What is a U-space airspace?
According to Regulation (EU) 2021/664 , a U-space airspace is a UAS geographical zone designated by Member States, where UAS operations are only allowed to take place with the support of U-space services.
What are the applicable U-space regulations?
- Regulation (EU) 2021/664: establishing the requirements for designating a U-space, for the certification of USSPs and s-CISPs and for the UAS operators when operating in a U-space;
- Regulation (EU) 2021/665: including the provisions for ATS (Air Traffic Service) providers to perform a dynamic airspace reconfiguration, allowing a manned aircraft to fly in a U-space in a controlled airspace;
- Regulation (EU) 2021/666: establishing the conspicuity requirements for manned aircrafts in U-space airspaces.
How is a U-space airspace established?
Member States are responsible for the U-space airspace. A U-space airspace may be established for several reasons other than improving the safety of aircrafts’ operations, it may be established for security, privacy, environmental or economic reasons. The national competent authority must conduct an airspace risk assessment before designating any U-space airspace above its territory.
What type of services are provided in a U-space airspace?
Four mandatory services are to be provided by USSPs to UAS operators:
- UAS flight authorization: every flight in a U-space airspace must be authorized in order to be conducted safely, and not conflicting with other manned and unmanned aircraft;
- Geo-awareness: provides UAS operators with the information about the latest U-space airspace constraints and geo-zones;
- Network identification: provides users with live flight data of each unmanned aircraft flying in the U-space airspace;
- Traffic information: this service provides information on the position of manned aircrafts.
Two additional services may be provided:
- Weather information: provides weather information to UAS operators;
- Conformance monitoring: this service alerts other U-space users of non-conformance conditions (e.g. non-authorised flight or deviations from the flight authorisation).
As UAS operator, what are my obligations when flying in a U-space airspace?
When operating in a U-space airspace, UAS operators shall subscribe to and use U-space services provided by a USSP. In addition, they shall comply with the performance requirements mandated by a Member State in order to fly in that airspace.
As a UAS operator, how does U-space influence my SORA and operational authorization process?
U-space services may be used in support of the SORA air risk assessment to demonstrate that the probability of encountering a manned aircraft in the U-space airspace is low.
I am a pilot of a manned aircraft, what are my obligations when flying in a U-space airspace?
Manned aircraft are required to be equipped with an electronic conspicuity device when flying in a U-space airspace. This ensures that UAS operators and USSPs are capable to detect them.
What is a USSP?
A USSP is an organisation that is certified by the relevant competent authority to provide U-space services in a U-space airspace designated by the Member States. When the USSP provides services of a pan-European nature, the certification authority is EASA. USSPs provide services to UAS operators or to other USSPs. In order to be a USSP, the interested entity needs to demonstrate its capability of providing at least the four mandatory U-space services (network identification, geoawareness, traffic information and UAS flight authorisation). USSPs need to be certified if they want to provide U-space services, but they do not need to be designated for the U-space airspace in which they aim to provide U-space services. Once they are certified, they can provide services in any U-space airspace in the EU.
How can an organisation be certified as USSP/single CISP?
An organisation may be certified as U-space service provider/single common information service provider after having obtained a certification according to Regulation (EU) 2021/664. During the certification process, the applicant shall demonstrate its capability of providing services in a U-space airspace and its compliance with a set of technical and organizational requirements. Once certified, the USSP/sCISP may provide the service in accordance with the conditions and limitations included in the certificate.
What is a CISP?
The common information service provider (CISP) is a service provider providing the necessary information for the functioning of U-space. The CISP ensures that the information comes from trusted sources and that it is of sufficient quality, integrity and accuracy as well as security so that the USSPs and other users such as ASNPs can use this information with full reliability when providing their services. There is only one CIS provider per U-space airspace to ensure that there is one single point of contact, one single point of truth that consolidates all the information necessary for the functioning of the U-space airspace. The CISP ensures that all the information can be exchanged between the various organisations to fulfil their obligations. A CIS provider cannot be a USSP itself.