A German Heron TP drone from the German Armed Forces has flown from Schleswig (Germany) to Leeuwarden (Netherlands) and back again. The flight was the first in Europe in upper airspace accessible to all. It was carried out as part of a research project by the European Defense Agency (EDA).
The project is helping to ensure that remote-controlled, unmanned aircraft can be guided through the common airspace in future if required. In addition to the Institute of Flight Guidance at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is leading the project, the Dutch Aerospace Center (Royal NLR) and the German Armed Forces are also involved.
The German Heron TP is an aircraft based on the German Heron TP. Heron TP from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a large unmanned air force platform with a wingspan of 26 meters that can fly for more than 24 hours. The drone took off from Schleswig and initially ascended in military-separated airspace. It was then handed over to the civilian control center of the lower airspace, the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) and the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Center (MUAC). From an altitude of 7,500 meters, the upper airspace begins, in which cruising aircraft operate. In MUAC airspace, the drone climbed to 8,500 meters. The route led along the German coast into Dutch airspace to Leeuwarden and back to Schleswig.
Special features of integration into civil airspace
In the “Accommodation and Validation of Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems” (MALE RPAS) project, the researchers are also investigating the impact of the integration of unmanned flights in civil airspace on air traffic as a whole. There is little empirical data on this. It is possible, for example, that changes to air traffic control will be necessary or that the drones will have to be equipped with additional capabilities. The parties involved have agreed procedures to minimize the impact on air traffic. One challenge, for example, is the different speeds at which the aircraft travel: The German Heron TP is slower than other traffic at this altitude.
Preparations for a safe flight
Before the flight, the project participants looked at differences to manned aviation, prepared risk analyses and assessed the capabilities of the unmanned aircraft. On this basis, the air traffic control authorities were able to assess the feasibility of a safe flight in civil aviation. Previous studies by the EDA had previously been limited to lower airspace.
Even though the German Heron TP is a military aircraft, the participants are considering future civilian applications. The results of the project will provide a framework for comparable projects in Europe: They show advantages and disadvantages in the adaptation and integration of unmanned platforms and convey how any safety gaps can be closed.
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