In a significant advancement for European aviation, Indra and the Spanish air navigation service provider ENAIRE have successfully validated the safe integration of drones into shared airspace. The joint demonstration at Málaga Airport proved the technical and operational interoperability between new unmanned traffic management systems (U-space) and conventional air traffic control (ATM).
The exercise simulated real-world scenarios, such as infrastructure inspection and delivery services near airports, managing everything from flight planning to real-time coordination. This demonstrated that drones and manned aircraft can co-exist safely through continuous digital information exchange between U-space services and ATM systems. The validated procedures allow for dynamic airspace adjustments, ensuring no interference while maintaining the highest safety standards.
This work is a core achievement of the European ENSURE project, funded by Horizon Europe and managed by SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. It directly addresses integrating drones into complex environments like airport vicinities, paving the way for practical uses such as automated runway inspections, which can reduce downtime without compromising safety.
Indra leads the ENSURE consortium of 18 European partners. ENAIRE plays a pivotal role as Spain’s designated U-space service provider, deploying one of the continent’s most advanced platforms, with Indra as the technology provider. This ecosystem is vital for launching a new economic sector around drones, fostering innovation, services, and employment.
The validation responds to Europe’s rapid drone market growth, driven by demand in surveillance, logistics, and emergency services. To consolidate its leadership, Indra recently acquired Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM platform, broadening its portfolio. The company leverages its deep ATM expertise, having equipped over 11,000 global facilities, to offer an integrated, next-generation solution for managing all airspace users.
