SESAR Calls for Unmanned Operation Demonstrations



By Brett Davis



SESAR Joint Undertaking, the Single European Sky ATM Research initiative, has issued a call for proposals for demonstration projects to show how unmanned aircraft can operate in nonsegrated airspace. 



"Until now, a piecemeal approach has taken place, with different uncoordinated activities in several countries," SESAR says in its call. "A European R&D Roadmap aiming at an initial RPAS integration by 2016 into ATM [air traffic management] environments has clearly demonstrated the added value of conducting demonstration activities at flight test centers or centers of excellence."



The program has a budget of 4 million euros, which can finance about 10 projects "which must be undertaken by a team of at least one RPAS operator and one airspace operator." The deadline for proposals is 19 April.