Droning on: Airports eye benefits of unmanned flight

While airports always have been no-fly zones for recreational drones, use of cargo drones is on the upswing. As technology develops, drones have begun a slow incursion into airport operations — an incursion that may soon become a steady presence. Some airports are considering ways to incorporate drone technology into their operations to increase efficiency and reduce staffing, especially as workforces continue to decline. Industry stakeholders expect drones to become vital resources in operational oversight, security, mapping, surveying and maintenance — and they are also looking to drones for cargo transport. Drone ops begin at airports [caption id="attachment_57134891" align="alignright" width="300"] Drone Delivery Canada operates a drone at Edmonton International Airport. (Photo/DDC)[/caption] Edmonton International Airport (YEG) in Alberta, Canada, has partnered with Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) to allow the drone technology company to operate its Sparrow drone to transport cargo on behalf of last-mile logistics solutions providers Ziing Final Mile and Apple Express . Air Canada Cargo serves as sales agent for DDC. “This project is the first of its kind in Canada and involves delivering packages out of a major international airport facility,” DDC Chief Executive Steve Magirias told Air Cargo Next . “This is also the first time a project of this nature has been approved by NAV Canada and a major step toward the modernization of supply chains.” NAV Canada is privately-run nonprofit that owns and operates Canada’s civil air and navigation system. Read more about cargo drones here. Since late 2021, YEG has “serviced more than 300 scheduled commercial flights along our drone corridor,” Dean Ervin, YEG’s director, aerodrome operations and compliance, previously told Air Cargo Next . “The drone travels 2.8 km one way, at pre-set and approved elevations, between YEG and the drop-off spot in Pat Wilson Memorial Park.” DDC has set up a drone link to move packages between the airport and an industrial park 4.3 km away by air that is 7.5 km away by road, in Nisku, Alberta. “Our partnership is a proof of concept and has daily routes, weather permitting, from the [YEG] launch location across Queen Elizabeth II Highway to the Nisku landing location,” Richie Dimitriou, vice president of growth at Ziing, told Air Cargo Next . The Sparrow drone can carry up to 4.5 kg and is scheduled for eight roundtrips each weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It is not permitted to fly over populated areas, and its flight path changes depending on activity, time of day and time of year, according to YEG. Pros and cons “Drones are beneficial for such things as delivering critical supplies to hospitals — like organ delivery; providing supplies to communities during emergencies; reaching remote communities that need supplies; helping construction companies ship urgent parts; and much more while delivering it faster, easier and more cost-effectively,” Ziing’s Dimitriou said. Drones have pros and cons. While they can deliver cargo to previously inaccessible locations, bad weather impacts their operations, he said. “The benefits of utilizing remotely piloted aircraft at airports include increased efficiency — more timely delivery of critical cargo; it is environmentally friendly; and a great final-mile solution,” DDC's Magirias said. "The predetermined fight path ensures safety for other airspace users operating in the area. The use of drones at airports also reduces ground traffic and congestion and provides a predictable operating environment," he continued. However, “the drawbacks include reduced flexibility in flight routes due to the increased coordination required and preapproval from the air navigation service provider.” While other airports have been slower to implement drone operations, they are investigating the potential benefits and drawbacks. “We are evaluating the use of drones for various uses, such as surveillance of construction sites or examining/checking technical installations at the airport,” a Frankfurt Airport (FRA) spokesperson said. “We are closely surveilling the market and monitoring possibilities for the use of drones at Frankfurt Airport.” Safety first It is illegal in most countries to fly a drone within a certain distance of airports to avoid collisions with aircraft. [caption id="attachment_57134894" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo/CanStock[/caption] In fact, flight operations at Dublin Airport (DUB) were halted March 2 for more than 30 minutes after a recreational drone was confirmed within 5 km of the airport, in contravention of Ireland’s laws. Three passenger flights had to be diverted. The Federal Aviation Administration keeps a close eye on drone operations in and around U.S. airports, using remote identification to identify operators who have broken the law. “The Federal Aviation Administration is making significant progress in improving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) detection and counter-UAS testing at airports,” an FAA spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . “We receive more than 100 drone sighting reports