European Network of U-space Stakeholders Meeting in Brussels

Key conclusions of the meeting were as follows:

1. Drone community in Europe recognised the role of U-space in reducing risks in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights.
2. It is recommended to use a pragmatic approach in conducting airspace risk assessment by first addressing environmental and stakeholder concerns, followed by other concerns such as operational, technical, etc.
3. The group recommended to focus on how to encourage early adopters, manage non-compliant drones, and balance the regulatory burden between authorities and UAS operators.
4. Panellists expected U-space to bring economic benefit. However, following specific challenges were impeding progress in implementing U-space:
   1. Lack of public acceptance;
   2. lack of stakeholder awareness;
   3. limited resource available for implementing U-space;
   4. restricted availability of ATM data across countries for cross-border operations, and effective collaboration across sectors;
5. Panellists encouraged dual-use technologies to be developed for drones for use in both civilian and military applications.
6. The group recommended that regulations must adapt to different drone types, such as air taxis and smaller drones, to encourage more widespread usage.
7. Lithuanian Armed Forces advocated use of U-space in military operations, particularly for intelligence gathering and surveillance.
8. A lot of progress has been made on implementing many actions defined in the EU Drone Strategy 2.0, including standardizing European rules of air for certified drone operations, establishment of IAM hub, and new European standards for civil-military operations. A critical component is the ongoing effort to establish an EU network for civil defence drone testing to enhance collaboration between civilian and defence sectors.
9. The group discussed the iterative nature of drone research, where technical needs and regulatory questions guide research projects, culminating in standards and operational improvements.
10. A comprehensive drone database has been created by EASA, who are also facilitating consultations on drone operations in the open and specific categories.
11. The group identified the need for standardized human-machine interface (HMI) practices to enhance safety in U-Space airspace operations.
12. Audience requested focus on the future integration of U-Space and traditional airspace, the flexibility of early-stage drone testing, and the role of ICAO’s Advanced Air Mobility Study Group in shaping global standards.
13. There was consensus on the importance of international cooperation to ensure interoperable standards and a smooth integration of unmanned aircraft into broader airspace systems.
14. On top of technical challenges, the group concluded that more needs to be done by potential beneficiaries of drone services to engage with their respective national governments in prioritizing U-Space initiatives. Whilst the role of U-space to enable drone operations was generally accepted across Europe, there is still lack of resources in some Member States to implement U-space due to lack of funding. National governments are expected to make funding available to implement U-space implementation. Germany's success in securing a 7-year U-Space budget, was considered crucial for jumpstarting the market.

The next meeting will take place on 31 January 2025 at EUROCONTROL HQ in Brussels.

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