Seperation of Airspace

Separation of airspace became an area of interest as participants realized this is a sub point of the UTM topic. Not only is the separation of airspace a low cost solution it is also foundational and complementary to a technical UTM solution.

Tools & Resources

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

About

Airspace separation is vital in preventing collisions between aircraft types. By assigning dedicated airspace exclusively to drones, the risk of accidents can be greatly reduced. One-way drone corridors for inbound and outbound flights also aid in minimizing collisions between drones. No-fly zones, prohibiting either drones or crewed aircraft, further enhance safety and security.

Why it is important

Implementing airspace separation for different types of air vehicles is a practical solution that significantly reduces the risk of collisions and crashes.

This approach offers substantial advantages:

It doesn't rely on technical devices that could malfunction, such as live tracking or communication systems.
It is simple and robust, easy to communicate and understand.
When both drone operators and crewed aircraft pilots adhere to the rules, collisions are effectively prevented, barring technical failures like damaged height sensors.
It operates reliably under various conditions, including day and night, and even during power outages or when telecommunication is unavailable.
Setting it up is cost-effective, primarily requiring clear communication to operators and pilots.

The main requirement for its success is strict adherence to the rules by all pilots and operators. Therefore, it hinges on common sense, responsibility, adequate training, and enforcement measures.

Things to consider

To ensure the successful separation of air vehicles, several initial considerations are essential:

To optimize the separation of air vehicles, it is crucial to address several considerations:

Airspace Structure: Assess the overall organization and layers of the airspace to understand how drones and manned aircraft can coexist safely.
Airspace Restrictions: Identify any specific restrictions that might impact drone operations, such as the proximity to sensitive areas like correctional facilities or no-fly zones.
Airspace Users: Determine who is currently using the airspace and for what purposes. This includes both manned and unmanned air vehicles.
Traffic Volume: Estimate the number of vehicles operating within the airspace at any given time to assess congestion and potential for conflicts.
Drone Use Cases: Explore the typical applications for drone usage in the area, such as delivery services or geographical mapping, to understand the needs and operational patterns of drone operators.
Regulatory Practicality: Evaluate the practicality and impact of proposed regulations on drone operations. For example, consider if setting a maximum altitude limit (e.g. 150 feet above ground) would unduly restrict certain commercial activities that require higher operational ceilings, such as large-scale mapping projects.