GM2 Article 1(1) Subject matter and scope

• ED Decision 2022/022/R found in: U-space (2021/664) (May 2024)

GM2 Article 1(1) Subject matter and scope ED Decision 2022/022/R SCOPE — SUPPORT TO PASSENGER OPERATIONS At this stage of the implementation, the U-space is not foreseen to support passenger operations, which are today carried out with manned VTOL-capable aircraft and which ultimately could be autonomously performed with e-VTOL UAS. Indeed, the U-space system is intended to ensure the segregation of manned aircraft subject to air traffic control or the remain-well-clear spacing of manned aircraft not subject to air traffic control, including manned VTOL-capable aircraft. UAS operations currently foreseen in urban environments are UAS carrying payload or goods, but not humans. Therefore, today, the U-space regulatory framework has been designed and relies on the overall assumption that drone-to-drone collisions will ultimately have limited consequences. The integration of UAS passenger-carrying operations will require the reassessment of the whole U‑space framework, with particular focus on: (a) the acceptable level of safety (ALS) that will have to be strengthened in maintaining appropriate safety levels for manned aviation (i.e. to mitigate the risk of human casualties); (b) complementary enablers/prerequisites that may be required to support the safety of such operations (e.g. additional mandatory U-space services and on-board functionalities).