Indra and Enaire validate the safe and efficient integration of drone and manned aircraft flights in Europe

Indra has taken a key step towards the safe and efficient integration of drone flights into European airspace. The company, in collaboration with ENAIRE, has successfully validated the interoperability between unmanned aircraft traffic management systems (U-space) and conventional air traffic control (ATM) through a technical and operational demonstration carried out at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, managed by Aena. 

The validation has demonstrated how they can coexist safely and in a coordinated manner, managing their flights in a completely digital environment, which lays the foundations for the progressive incorporation of new operations with drones and unmanned systems (UAS) in everyday life. These include infrastructure inspection, surveillance, emergency management, monitoring and delivery services, the development of which requires orderly and reliable integration into the airspace. 

In this regard, the ENSURE project solutions and procedures have a direct application in highly complex airspaces for the coordination of drone operations, such as airport environments or urban environments close to airports, allowing the safe integration of these new airspace users with conventional aviation. This would allow, in the future, runway maintenance and inspection operations to be carried out with drones, sharing information in real time between U-space and the ATM (control) system, thus reducing downtime and maintaining conventional air traffic safety levels. 

During the demonstration, the operational validations carried out in Spain within the framework of the European ENSURE project, funded by the European Commission (Horizon Europe funds) and managed by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, were presented. Specifically, the ATM-U-space interface developed by Indra was tested, which allows for the coordinated integration of individual drone operations in areas of higher operational risk through the continuous exchange of information between both environments, as well as dynamically adjusting the airspace according to the needs of each moment, ensuring that drones and aircraft do not interfere with each other and maintaining aviation safety standards. 

The demonstration covered the entire operation cycle, from flight planning to real-time management, which required a great deal of constant coordination between the drone operators participating in the tests and the airport's air traffic control service, maintaining safety and the priority of airport operations at all times. The project, led by Indra, involves 18 top-level European partners, including air navigation service providers, industry, research centres and technology players. Within this framework, ENAIRE plays a key role as an air navigation service provider and the sole provider of common information services designated in Spain, a key player in the operational implementation of U-Space. 

ENAIRE is developing and deploying one of the most advanced unmanned air traffic management (U-space) platforms in Spain, with Indra as the technology provider, which is key to the safe integration of drones into airspace. This platform will facilitate the development of a completely new sector in Spain, bringing new services, employment and technological knowledge. 

Leadership in U-space and ATM

The validation carried out in Malaga is particularly relevant in a context of accelerated growth in the use of drones in Europe, driven by demand for surveillance, maintenance, inspection and transport services in multiple sectors. To safely integrate this increase in airspace operations, it is essential to have unmanned traffic management systems (U-space) capable of identifying, coordinating and managing the access and mobility of drones safely and efficiently. In this area, Indra Group has strengthened its position as one of the main players in drone traffic management (U-space) with the recent acquisition of GuardianUTM, the unmanned traffic management platform of the British company Altitude Angel. This operation reinforces its offering with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions. 

This leadership is based on Indra's extensive experience in air traffic management (ATM) systems. Globally, the company has equipped more than 11,000 facilities worldwide and has one of the most comprehensive portfolios of next-generation solutions in the industry, capable of managing a flight comprehensively, from take-off to arrival at its destination.