The project is expected to produce the positive benefit of assuring the RPAS operations in the European non-segregated airspace that, as a direct consequence, will constitute a key-enabler for opening the market, to offer new services to the community and potentially to increase employment.
The expected main positive impacts are summarised as follow:
• Establishment of a valid European operational and technical performance base, facilitating a common air traffic management approach for European member states, as well as a solid and common contribution to the regulatory and standardisation bodies.
• Set up of a common solution for Europe, to assure the interoperability within and outside Europe.
• Increase of SESAR Key-Performance Indicators in terms of Access to the airspace, Equity and Safety, enabling civil and military RPAS to safely operate in Europe in accordance to the needs expressed by the community.
• Limit, as much as possible, to the modifications of existing ATM infrastructures.
• Enhancement of the networking capacity of ATC to manage RPAS without impacting on the manned traffic and capability to accommodate further traffic demands (“scalability”).
• Quicker consolidation of rules and standards, to provide a strong and clear base to industries (airborne and ground-based) and to air navigation service providers, leading to a common deployment plan.
• A significant spillover effect expected in other areas, considering that most RPAS technologies can be applied to other sectors (e.g. increasing the safety of manned aircraft or increasing their automation).
