Corridors

The development of drone corridors was an area of interest for some countries like Ethiopia who were keen to learn from other members like Malawi. Drone corridors are not only critical for unlocking BVLOS operations such as medical drone deliveries, they also provide a safe space to test new drone technology.

Tools & Resources

The following tools and resources are based on the experimentation, expert presentations, and discussions of the Wakanda Beyond process.

About

Drone corridors are designated airspaces exclusively for drone operations, serving various purposes such as:

Testing drone equipment and technologies
Providing training for drone pilots
Facilitating low-risk operations for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights, such as delivery services.

Drone corridors are designed to reduce crash risks and minimize impacts in case of accidents. They are usually closed to manned air traffic, lowering the chance of collisions.

Additionally, they are often located over uninhabited areas to reduce property damage or harm to individuals or wildlife.

Some corridors are permanent and documented in ICAO maps, while others are temporary and serve specific purposes, like testing agricultural spraying drones.

Why it is important

Drone corridors serve as controlled environments for conducting various tests and training exercises, including:

Testing the behavior of fixed-wing drones or VTOLs during stalling incidents caused by low speed.
Evaluating rescue systems like parachutes.
Assessing the flight controller's ability to adhere to predefined flight paths.
Conducting maiden flights of new drones to record performance metrics such as climb rate, sink rate, speed, minimum curve radius, endurance, and safety features.
Testing features like "return to launch."
In some cases, sensors are evaluated for their effectiveness in classifying land use/cover or precision for surveying purposes.
Assess service peak height to see if there are no flight height restrictions in the corridor.

Moreover, drone corridors provide safe environments for pilot training and regulatory observations. For instance, CAAs can monitor operators seeking licenses for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights.

In corridors designated for delivery drones, BVLOS operations are possible, and the risk of causing damage due to technical failures or adverse weather conditions is minimal, as these areas are typically in areas with low ground risk (e.g. unpopulated and no buildings).

Things to consider

Drone corridors should possess specific characteristics to ensure their effectiveness and safety:

Drone corridors should be strategically located away from no-flight zones and airports to minimize collision risks.
Ideally situated in areas with minimal human settlements and infrastructure.
Easy accessibility via road or air to reduce travel time for test crews.
Permanent corridors should feature essential facilities such as restrooms and storage rooms.
Availability of electrical power and reliable GSM network coverage is essential to charge batteries and run other devices like computers needed for processing.
Favorable weather conditions, including minimal wind and precipitation, are preferable.
Prior risk analysis should consider factors like proximity to settlements, topography, and weather patterns.
Open-source GIS and a ranking system can aid in selecting optimal corridor locations.