Drone deliveries, drone inspections and even flying taxis are now near term realities for societies all over the world. As the development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS traffic management (UTM) continues to advance, governments and operators need to focus on how the next evolution of aircraft, both manned and unmanned, can safely integrate into finite airspace.
Recognizing that an agreed global approach will greatly assist businesses and others in launching their UAS services without negatively impacting the safety of manned aviation operations, or the safety of persons and property on the ground, ICAO will be exploring these issues in depth at our fourth annual DRONE ENABLE event that will take place from 9 to 11 September 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A key process informing DRONE ENABLE discussions is the issuance by ICAO of advance requests for information (RFIs).
The deadline for RFI submissions for the Fourth DRONE ENABLE is 17 April 2020. The main topic areas being targeted this year include:
- Unmanned aircraft (UA) performance requirements in a UTM environment
- UTM system certification
- UTM integration into airport environments and activities
All RFI responses will be evaluated by a group of international experts, and those responsible for the best submissions will have the opportunity to present at this year’s DRONE ENABLE event in Rio.