Experts analyze the challenges encountered during the initial phases of U-space implementation in U-ELCOME Project

• The 3-year U-ELCOME Project, coordinated by EUROCONTROL and involving  51 European partners, organized the second U-ELCOME workshop in the Polytechnical University of Cataluña, in Castelldefels, Spain 

• They have been analyzing interoperability between operators and U-space service providers (USSPs), U-space services, integration with air traffic management (ATM), common information services, communications, local engagement and regulatory challenges, and the utilization of U-space in emergency and security operations

Last 8th and 9th of April, the second U-ELCOME workshop was held in the Polytechnical University of Cataluña, in Castelldefels, Spain. The U-ELCOME project, funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the Connecting Europe Facility in cooperation with the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, aims to foster scalable market uptake of U1 and U2 U-space services through tests and demonstrations across more than 20 locations in Spain, Italy, and France. 

Nine important topics for future U-space were discussed in Barcelona

After the first workshop held in Galicia, the primary objective of this second workshop was to address the challenges encountered during the initial phases of U-space implementation. Participants, including representatives from both within and outside the project, engaged in fruitful discussions over two days. 

During the one-hour sessions, the topics were introduced before giving the floor to the open discussions.

Finally, the workshop was closed with several presentations about other initiatives and how U-space is being implemented in other countries. Alongside the sessions, throughout the entire workshop, some partners demonstrated and implemented their technologies, showcasing them to the attendees.  

The outputs of the workshop will be inputs for the handbook the U-ELCOME project is producing in collaboration with external stakeholders. This deliverable aims to capture all the experiences, lessons learnt and best practices coming from first implementers of U-space both within and outside the project, serving as a comprehensive guide for future implementers. 

The 3-year U-ELCOME Project, coordinated by EUROCONTROL with funding from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) in cooperation with the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking has chosen industry expo Airspace World as the venue to show how an European project  with 51 organisation involved, 15 Millions of Euros and 3 years duration supports at the same time the development of drone operations across Europe and the deployment of U1/U2 services and related operational procedures and infrastructures in 15 regions or cities in Spain, Italy and France. 

This project has received funding from European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under grant agreement No. 101079171.