SESAR partners advance dynamic airspace reconfiguration for safer, more efficient air mobility

SESAR JU partners recently conducted a series of technology validations focused on advancing dynamic airspace reconfiguration (DAR) within the framework the ENSURE project. From November 6 to November 8, 2024, these tests took place at the CRIDA premises in Madrid, concentrating on developing DAR processes that will improve airspace management, particularly in complex airport environments.

During this three-day session, ENAIRE and its partners used the GAMMASIM tool to simulate various DAR scenarios in Málaga's airport environment, involving two control tower positions and a supervisor. The simulations were designed to refine operational procedures and human performance, enhancing controllers' efficiency in managing dynamic, shared airspace between U-Space and ATM.

The tests aimed to consolidate previous learnings, with particular focus on two key use cases:

• Strategic DAR: Planned DAR to handle interactions between VFR flights and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations.
• Tactical DAR: Unplanned DAR for urgent situations, such as emergency medical helicopters navigating through airspace shared with drones, demonstrating the need for agile response capabilities.

These validations, which included strategic inputs from ENAIRE, INECO, and CRIDA, contributed significantly to progressing ENSURE Solution 2 towards higher maturity levels, supporting a future of more responsive and efficient airspace management.

The project is co-funded within the framework of the Digital European Sky programme and the EU's Horizon European research and innovation programme. The project is lead by ENAIRE and gathers the following projects: Indra Sistemas Sa, HungaroControl, Oro Navigacija, Tern Systems, Collins Aerospace Ireland, Airbus Operations , Unifly, Enav, Leonardo, D-Flight, Nextant Applications & Innovative Solution, Societe Anonyme Belge De Constructions Aeronautiques (SABCA), Eurocontrol, Luftfartsverket, AEROCAMARAS, Udaras Eitliochta Na Heireann - The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Stichting Koninklijk Nederlands Lucht - En Ruimtevaartcentrum, NATS, Rockwell Collins UK