The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has selected Egis, Unisphere and the European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) to support the development of Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) under a new project called ASCENT – Assessment of System Capabilities and Environmental Needs for higher-airspace Traffic.
EASA’s HAO work aims to support future civil aviation activities above Flight Level 650, where conventional air traffic services are not typically provided. These activities include sub-orbital flights and high-altitude uncrewed aircraft systems, all of which require new regulatory approaches to ensure safe integration with the existing aviation system.
ASCENT will examine the communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS), meteorological (MET) and space weather service requirements needed to enable safe and efficient operations in higher airspace. It will provide EASA with an assessment of the current landscape and the future service ecosystem required to accommodate aviation activities above conventional air traffic levels.
Under the contract, Egis, Unisphere and ESSP will develop an in-depth understanding of existing capabilities that can support HAO; identify gaps, limitations and safety risks in current CNS, MET and space weather capabilities at very high altitudes; formulate recommendations for alternative solutions and mitigation measures to address these gaps; assess the economic and financial implications of the proposed options; and engage stakeholders involved in the development of HAO and disseminate the project findings to support HAO development across Europe.
Egis will be the consortium and technical leader, Unisphere will lead the analysis of meteorological requirements, and ESSP will contribute specialised expertise on space weather phenomena and services.
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