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Airspace design for integrating RPAS into terminal airspace

Monica Arranz Moneo (Department of Aerospace Systems, Air Transport and Airports, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Javier Alberto Pérez-Castán (Department of Aerospace Systems, Air Transport and Airports, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Victor Fernando Gomez Comendador (Department of Aerospace Systems, Air Transport and Airports, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Álvaro Rodríguez-Sanz (Department of Aerospace Systems, Air Transport and Airports, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Rosa María Arnaldo Valdes (Department of Aerospace Systems, Air Transport and Airports, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 10 June 2021

Issue publication date: 3 January 2022

144

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) integration in non-segregated terminal airspace. This work aims to identify the potential airspace volumes where a free operation of RPAS can be developed by analysing the airspace design of the terminal airspace.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology considers five crucial elements of the airspace design: obstacles, prohibited, restricted and dangerous zones, aerodrome zones, departing and arriving procedures and visual corridors. Free operation of RPAS is performed in those airspace volumes that no interaction with instrumental flight rules (IFR) flights is expected. Free RPAS airspace volumes are separated through current IFR separation minima.

Findings

The results show there is a significant amount of available airspace that RPAS can operate without interaction with conventional aircraft. The more significant risks are allocated by the limitations imposed by departing and arriving procedures in the terminal airspace.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology is applied to medium-dense terminal airspace. This work assumes RPAS can perform visual or instrumental flights.

Originality/value

RPAS is a capital issue for the majority of aviation actors. This work underlay the further development of a methodology regarding airspace design for RPAS in a terminal control area.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This project was developed under the OIDATM (Observatory for the Advancement of Air Traffic Management) promoted by ISDEFE. Notably, the authors would like to acknowledge Jorge Bueno, Jaime Torrecilla and Miguel A. Martín Blanco from ISDEFE.

Citation

Arranz Moneo, M., Pérez-Castán, J.A., Gomez Comendador, V.F., Rodríguez-Sanz, Á. and Arnaldo Valdes, R.M. (2022), "Airspace design for integrating RPAS into terminal airspace", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 94 No. 1, pp. 14-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-12-2020-0313

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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