Drones over the Elbe: AIRlabs at the European Network of U-Space Stakeholders Meeting in Hamburg
At the end of June, Hamburg reaffirmed its role as a key hub for the European drone ecosystem: the European Network of U-Space Stakeholders Meeting gathered international experts from authorities, research and industry to discuss key issues relating to the safe, reliable and sustainable integration of drones into European airspace.
AIRlabs Austria was also there – with valuable insights, inspiring discussions and new impulses for our future work.
High-level panels, project presentations and insights into complex BVLOS missions
The actual U-Space Stakeholder Meeting followed on June 25 – coordinated by EUROCONTROL, with the support of EASA, SESAR and other European institutions. The European Network of U-Space Stakeholders serves as a platform for knowledge transfer, strategic alignment and international cooperation in the field of U-Space – the digital, automated management of lower airspace for unmanned aerial vehicles.
The event was organised into four thematic panels – from regulatory issues to the technical implementation of the European U-Space architecture. The four thematic panels provided a comprehensive overview of regulatory developments, technical implementation, pilot projects and lessons learnt from across Europe. The discussions on the roles of USSP and CISP – including success stories and implementation challenges – were particularly relevant for us.
Familiar faces and fresh perspectives
In addition to the professional input, it was particularly nice to see familiar faces again – such as Vadim Kramar from VTT in Finland, who delivered a compelling keynote speech on the legal definitions of drones (‘UA instead of UAV’) and the role of digital twins in the agricultural sector at the AIRlabs Future Conference in 2024.
Equally valuable were the conversations with new stakeholders, who provided exciting insights into their work – and were open to joint ideas and cooperation across national borders. This openness and innovative spirit made the day a true future forum for shaping Europe’s drone ecosystem .
U-Space architecture: CISP, USSP – and why this is important for AIRlabs
A central topic: the gradual implementation of the U-Space architecture in Europe. The focus was on two key roles:
- CISP (Common Information Service Provider): provides centralised airspace information – for example on geofences, weather or flight restrictions – and thus supports safe flight operations.
- USSP (U-Space Service Provider): is responsible for flight planning and the management of missions within U-Space.
There have only been three certified providers for CISP and USSP across Europe for a few weeks now – a milestone made possible by close cooperation with the authorities. In Southern Europe, for example, one player achieved USSP certification in just ten months – thanks to effective processes and direct coordination with the contracting drone service provider and the responsible authority. This was also a particular highlight from the perspective of our Technical Director, Holger Friehmelt.
AIRlabs has already incorporated some of these insights to the Austrian drone community – for example through targeted knowledge transfer in workshops, in bilateral exchanges with (partner) organisations and through contributions to topic-specific networks.
Live demos, political perspectives and a 110-km (68-mile) flight through controlled airspace that sets new standards
On June 24 – the day before the official U-Space stakeholder meeting – Hamburg showcased its role as a model city for Urban AIR Mobility (UAM) in action: as part of a field trip, international guests visited two practical locations where concrete application examples from the BLU-Space project were demonstrated.
At the HHLA container terminal Tollerort, the BLU-Space consortium demonstrated how U-Space elements such as multiple prioritised approvals, simulated BOS operations or the triggering of a TAR (Temporary Airspace Restriction) work under real conditions.
Moreover, Hamburg Police, LSBG and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) presented their drone applications – from inspections and traffic monitoring to deployment coordination.
The live demonstrations by state authorities and emergency response organisations were particularly impressive.
Participants included the Department of Transport and Roads, the Department of Building Regulations and Structural Engineering (responsible for bridges, tunnels and waterways, among other things) and the HPA, which, as a central player in the port area, provides important interfaces for approval and implementation processes.
The day was accompanied by a strong political message from Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics, Labour and Innovation of the City of Hamburg. She emphasised the importance of the practical implementation of the U-Space regulation and Hamburg’s role as an urban testing ground with complex infrastructure.
One highlight of the day was the presentation of the successful BVLOS flight with a logistics drone – a fixed-wing UA (Unmanned Aircraft) – which ran from the port of Hamburg to the island of Neuwerk and back again as part of a complex SAIL III scenario. The route, which was around 55 kilometres long in each direction, ran through several controlled airspaces, including the city centre area, the vicinity of the port and the airport.
What is particularly remarkable is that authorisations had to be obtained across three federal states (Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein) for this flight – an impressive example of the challenges and opportunities of cross-border airspace coordination. You can find more information at: https://hamburg-business.com/en/news/drohnenstandort-hamburg-ready-for-take-off and https://www.blu-space.de/aktuelles/)
The mission was presented in detail during the event. It was reported with palpable enthusiasm that the flight went smoothly – without any incidents or stopovers – and impressively demonstrated how well-coordinated processes and close coordination with local air traffic control centres and air traffic control can work in practice.
The day concluded with a vibrant networking evening in the Opernloft at the old Altona ferry terminal, organised by the Hamburg UAM network Windrove. The European drone community met with local stakeholders in a relaxed atmosphere – an ideal setting for dialogue and new ideas.
