OBJECTIVES
The INVIRCAT project has the ambition to support the next step of RPAS integration in the European airspace, namely the control of IFR RPAS in TMA environments.
To this end, it has the following objectives:
CONOPS FOR IFR RPAS INTEGRATION IN TMA
The objective is to develop a complete Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to enable the full integration of RPAS in TMA environments, including Automatic Take-Off and Landing (ATOL) procedures. This CONOPS will serve as a basis for implementing a cooperative, heterogeneous and distributed simulation infrastructure to enable a full IFR RPAS flight from one airport to another including all phases of flight.
Based on the results of the simulations and the validation of the CONOPS, a set of high level operational and technical requirements will be defined.
TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RPAS INTEGRATION INTO TMA OPERATIONS
The objective is to develop a set of high-level requirements on technical capabilities and procedural means to allow IFR RPAS to safely operate in airport environments.
This includes requirements to fully comply with ATC instructions and the development of new procedures and tools to allow ATC to handle IFR RPAS in a cooperative environment with the objective of full integration with manned aviation.
AIRPORT RPAS GCS INFRASTRUCTURES, INTERFACES AND REQUIREMENTS
The objective is to investigate means for integrating airport located remote pilot stations for the control of RPAS in TMA. This includes technical architectures for integrating the Ground Control Station (GCS) into the ATC infrastructure, different/ adapted roles of remote pilot and ATCOs, information requirements of remote pilots, ATCOs and manned aviation pilots, performance requirements for the system proposed and recommendations for enhancing situational awareness for all roles involved.
INTEGRATION WITH U-SPACE
U-space will bring advancements for large-scale drone operations in the VLL and in the long-term will have an impact on all classes of airspace. In INVIRCAT current architecture and service designs of the future U-space are to be considered and analysed with regard to possible interfaces and integration into the aerodrome operations. A set of recommendations will be elaborated to make use of future U-space
services and the architectural requirements provided.