Characterization of Strategic Deconflicting Service Impact on Very Low-Level Airspace Capacity

Abstract

European airspace is poised for significant transformation as it prepares to accommodate a new class of unmanned traffic that will reshape the transport of people and goods. Unmanned aerial vehicle traffic will introduce a new level of services, but it remains unclear how safety and operators’ time flexibility in flight planning will impact capacity. This study focuses on the impact of strategic deconflicting services on the capacity of the very low-level airspace, a critical area in the future management of unmanned aerial vehicle traffic. The results validate the assumptions regarding the roles of airspace managers and drone operators through simulation studies; highlight the limitations of the first come, first served policy; and propose a batch policy as a potential optimization strategy for future airspace capacity management. The forecasting model developed using regression techniques provides a general method for predicting airspace capacity under specific conditions, contributing to the safe and efficient integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into European airspace.