AirMarket heads up one of two teams selected to conduct official service trials to test Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) operations in Canada in October 2020. The Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) Traffic Management (RTM) initiative is a joint programme run by Transport Canada and Nav Canada to generate data and experience that will be used by Transport Canada in the development of regulations for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations and the delivery of commercial cellular-enabled UTM services.
AirMarket has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with uAvionix to formalise their collaboration ahead of carrying out Energy UTM Trials (EUT) taking place in a real-world environment over an active pipeline corridor in northern Alberta.
According to a company press release, uAvionix aims to demonstrate to how Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology can contribute to the safety net and integration with manned aviation over an overall cellular-connected UTM architecture. The incorporation of uAvionix’s SkyLine Command & Control (C2) architecture, Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) and Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) products into the AirMarket architecture are designed to bridge the gap between traditional and remotely piloted aircraft by increasing situational awareness and ensuring a certifiable solution aimed at meeting the expected tough regulatory demands on this type of BVLOS operations.
“We think that ADS-B and the SkyLine certifiable C2 solution has a major role to play in UTM” added Cyriel Kronenburg, VP International Development at uAvionix. “These trials provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to the industry and to Canadian regulators how managed infrastructure applications can enhance the safety case for BVLOS operations for both C2 and Detect and Avoid applications.”
AirMarket is using its SKYLINK UTM architecture and expertise in telecommunications to support the trials. AirMarket’s strategic partners in the Energy UTM trial are TELUS Corp., ASTRA UTM and the Petroleum Association of Canada.
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