Dronamics Joins EU Project to Integrate Large Drones

Dronamics has been selected as a key partner in a major European project to integrate large drones into shared airspace. The SESAR IRINA2 project, launched on September 1 at EUROCONTROL headquarters in Brussels, aims to develop standards for remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).

The company's Black Swan cargo drone is one of two European RPAS platforms that will directly influence the project's outcomes. Live flight demonstrations with the Black Swan are set to play a central role in establishing procedures for cross-border drone operations across Europe.

The Barrier to Scaling Drone Operations

The primary obstacle for large-scale uncrewed aviation in Europe is that large drones like the Black Swan are currently restricted to segregated airspace. The necessary air traffic management procedures and Detect and Avoid systems for flying alongside crewed aircraft are not yet mature. Dronamics's involvement in IRINA2 is positioned as key for overcoming this barrier and enabling regular commercial RPAS flights.

Building on an earlier phase, the IRINA2 project will advance a coordinated conflict management concept. This combines onboard Detect and Avoid systems with air traffic control procedures. The goal is to move these capabilities beyond a technology readiness level of TRL6 and toward operational rollout in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

Key Project Work Areas

The project consortium will focus on several critical areas. These include developing operational concepts and procedures, flight planning, and enabling cross-border RPAS operations. It will also examine coordination between civil and military aviation sectors.

Integration will be tested in two types of airspace: where Air Traffic Control provides separation for traffic, and where it does not. This work follows the initial IRINA project, which explored safe integration for drones flying under Instrument Flight Rules and sought ways to reduce reliance on segregated airspace.

Dronamics's Role and Live Demonstrations

Dronamics contributes the operational perspective of a commercial large RPAS operator. The company will help develop the operational concept and inform technical requirements for integrating drones into controlled airspace.

Live flights with the Black Swan will be conducted jointly with The Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA). These demonstrations will test various operational scenarios and examine interactions between RPAS and the Air Traffic Management system. They will also assess the workload and performance of air traffic controllers managing both manned and unmanned aircraft simultaneously.

Path to Regulation and Standardization

The validation exercises from the project are intended to feed into further certification and standardization work. This output will inform key regulatory bodies that aviation safety relies upon, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The SESAR IRINA2 project is funded under the European Union's Horizon Europe program. The full list of participating organizations is provided below.