Airspace Link, a Detroit-based drone integration platform provider, has announced its expansion into the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) market. This move includes enhancements to its FAA-approved AirHub platform, which aims to meet the growing needs of drone operators across the United States.
In Arlington, Texas, Airspace Link’s FlySafe Programme and AirHub platform are being used to support drone-based goods delivery and other services. The city’s initiative, built on Esri’s GIS platform, focuses on integrating drones into urban infrastructure, with an emphasis on safety and community development.
Airspace Link is an FAA-approved provider of B4UFLY safety information and LAANC authorisations, supporting over 100,000 pilots. With the enhanced AirHub Portal, the company plans to introduce UTM solutions that include traffic management, conflict detection and resolution. These features are intended to comply with industry standards and upcoming regulations, facilitating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
This development follows the FAA’s first authorisation of UTM service providers for commercial BVLOS drone flights in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Airspace Link’s partnerships with the City of Arlington, the North Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), and other operators in the region position it to play a significant role as a neutral third-party UTM service provider.
Michael Healander, Airspace Link Co-Founder and CEO, stated that the AirHub Portal’s expansion into UTM services will support more advanced drone operations. The platform aims to comply with upcoming FAA regulations and industry standards to address the needs of drone operators as the rules for more complex operations evolve.
Airspace Link’s involvement in UTM also extends to significant projects in Detroit, Michigan, where the company is part of the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region initiative, in partnership with Michigan Central and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The company is also working with over two dozen municipalities in the Detroit area through its FlySafe programme.
As the drone industry continues to grow, Airspace Link’s enhanced AirHub Portal with UTM capabilities is expected to contribute to the safe and efficient integration of drones into the national airspace.
Post Image Credit: Sam McGhee via Unsplash
