Operational and safety analyses

The flight areas of AIRlabs Austria are embedded in an airspace structure designed for manned and certified aircraft – an environment characterised by clear regulations and defined procedures. The use of this space by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) therefore poses a particular challenge, as it goes far beyond the principles defined in the SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment). Technical, operational and environmental safety aspects must be taken into account in an environment that was not originally designed for unmanned systems.
As part of two innovation projects commissioned by and in collaboration with Schiebel Elektronische Geräte, the test areas LO-R 9 (Steinalpl) and LO-R 11 (Frauschereck) were analysed in detail. The aim was to develop a comprehensive operational and safety concept that not only meets the requirements of the respective specific test campaigns, but will also serve as a basis for further analyses with other UAS systems from the AIRlabs community in the future.

Founded in Vienna in 1951, the Schiebel Group is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of unmanned aerial systems. The company is best known for the CAMCOPTER® S-100, an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) helicopter system that is used worldwide in areas such as maritime surveillance, border protection, search and rescue missions, and infrastructure inspection. With offices in Vienna, Wiener Neustadt, France, the USA, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, Schiebel combines Austrian engineering expertise with global application experience.
The cooperation with Schiebel enabled the project to incorporate the real operating conditions of a large, professional UAS. This made it possible to identify practical requirements for infrastructure, safety procedures and accompanying ecological processes – a decisive step for the further development of the AIRlabs test areas.

A key component of the investigations was the analysis of take-off and landing areas (TLAs) in the two test areas. These were examined in terms of topography, ground conditions, accessibility and visibility. It quickly
became apparent that obstacle-free terrain and stable access conditions, especially in alpine terrain, are crucial for safe operation. The real-world test operations also confirmed that unpredictable factors – such as the presence of bystanders or weather conditions – can have a significant impact on the execution of complex UAS missions.
At the same time, a concept for recording the ecological footprint was developed. This took into account the physical infrastructure and energy supply as well as noise emissions and land use. Exemplary noise measurements were carried out with the CAMCOPTER® S-100 to quantify the acoustic impact of larger UAS in alpine areas.
Another focus was on integration into existing airspace structures and cooperation with manned operators. To this end, communication protocols, emergency procedures and coordination channels – for example with Austro Control, ÖAMTC and local fire brigades – were developed. This close coordination contributed significantly to the development of realistic safety and operating standards that can be applied beyond the scope of the project.

The practical test flights and analyses provided valuable insights that will be incorporated into the planning and execution of UAS missions in similar environments in the future. It became particularly clear that the integration of UAS into manned airspace structures requires clearly defined and exclusively usable test environments with robust ground infrastructure. Unpredictable external influences – such as terrain profile, vegetation or visitor traffic – can significantly affect operations and must be taken into account in mission planning.
The ecological aspect also proved to be central: noise and land use depend heavily on the environment of the take-off and landing infrastructure and should be specifically addressed in future concepts. Equally important is the good accessibility and visibility of the TLAs – especially in alpine regions, where topography and weather are often limiting factors.
With regard to safety management, it became clear that close cooperation with local fire departments and authorities is essential in order to be able to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner in an emergency. In addition, digital tools for mission planning and operational documentation have proven particularly helpful in ensuring transparency, traceability and regulatory verifiability.

An essential part of the project was the definition of clear emergency procedures in close coordination with the responsible district and volunteer fire brigades. The relevant units were identified in advance of the test campaigns and informed about the
planned project. The fire brigade received 1:50,000 scale maps with the coordinates of the take-off and landing sites marked on them so that they could be quickly located in the event of an incident.
A responsible municipality was designated for each TLA, which is automatically involved in the event of an alarm. The alarm is raised in a standardised manner via the emergency number 122, with the type of incident, the affected area and any hazardous substances always being specified in the incident report. Particularly in the case of test flights with large systems such as the CAMCOPTER® S-100, relevant substances such as AvGas, Li-Io accumulators or composite materials were taken into account in order to be able to realistically simulate possible scenarios.
Direct contact with individual fire brigade commands is avoided in order to centralise the coordination of operations. Emergency services and operators meet at the respective take-off or landing site to compare the last known coordinates and information about the aircraft and to coordinate the next steps. This procedure has proven to be efficient and understandable for all parties involved.

To ensure flight safety in shared airspace, close cooperation with ÖAMTC has also been established. In future, the ÖAMTC app will serve as a central communication platform through which drone flights can be reported and shared with manned operators, such as SAR units or police helicopters. This digital interface enables drone operations to be displayed on the Euro Nav Moving Map of the EC135T3 Helionix helicopter, thus creating transparency for manned crews.
To ensure clear communication, a standardised radio phraseology was developed and successfully tested in collaboration with the ÖAMTC. This enables uniform radio communication on VHF frequencies, minimising misinterpretations. However, advance notification of helicopter bases by telephone is no longer recommended, as it can be prone to errors and is being replaced by app-based registration. This approach contributes significantly to reducing risks in shared airspace and further professionalising the integration of unmanned systems into regular flight operations.