The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published its first document that outlines the acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM) to the U-space regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, (EU) 2021/665, and (EU) 2021/666).

U-space is the European system that is being developed to manage UAS traffic. The purpose of U-space is to ensure safe and efficient access to airspace for UAS. U-space is similar to UAS Traffic Management (UTM) in the United States.

The objectives of U-space include:

  • Mitigate the risk of collision with traditional aircraft, with other UAS, and subsequent air and ground risks
  • Enable efficient and fair usage of the airspace
  • Enable safe dense and complex drone operations (for example, Beyond Visual Line of Sight- BVLOS)

The next step of U-space implementation will start on January 26, 2023, with the entry into force of the U-space regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, (EU) 2021/665, and (EU) 2021/666). The entry into force represents the date when the regulation has legal existence in the EU and in the national legal order of each Member state.

The Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to Regulation (EU) 2021/664 on a regulatory framework for the U-space and associated regulations can be accessed here.