Making sense of chaos - Untangling UAS regulations

Imagine a world with drones flying autonomously across cities, delivering essential goods and inspecting infrastructure. But without the right regulations, it’s easy to imagine chaos. With the European Commission’s new regulatory framework, drones can operate safely and effectively, opening up new possibilities.

Thales is a key partner in helping stakeholders understand and implement the European Commission's UAS regulations, simplifying the complex process of drone operations and ensuring that everyone—drone operators, air navigation service providers, and authorities—can work together seamlessly for safe and efficient drone usage.

Understanding the Complexities of BVLOS Drone Operations

To manage the complexity and risks of BVLOS drone operations, some organizations have created air corridors or temporary restricted zones. However, these solutions are complex to implement and are not sustainable in the long term.

European Regulation 2021/664 on the U-space regulatory framework replaces these corridors with U-spaces, geographical areas where drones can fly with the support of dedicated services. Two types of automated services ensure the safety and efficiency of BVLOS flights: Common Information Services (CIS) and U-Space Services (USS).

Creating a Space for Safer Drone Operations…

To manage the complexity and risks of beyond-sight-of-line (BVLOS) drone flights, some organizations have implemented air corridors or temporarily restricted areas. However, these solutions are limited, complex to implement, and impede other types of operations, making them unsustainable in the long term.

European Regulation 2021/664 replaces these corridors with U-spaces, geographical areas dedicated to drones, where operations are only permitted with the support of specific digital services.

In these spaces, two types of automated services ensure the safety and efficiency of BVLOS flights:

• Common Information Services (CIS), provided by a CISP (usually an ANSP designated by each Member State), centralize all necessary data: U-space capacity, opening hours, restrictions, air traffic, NOTAMs, etc.
• U-Space Services (USS), provided by USSPs, allow drone operators to access four mandatory services (Network Identification, Geographic Awareness, Flight Authorization, and Traffic Information) and two optional services (Weather and Compliance Monitoring). 

Multiple USSPs can coexist within a single U-Space.

The objective of the CISP and USSPs is therefore to simplify and secure the exchange of information between all U-Space stakeholders.

Easily accessible to all…

By facilitating access to U-Space, the European Commission (EC) has also worked to make airspace fairer. Currently, dedicated drone corridors or temporarily restricted areas automatically exclude manned aviation. This approach limits both drones and manned aircraft, forcing them to follow restrictive routes.

EU Regulation 2021/666 amends Regulation 923/2012 to allow small manned aircraft, not managed by air navigation services providers (ANSPs), to communicate their position to U-Space service providers (USSPs). 

This principle, called "e-conspicuity," applies to gliders, helicopters, hot air balloons, and light aircraft. In addition to opening U-Space to light aviation, the regulation allows the use of affordable systems such as ADS-L, an alternative to ADS-B that does not require certified equipment and can even operate via a mobile phone.

Thus, by making e-conspicuity mandatory and accessible, the EU is ensuring fair, safe, and efficient access to U-Space.

And easy to manage

Another major development concerns drone management in controlled airspace, which represents a challenge for ANSPs. For each drone flight crossing an airport control zone (CTR), ANSPs must assess the risks based on ongoing operations, a time-consuming process that is difficult to generalize with the increasing number of drones. In the event of an emergency, such as an unplanned aircraft landing, airspace coordination becomes even more complex.

EU Regulation 2021/665 amends Regulation 2017/373 to improve drone management in ANSP CTRs. It requires communication between ANSPs, USSPs, and CISPs (Common Airspace Information Service Providers) to enable dynamic airspace reconfiguration. 

For example, if a CTR is open to drones between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and a manned flight is redirected at 11 a.m. to land at 11:30 a.m., the ANSP can immediately prohibit drone flights in the affected area. The information is transmitted via the CISP to the USSP, who notify the drone operators. 

Once the area is cleared, the ANSP approves the landing of the redirected flight.

With the right partner.

Drawing on its expertise in air traffic management, Thales has been involved in the development of the European drone regulatory framework from the outset. Its role? To help industry players implement regulations, exploit new opportunities, and, if necessary, go beyond minimum requirements.

Thales offers a flexible and modular software suite that allows ANSPs and USSPs to easily adopt these new functions. In addition to mandatory services, it allows for the integration of advanced features for optimized U-Space management.

Finally, Thales goes beyond regulatory requirements, which primarily focus on aerial risks. Its software also takes into account ground hazards in the event of a crash and helps operators obtain the necessary authorizations to fly over certain sensitive areas.

Imagine working with a partner who guides you through the regulations and provides you with tailored technical solutions. Who do you see in this role…?