By Philip Butterworth-Hayes
The European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) Forum, held on October 27-28, has addressed some of the key issues blocking the implementation of U-space services in Europe but many of the discussions at the event focused on clarifying the current proposals rather than removing the roadblocks.
The ongoing revision of the U-Space regulatory framework and its associated Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material (AMC/GM) – or rulemaking task RMT.0748 in EASA-speak – is underway to simplify and harmonize processes; participants discussed the need for clearer technical requirements and better coupling between the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) and U-Space services. The revision work has a target completion date of the second quarter of 2028, said Stephane Vaubourg, Senior Expert U-space, EASA. For many in the EU drone industry this timescale is incompatible with the urgent need to implement U-space services at scale, allowing them to reach their business goals, especially as the technology and safety case for U-space service technology and procedures is, many argue, mature and proven.
According to Stephane Vaubourg, the process of certifying U-space service providers (USSPs) is moving toward more standardized practices “to foster trust between competent authorities across Europe” but there are still major uncertainties within the current proposals (who designates U-space airspace? How should USSPs be integrated?) which will need to be clarified.
Many of these are governance issues which need further clarification and EASA has prioritised the air risk elements in its current workplans.
“When a manned aircraft needs to enter (a U-space airspace) there is an entity that will receive a message and create a geo-zone or other restriction so that the aircraft can safely enter, said Norberto Vera Vélez, UAS Specialist, Eurocontrol. “Well, this entity needs to have to be empowered to do so…. So these are practical aspects that need to be considered along with legal, proprietary responsibilities and roles of the different actors.”
The deployment of EASA’s “U-space light” concept would certainly accelerate the deployment of some U-space areas in the EU but there are major disagreements between Member States, EASA and industry on some of the fundamental concepts of the proposal – such as whether these airspace areas can be designated within controlled airspace. These are currently being discussed with a view to finding a compromise acceptable to all sides but it was clear from the presentations at the event that fundamental change is not on the horizon.
“We are not going to change the regulation,” said Stephane Vaubourg. “The idea is that we work with the framework we have today based on the experience that we learnt during the last four years. So no change to the regulation, no new services and no changes in terms of roles and responsibilities and a limited room for innovation. We can improve the service we have but don’t expect a revolution in terms of the framework because that’s not the intent the work packages.”
(Image: Shutterstock – EASA headquarters, Cologne)