Satellites enabling the integration in non-segregated airspace of UAS in Europe

Abstract

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) gain increasing interest and use for atmospheric research. However, regulation for integration in airspace is not harmonised in Europe. Also flying beyond the line of sight (BLOS) is only possible by use of command & control communication through a reliable relay system. The project SINUE (Satellites enabling the Integration in Non-segregated airspace of UAS in Europe), investigated to fly an UAS as IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) traffic within national borders in controlled, non-segregated airspace by communication link via satellites. A real-time man-in-the-loop simulation environment has been set-up, where real air traffic controllers, a real pilot (for other traffic), and a pilot at an UAS ground control station (GCS) participated to evaluate the concept. Several representative scenarios were evaluated, including emergency situations. Also the additional work load brought to air traffic controllers was investigated using the NASA TLX method. We have shown that integration of UAS in controlled airspace is a feasible concept. Air traffic controllers indicated that control of the UAS did not differ significantly from control of other, manned aircraft, although at the beginning a slightly increased workload was observed. We have also demonstrated that UAS emergency procedures can be designed equivalent to those of manned aircraft, such that the air traffic controller will understand and is able to predict the behaviour of the UAS in several loss-of-satellite-communication situations.