Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Abstract

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are presently deployed in segregated airspace; passage though controlled airspace is taking place only through segregated corridors. With the increased use and the growing size of Unmanned Aircraft (UA), the need for insertion in non-segregated airspace increases, with first steps being taken in environments with air traffic control services in normal density traffic situations (en-route and not too busy TMA’s). Already, civil UAS are flying in segregated airspace to carry out maritime surveillance missions and their insertion in ATC can be expected to be requested soon to increase their operational scope.The European Commission (EC), European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Defence Agency (EDA) have established a European Framework Cooperation (EFC) in which UAS air traffic insertion is identified as major topic to be addressed. We will describe the results of two experiments with real-time, man-in-the-loop air traffic control simulations to support UAS air traffic insertion.