AirShare, the uncrewed traffic management (UTM) system developed by Airways International to help safely integrate uncrewed traffic into the airspace, will be deployed for a group of unattended aerodromes and large landowners in New Zealand as part of an airspace integration trial.
AirShare has been used by Airways New Zealand since 2014 to support safe management of uncrewed aircraft across New Zealand airspace. The UTM system is designed to reduce risks related to uncrewed aircraft, and improve situational awareness for airspace managers.
Unattended aerodrome operators and large landowners participating in the trial will gain visibility of drone flights logged within the airspace they manage, and will have the ability to easily give authorisation for flights as required.
The first to participate in the trial will be Tekapo Aerodrome. The AirShare team has closely collaborated with the aerodrome to deploy the UTM onsite, and both organisations have liaised with local drone pilots who fly within 4km of the aerodrome.
Drone pilots operating within the vicinity of the aerodromes and other sites participating in the trial will be encouraged to log their flights with AirShare, negating the need to request permission to fly. The trial will also support better situational awareness for both the aerodrome and drone pilots.
The trial will run for a minimum of three months at each aerodrome or site. Participants and drone operators will provide feedback to AirShare which will be shared with key stakeholders such as New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Transport, to assist with future decision-making around uncrewed aircraft.
Trials at further unattended aerodromes will be announced as agreements are finalised.
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