U-Space Project in Bærum Municipality

In response to the growing demand for sustainable solutions, drones have emerged as a versatile tool able to address several needs. Their applications range from infrastructure inspection to drone delivery services. However, the potential of drones to serve as a scalable solution is delayed by regulatory challenges and safety concerns. Currently, obtaining permits for long-distance(beyond-visual line of sight) drone flights is a lengthy process(up to 1 year) that involves reserving airspace for a single operator. Such a permit process is the standard way to conduct large scale drone operations in the EU including Norway and Switzerland. This monopolisation of airspace creates a significant blocking effect, restricting access for other drone operators, manned aircraft, and even emergency responders. This is exemplified by real-world incidents where reserved airspace for commercial drone deliveries has delayed critical services such as ambulance helicopters, with tragic outcomes. To mitigate these airspace issues, the European aviation body known as EASA rolled out a new fully developed framework in January 2023 known as the U-Space framework. This pre-project aims to advance the implementation of Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) software, known as U-Space, to facilitate safe, scalable, and shared airspace for drone operations. While the framework has been incorporated into Norwegian aviation law practical deployment remains limited. Norwegian aviation adopted this law on the 29th of October 2024 and the regulation is fully developed. Practical deployment is the only aspect which has not matured fully and this project aims to test and validate the practical maturity of U-Space.