The SNA (Air Navigation Systems) group from the ITACA Institute at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), led by researcher Juan Vicente Balbastre, has hosted the plenary meeting of EUROCAE, the leading European organisation dedicated to the standardisation of aeronautical systems and equipment, both airborne and ground-based.
EUROCAE serves as a collaborative platform for key stakeholders in the aviation sector, aiming to develop standards that foster safety, reliability, and technological innovation in aviation. Within this context, Juan Vicente Balbastre coordinates the working subgroup WG-105 SG-3, which focuses on drone traffic management systems.
“Our goal is to develop technical standards that allow for the safe and efficient integration of unmanned aerial systems, such as drones, into very low-level (VLL) airspace and emerging operational scenarios”, explains Balbastre.
The group is currently analysing the regulatory framework and existing guidelines, which have led to the identification of two priority areas for the development of new standards:
“On the one hand, electronic identification, which allows a remotely piloted aircraft to be recognised while in flight without physical contact, by transmitting information over the Internet. On the other, conflict management — the mitigation of potential collisions — between unmanned aircraft, which is essential to ensure the safe operation of drones”, says the head of the SNA group at ITACA.
These activities are being carried out in close collaboration with other EUROCAE subgroups, such as SG-6 SORA, which specialises in operational risk assessment methodologies. This ensures a comprehensive and consistent approach to regulatory design.
In addition to the technical work, Balbastre highlights the strategic value of such international meetings:
“Events like this provide an opportunity for experts in the sector to exchange perspectives, align criteria, and, above all, set new goals and milestones for the research and development of technological solutions that ensure safer air operations”.
The leadership of the SNA group in this European forum reinforces UPV’s commitment to cutting-edge research and its active involvement in addressing the technological and regulatory challenges posed by the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the airspace.