Partnership to Accelerate Drone U-Space Adoption Across Europe

Royal NLR’s NARSIM facility (Credits: Royal NLR)

Airwayz is collaborating with the Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) to combine efforts to perform trials, research best practice, accelerate R&D, and respond to industry Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in order to support the development of the drone industry across Europe. 

The companies believe that combining NLR’s expertise in Air Traffic Management (ATM) with Airwayz’s dynamic Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system provides an excellent framework for U-Spaces, supporting their accelerated roll-out across Europe and providing the potential to delve deeper into Urban Air Mobility (UAM) schemes.

NLR is an independent innovative research center for the aerospace industry, working to solve global airspace issues and playing a pivotal role between science, industry, government, and society. 

Airwayz’s dynamic UTM / U-space Service Providers (USSP) software monitors and coordinates multiple fleets of drones in real time, using proprietary AI to ensure safe and efficient commercial drone activities. The company’s partnership with NLR signifies new levels of commercial opportunity for drone ecosystems.

“The collaboration of Airwayz and NLR offers us the possibility to deliver a unique product for U-space Service Providers and Air Navigation Service Providers worldwide,” said Henk van Dijk, NLR Vice President Aerospace Operations. “At this moment many companies work hard on drone, U-space and UAM services offering an added value next to current ATM users. That means we need to prepare ourselves to facilitate the UTM, UAM and ATM users flying in the same airspace in a safe and efficient manner. Therefore, it’s good to know that NLR and Airwayz both have a lot of expertise and knowledge about this challenging concept. Next to this, the NARSIM facility – NLR’s Real-Time ATM simulator – provides an excellent way to develop, evaluate and validate this integration.”

Eyal Zor, CEO and Co-Founder of Airwayz, added, “We’re excited to announce the official signing of our collaboration with NLR [at Amsterdam Drone Week]. We have many ground-breaking projects in the pipeline. Our partnership signifies the next level of airspace management; combining manned and unmanned traffic management and pursuing urban air mobility operations will revolutionize the industry and keep our airspaces safe across urban areas whilst they develop. The commercial potential will expand the capabilities of commercial drone services and drastically change how we all view our skies.”

Eyal Zor, CEO of Airwayz, shaking hands with Henk van Dijk, VP Aerospace Operations of Royal NLR, after officially signing their collaborative partnership agreement

Airwayz and NLR are already cooperating on multiple projects for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). Additionally, both Airwayz and NLR are active at the Port of Rotterdam, with Airwayz spearheading the creation of a safe and efficient U-Space across the port for commercial drone services to flourish.

Find manufacturers of Unmanned Traffic Management components>>

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