The Role of U-space in Shaping SORA's Future
In the skies of Europe, a new era of air traffic management is taking shape. The implementation of U-space services is set to revolutionise drone operations, particularly in urban and higher-risk areas, by reducing the risk of mid-air collisions.
The U-space Airspace Risk Assessment, a crucial part of this transformation, covers both ground and air risks, taking into account safety, privacy, security, and environmental aspects. This assessment results in a U-space Deployment plan that outlines the performance requirements of the U-space airspace.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has defined the Air Risk Class (ARC) as a qualitative classification of the rate at which a UAS would encounter a manned aircraft in typical generalised civil airspace. The ARC can be divided into four levels (ARC-a, -b, -c, -d) with an increasing risk of a collision between a UAS and a manned aircraft.
U-space services play a significant role in lowering the ARC. They provide common information services, delivering unique data about geographical zones and traffic. These services enhance situational awareness, a key factor in reducing air risk.
Moreover, U-space services offer competitive traffic management services, establishing controlled-like zones ("U-space bubbles") with defined procedures to mitigate risks. These zones, managed through common procedures and competitive service provision, improve conflict management and traffic deconfliction.
Real-time conflict detection and resolution among UAS and manned aviation are also enabled by U-space services. For example, the U-space Traffic Information Service can be used by UAS operators as a means to detect traffic in the area and avoid collisions.
For Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, tactical mitigations are applied. The UAS operator must demonstrate that they fulfill the Tactical Mitigation Performance Requirements (TMPRs).
It is important to consider the performance criteria in relation to the SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) and TMPRs during the U-space Airspace Risk Assessment and to continuously monitor the performance criteria. UAS operators may be subject to additional, more demanding performance requirements than the TMPRs, as defined by the Member State based on the U-space Deployment plan.
U-space does not transfer responsibility for the operation to the USSP (U-space Service Provider) or ANSP (Air Navigation Service Provider); the UAS operator remains responsible for the safety of the flight. The U-space flight authorization service is a strategic mitigation for separating UAS and manned aircraft.
EASA recommends applying a residual ARC-b for U-space in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. This recommendation, along with the harmonised framework provided by regulations such as EU 2019/947 and EU 2021/664, helps ensure that drone operations in U-space can meet the safety objectives required by SORA.
In conclusion, U-space services are essential enablers for reducing the ARC in accordance with EASA and EU regulations. By improving situational awareness, conflict management, and traffic deconfliction, U-space services are helping to maintain safety in complex drone operations within densely used airspace.
