ENAIRE simulates civil-military coordination of drones in Zaragoza airspace through the European U-ELCOME project

The U-ELCOME project, coordinated by EUROCONTROL, aims to promote the safe implementation of U-space services across Europe through various demonstrations. One such demonstration took place today in Zaragoza, focusing on civil-military coordination within the U-space framework.

A civil-military coordination affecting drone operations in U-space has been simulated with the aim of clearing drone airspace to allow the flight of a National Police helicopter

In collaboration with Umiles, Bluenest, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, ITG, and ENAIRE, several drone flights were carried out today, both within visual line of sight (VLOS) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), in a rural area of the municipality of San Mateo de Gállego. The main goal is a dynamic airspace reconfiguration (DAR) within U-space, triggered by ENAIRE from military facilities.

During the exercise, Bluenest will carry out a medical supply delivery flight, while Umiles will conduct a medical transport operation. As a National Police helicopter approaches, ENAIRE personnel will activate a real-time DAR in the presence of military personnel, requiring the drones to abort their missions and land safely.

ENAIRE, which leads the European U-ELCOME project in Spain, helps automate drone flight operations and today, in Zaragoza, served as the central information node through its U-hub platform.

This demonstration validates the safe integration of manned and unmanned aircraft, the interoperability between U-space service providers, and advanced airspace management in emergency situations. The project is funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency in cooperation with the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking.

[Rodrigo Benedit, from ENAIRE, participated in drone testing in Zaragoza as part of the U-ELCOME project - copy].

What is U-space?

As part of the European Digital Sky initiative, the European Union has developed the concept of U-space as a set of digital services and specific procedures designed to enable the safe, efficient and automated management of drones, especially in areas with high air traffic density or near airports.

In this context, ENAIRE has been designated the Sole Common Information Services Provider (CISP) in Spain. This role makes ENAIRE the bridge between traditional air navigation services and new digital drone operators. Through its U-space platform, ENAIRE facilitates the exchange of essential data, ensuring smooth and safe coordination of airspace in areas where U-space is applied.

“For the first time in Spain, a civil/military coordination in U-space has been simulated through a dynamic airspace reconfiguration, activated from the platform developed by ENAIRE to allow authorities to interact with U-space”, said Rodrigo Benedit Pascual, Drone Business Development Department technician at ENAIRE and technical coordinator of the U-ELCOME project in Spain.