Lithuania will participate in the European Union-wide creation of U-space for drones – drone flights will be better managed and safer
In order to ensure the safe use of unmanned aircraft, it is planned to determine the geographical zones of unmanned aircraft systems and flight conditions and procedures in Lithuanian airspace. In this way, Lithuania will contribute to the creation of the European Union’s U-space system, which is intended to connect unmanned aircraft to the lower airspace of Europe. The amendments to the Aviation Law, which enable the implementation of the relevant provisions of the EU regulations, were approved by the Government today.
“Unmanned aerial vehicles, so-called drones, are more and more widely used in the airspace of Lithuania and all of Europe – for leisure and entertainment, commercial activities, military purposes. Therefore, security assurance becomes new – to oversee flight safety, ensure cyber security, data protection, properly coordinate challenge flight management. The European Union’s shared airspace for drones, U-space, will create an ecosystem for drone users. Unmanned aerial vehicles will be integrated into the overall air traffic control, and control and information services will be provided in their designated geographical areas. This will make it possible to carry out more complex and longer routes and ensure their safety”, says Minister of Transport Marius Skuodis.
The airspace of the “U-space” system, which is being developed by the EU, is a geographical zone of unmanned aircraft systems established by the member states, in which the use of drones will be allowed only with the services of these systems. All EU countries, including Lithuania, determine the geographical zones of drone systems, ie part of the airspace in which drone operations will be permitted, flights will be restricted or prohibited in order to avoid potential risks of their use to safety, privacy, personal data protection, security or the environment.
The amendments to the Aviation Law establish that the geographical zones of unmanned aircraft systems in Lithuanian airspace, except for the zone above military territories and the border, are determined by the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration (LTSA). The LTSA is also empowered to establish conditions and procedures for drone flights in these geographic areas.
Information services will be provided to the operators of the common flight system in the geographical areas of unmanned aircraft. Based on digital and functional automation, the U-space service is designed to ensure the safe and efficient use of unmanned aircraft in the system’s airspace. Air navigation information and air traffic services are provided by the only planned certification air navigation service provider in the airspaces of the “U-space” system established in Lithuania – joint-stock company “Oro navigacija”. Other U-space services, except general information services, may be provided by other certified service providers. Such providers will be certified by the Transport Competence Agency.
Amendments to the Aviation Law will create conditions for the creation of “U-space” airspace in Lithuania and the provision of services to drone operators. The result of the creation of the U-space system is a safer airspace that can be used by drone operators according to the established rules.
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