UTM: why is a drone traffic management system necessary?
UAVs are new users of a scarce resource: airspace
UTM? What are we talking about? UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), or drones, are already a reality and are set to become an increasingly common part of our airspace. To ensure they do not create risks either in the air or on the ground, their flights must be managed—that is, planned, monitored, ordered and controlled by a system both during the planning phase and in flight.
Indra Air Traffic has developed this system, known as UTM. It is currently being deployed for the Spanish air navigation service provider, Enaire, with the aim of implementing U‑Space in accordance with European regulation, enabling the safe management of UAS flights.
What is UTM and why is it necessary?
UTM stands for UAS Traffic Management, where UAS refers to an Unmanned Aircraft System. It is the system responsible for managing the air traffic of this type of aircraft, which have different characteristics from manned aviation in terms of performance and impact.
There are several reasons why UTM is necessary:
- UAVs are new users of a scarce resource: airspace;
- UAV flights involve new risks, both in the air and on the ground;
- regulations are required to organise the flight of these new aircraft, as well as systems and tools to enable their operation in line with the applicable rules;
- in Europe, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) has developed the U‑Space regulation (2021/664) for UAS traffic management.
What solution has Indra developed?
Indra has developed a UTM solution based on two products: UTM Hub and UTM Connect. Together, they implement key services required for the safe and efficient operation of UAS flights:
- UTM Connect is a USSP (U‑Space Service Provider) system used by end users—UAS pilots and operators—to manage their flights in the planning, in‑flight and post‑flight phases;
- UTM Hub is a central and unique CISP (Common Information Service Platform) that enables the operation of multiple USSPs for UAS traffic management. Among other functions, it integrates with ATM (Air Traffic Management) systems and various national operator and aircraft systems, and facilitates monitoring and operational oversight by the authorities.
Applications and projects
UTM traffic management capabilities are still limited worldwide. Spain is a pioneer in this field thanks to the regulation already defined in Europe and to Enaire’s designation as the national CISP provider. Enaire has entrusted Indra with deploying Spain’s national CISP and a nationwide USSP. This pioneering platform in Europe is currently undergoing certification by aviation safety authorities and is expected to enter into operation in 2026.
UTM solutions are still evolving and maturing, supported by various innovation projects in which Indra is actively participating. Indra has been working in UTM since 2017 and has already participated in more than 20 projects in this field. At present, the most significant projects we are involved in fall under the European SESAR Programme (Single European Sky ATM Research) and include:
- ENSURE: a project focused on studying ATM and UTM integration, led by Indra;
- SPATIO: focused on studying tactical and strategic conflict detection, where Indra leads one of the two proposed solutions, Eureka Dedicated;
- Eureka: a project dedicated to implementing U‑Space for vertiports and UAM (Urban Advanced Mobility).
Drone usage in our society continues to grow rapidly thanks to their wide‑ranging professional applications in sectors such as agriculture, mobility and transport, logistics and parcel delivery, emergency response and surveillance, inspections and photography, marketing and audiovisual production, recreation, and more.
To ensure these aircraft can fly safely and without posing risks to citizens, the deployment of UTM solutions is essential. These solutions will be required worldwide in any region where drones are used—which will be nearly all of them.
The use of drones in our society is growing at a very rapid pace thanks to the wide range of professional applications these aircraft offer in areas as diverse as agriculture, emergency response and surveillance, inspections and photography, marketing and audiovisual production, recreation, and more. To ensure these aircraft can fly safely and without posing a risk to citizens, the deployment of UTM solutions is essential.
