traffic, such as large cities with airport connections. It is for such busy airspaces in particular that a coordinating and regulatory framework such as U-space is necessary. With more experience, further U-space areas can be introduced, or existing U-space areas can be expanded or connected. A catalogue of criteria developed by Droniq and DFS will help assess when and where it makes sense to establish a Uspace area. 

Options for U-space service providers

Another recommendation concerns the competitive situation in a U-space area. In such areas, Uspace Service Providers (USSP) coordinate drone traffic. Generally, there can be several USSPs in a U-space that compete with each other and differ in service and price.

"For U-space areas to drive the economic potential that drone operations can offer, there needs to be competition that benefits drone operators," said Jan-Eric Putze, CEO of Droniq, a leading company in Germany for integrating drones into the airspace. "We look forward to welcoming other market players to U-space alongside ourselves as USSP." Another important recommendation from his point of view is the establishment of U-space areas in the controlled airspace arounds airports, if necessary. "In doing so, we will pave the way for new urban air mobility ideas, for example when it comes to flying from the airport to the city by air taxi."

To ensure the efficient networking of all participating agencies in a U-space area, it is recommended to establish a so-called Single Common Information Service Provider (SCISP) for each U-space area. With this as a basis, the operator of U-space services – the USSP mentioned above – can provide their services as demonstrated in the sandbox. Having an integrated air situation for all stakeholders is the core for the safe operation of manned and unmanned air traffic.

"The findings from the sandbox show that the implementation of the U-space concept in Germany
works," said Angela Kies, Head of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at DFS. "The implementation can now be rigorously pursued to efficiently facilitate the safe use of drones."

The complete recommendations for action by Droniq and DFS are available for download at www.U-space-hamburg.de.

Credit: Fabiano Waewell / EyeEm via Getty Images

Credit: Droniq GmbH