Estonia will be home to a new test center for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) through a collaboration between the Estonian Aviation Academy (EAVA) and uncrewed traffic management (UTM) and operations specialist Anra Technologies. Officials from the Baltic state announced the partnership with the U.S. company during the Airspace World trade show in Geneva on Tuesday.
The academy’s site in Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city, will be used to evaluate UTM technology and processes as part of efforts to implement the so-called U-Space in which drones and automated eVTOL aircraft are expected to operate. The partners have been working on the test and validation phases of the project since September 2023 with support from the Estonian Transport Administration, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, and the Tartu Science Park Foundation.
According to Anra, the EAVA team will help deploy its airspace and fleet management solutions in a ‘sandbox’ environment intended to pave the way to commercial operations. It said the facility will allow stakeholders to de-risk and mature technologies and services in a way that meets the requirements of European Union U-Space regulations, such as EU Regulation 2021/664, 665, and 666.
“This strategic alliance marks a significant step forward in advancing the capabilities of uncrewed aerial systems, and it solidifies the shared commitment of both Anra and EAVA to drive innovation and progress towards fully commercialized UAS operations in the EU,” said Anra Technologies founder and CEO Amit Ganjoo. “The Tartu-based testing facility will serve as a hub for research, testing, and refinement of UAS technologies, fostering an environment conducive to the evolution and integration of these technologies into the EU airspace.”
EAVA is managing the airspace and coordinating flight activities at several sites from an operations center at its premises near Tartu’s airport and in the city center. More physical and digital infrastructure for the new test center will be available during the second half of 2024.
Airbus has also been working with officials in Estonia to advance the introduction of eVTOL aircraft. The European company has been exploring emergency medical use cases for its CityAirbus NextGen vehicle with public health authorities.
Eve Introduces Vector Traffic Management System
Also during the Airspace World event being held in Geneva this week, Eve Air Mobility announced that it will offer its urban air traffic management software under the name Vector. The system is intended to be a vehicle-agnostic solution for operators of eVTOL aircraft and vertiports, as well as air navigation service providers who are expected to help support the new advanced air mobility (AAM) sector.
Eve, which is backed by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and is developing a four-passenger eVTOL vehicle, said it is getting closer to having an operational version of the Vector software ready for testing by customers. It said the technology will allow eVTOL aircraft to operate safely alongside other traffic in low-level urban airspace. So far, 14 companies have agreed to use the technology, including eVTOL fleet operators, vertiport developers, and airspace and flow management providers.
“Eve expects first [eVTOL] deliveries and entry into service in 2026 and has been addressing the airspace and air traffic management challenges to support the introduction and growth of the market in a harmonized and safe way,” said Eve CEO Johann Bordais. “Vector will streamline AAM operations from day one, coordinating all stakeholders involved to enhance safety, optimize performance, and maximize resource usage.”
While developing the Vector system, Eve conducted operational trials with the business aircraft charter group Flexjet. This simulation exercise using helicopters based at Farnborough Airport in the UK identified gaps in the current air traffic management system, such as the lack of integration between the systems used by aircraft and vertiport operators.