AIRSPACE INTEGRATION AND CERTIFICATION

C-ASTRAL has started actively working with the Ministry of Transport Civil Aviation Directorate and the Air Navigation Services Division on the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into non-segregated airspace.

The first steps taken in this direction were the establishment of a UAV flight zone in 2007 in the territory around a historical 1st world war airfield in Vetrno polje near the town of Vipava where all of the C-ASTRAL flight tests are taking place. This is for now the first UAS only dedicated test flight zone in the Slovenian airspace. At the moment, the integration of an in house constructed, low weight (250g) Class II C-mode transponder in the Bramor prototype, its tracking by the Slovenian radar network (both military and civilian) and the establishment of protocols for air traffic control communications with the UAS pilot in command is taking place. Additionally, C-ASTRAL is looking at the potential of ADS-B integration and conflict resolution protocols for future platforms and is partnering with several organisations in a swarming UAS remote sensing architecture proposal.

Other activities of C-ASTRAL and our academic and industrial partners in Slovenia concerning UAS airspace integration and vehicle certification are connected to active participation in the ASTM F38, EUROCAE WG73, EDA and EUROCONTROL UAS work and to active work with the Slovenian Ministry of Transport on certification, navigation and control validation processes.

UAV Flight Zone, Vetrno polje pri Vipavi, Slovenia

Area: 7,3km2
Altitude: 700m AGL

Take-off/landing location:
45°49'46.77" N    13°57'10.58" E

Test zone coordinates:                                      45°49'46.05" N     13°56'2.94" E
45°50'8.12" N      13°57'40.6" E

45°48'5.79" N       13°56'49.34" E

45°48'26.2" N      13°58'26.97" E