Aiming to Build a Hybrid Airspace

Report coordinator, Dr Dimitrios Panagiotakopoulos, Senior Lecturer in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Traffic Management at Cranfield University, says that “human operators in traditional ATM are already facing high workloads and a deluge of data from different information systems, flight planning, radar and weather. The current approach isn’t scalable to meet the needs of a more complex and demanding hybrid airspace of crewed and uncrewed traffic.”

“To access the huge potential benefits of a new kind of airspace there has to be more automation and autonomy—but that can only happen with watertight systems and a shared sense of trust.”

Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT says that “not dissimilar to the wider air transport industry, the successful introduction of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems will rely heavily on secure data exchange between operators, airports and air traffic management. Through this research partnership, we are confident that using DLTs will improve the flow of actionable data between transportation stakeholders to support the efficient and safe operation of unmanned aircraft in future. At SITA, we have already demonstrated the benefits of DLT in tracking aircraft parts to sharing operational data at the airport. This is a natural extension of that work.”

Cross-sector collaboration is vital for hybrid airspace

“The Development of a UTM system using cross-cutting technologies: Distributed Ledgers and Artificial Intelligence” proposes a new governance framework that sets a series of rules for those stakeholders participating in a distributing ledger so that they can provide and receive data and services in a trustworthy environment. It also highlights the need for modernization of ATMs to allow for interoperability between UTM and ATM: making ATM and UTM information accessible to all relevant stakeholders.

Dr. Panagiotakopoulos continued, “We only have one way forward when it comes to delivering the transformation needed, and that is cross-sector collaboration. A common vision and communications are needed between the UTM service and digital infrastructure providers, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle operators, physical infrastructure providers, ATM service providers, regulators, local and regional authorities, and all the stakeholders that might have some point of interaction with this new aviation ecosystem.

“Our report sets out the basis for a fundamental underpinning of a working system—a data-sharing and cybersecurity solution.”