EDA launches ERA project

12th February 2016 - 13:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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The European Defence Agency (EDA) and an Airbus Defence and Space-led consortium have launched the Enhanced RPAS Automation (ERA) project to integrate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into common airspace in Europe, EDA announced on 11 February.

The project will support the use of military and civil RPAS in non-segregated airspace in Europe. It will also help in the integration of RPAS in airport operations to address capability gaps that have been identified in the European RPAS steering group roadmap for RPAS air traffic insertion.

The project will work with the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) to develop draft standards, with collaboration from stakeholders including the Eurocontrol and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The project will also work towards establishing European standards that will offer technical grounds for the certification of auto-taxi, automatic take-off and landing and automation and emergency recovery functionalities.

Roland Van Reybroeck, director, cooperation planning and support, EDA, said: ‘ERA complements the air traffic integration efforts of other related EDA projects, such as MID-air Collision Avoidance System covering en-route Detect & Avoid and Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe covering satellite command and control data links.

‘These projects, strongly driven by military requirements, have achieved tangible results but there is a need to proceed with further investments, also in view of establishing dual-use standards and meeting civil regulation requirements.’