Brussels proposes to create a European airspace for drones flying up to 150 meters

The drone market will reach 10 billion euros in 2035

   The European Union body responsible for designing the future of air traffic management in the Single European Sky has proposed this Friday the creation of a community space for automated air traffic control for drones flying up to 150 meters high on request of the European Commission.

The new space, which would be called 'Uspace' and that would include the aerial fork where there will be more drone traffic, has the objective of maintaining the use of drones in a space "safe and respectful with the environment".

   This new space should be governed by principles similar to those of manned air traffic control and should be operational by 2019 in the most basic services related to drone registration or geolocation.

The objective is to prepare the way for the development of a "strong and dynamic" sector that is foreseen for the coming years. According to the Brussels estimates, the drone market will grow significantly in the coming years, reaching 10 billion euros in 2035.

Experts want an effective legislative framework that promotes European leadership and its competitiveness while meeting other essential requirements such as security.

A huge potential

The European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, stressed that drones represent innovation, new services for citizens, new business models and an enormous potential for economic growth.

"The EU must assume a leading role in the world in the development of adequate frameworks for this market to flourish and unleash the benefits it entails for key economic sectors," said the commissioner.

Current European regulations only cover drones above 150 kilograms. Below this threshold, Member States are responsible for the regulation of lighter devices. The document describes a series of basic principles based on safety (which should be the same as traditional aviation), autonomy and that basic services come into operation in 2019.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently working with Member States and the industry to set safety rules proportionate to the risks of operations. In December 2015, the Commission proposed creating a community framework for drones as part of its aviation strategy.