each month and want to send out a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters and airports is dangerous and illegal. Unauthorized operators may be subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time.” But drone operations run from airports are another matter entirely. These operations must be approved by governing bodies and complete extensive safety trials. “There have been no impacts on airport operations, given the extensive safety review prior to any RPAS [remotely piloted aircraft system] flights,” Mammen Tharakan, YEG’s director of air service, business development and e-commerce, cargo and aviation real estate, told Air Cargo Next . “The safety case review ensures that all flight risks have been identified, reviewed and mitigated.” Cargo drones are subject to the same rules and “integrity” required by airlines and ground handlers, Tharakan said . Tech exists, but regulations are lacking [caption id="attachment_57134893" align="alignright" width="300"] A Sabrewing Co. drone (Photo/Sabrewing)[/caption] Even as technology continues to improve, what is necessary to make widespread drone usage at airports feasible, worthwhile and safe is already here, Ed De Reyes, chair and chief executive officer at drone manufacturer Sabrewing Aircraft Co. , told Air Cargo Next . De Reyes said Sabrewing’s DDA system is “the most advanced in all of aviation,” able to detect and avoid aircraft as far away as 200 nautical miles. Sabrewing’s drone isn’t a “toy” that is “designed to fly for a few minutes on batteries, but rather a large UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that is designed to carry tonnes of cargo for hundreds of miles at altitudes that are thousands of feet above toy drones,” De Reyes said. In fact, the military has been using UAVs for tactical operations for more than 30 years, De Reyes said. “Surprisingly, the biggest problem is with the Federal Aviation Administration not being familiar with the operations of the UAVs that the military uses, so they feel that they are ‘pioneering’ new tech and uses,” he said. When regulations began to support innovation, the industry grew, Aleksey Matyushev, chief executive and co-founder at UAV developer Natilus , told Air Cargo Next . Investing in the future Brussels Airport Co. (BAC) announced March 9 that it plans to invest in DronePort , which works to stimulate research and innovation by creating an ecosystem for the drone and advanced air mobility sector. The ecosystem, located at the former air force base of Sint-Truiden, Belgium, includes a regional airport, a drone test site and an incubator. [caption id="attachment_57134892" align="alignright" width="300"] A drone is tested at DronePort. (Photo/DronePort)[/caption] BAC, which operates Brussels Airport (BRU), plans to acquire 30% of DronePort, BAC Chief Executive Arnaud Feist said in a release. The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-year. “We have already tested a security drone, which can be used for site inspections and surveillance of the airport area, where the drone can act as a remote view in addition to physical inspections,” BRU spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli told Air Cargo Next . “Drone deployment is also being tested for inspections targeting animals, such as birds or rabbits, at the airport, as these animals can pose a danger to aircraft taking off and landing. Moreover, drones can be used for operations improvement and crisis management.” DronePort is not BRU’s first foray into drone technology. In 2021, the airport became a shareholder of SkeyDrone , which develops software to allow drone operators and authorities to manage drone flights safely. “Brussels Airport and SkeyDrone are already testing several use cases of drone technology, including operations improvement via drones, foreign object detection, use of drones for crisis management and surveillance of construction works,” Chioua Lekhli said. “Policy and legislation are a key driver affecting the timeline of further implementation of technology.” Drone technology is evolving consistently and opportunities will expand progressively, according to Jack Waldeyer, a private investor with JK Invest , a co-founder of DronePort. “There is an opportunity for cargo drones,” Waldeyer told Air Cargo Next . “It’s going to be progressive. It’s not going to be 30 to 40 tonnes the first time; it’s going to be with small drones. “If we use point-to-point connections with secondary airfields, that might be the first opportunity in Europe to start flying really with drones from one point to another,” he added, saying the industry must work closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency . As more points are added to drone routes between secondary airports, loads and distances likely will increase substantially, he said. BRU officials say drones eventually will be used to transport people as well as cargo. “The sector is evolving rapidly and offers new opportunities for the aviation industry,” Chioua Lekhli said. “We expect that drones will become a means of transport, both for cargo and people and both manned and unmanned.”

Droning on: Airports eye benefits of unmanned flight

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