Drone Partnership Aims to Make Swiss Skies Safer

Skyguide, an air navigation service provider, is looking to drone company AirMap to create a UAV management system with the precision of a fine Swiss watch for the European nation’s civil aviation authority.

The partnership is working with the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) to develop the Swiss U-space flight information management system for UAS

Dubbed FIMS, the data exchange hub connects skyguide’s air traffic management system to drone service providers with open interfaces to support safe and compliant operations in low-altitude airspace. Officials say FIMS represents “a critical milestone in the development of the Swiss U-space Implementation (SUSI) program, Switzerland’s drone traffic management network infrastructure.”

FIMS is a cloud-based, interoperable platform that distributes airspace information, directives and real-time traffic from skyguide’s management system to drone operators through a network of providers.

Participating USPs connect to FIMS using open interfaces to provide services that support drone operators in meeting regulatory and operational requirements. FIMS is designed to connect with multiple USPs to support an open, competitive drone economy with a marketplace of drone services.

“The Swiss U-space FIMS is a critical building block toward full UTM implementation in Switzerland,” said Klaus Meier, skyguide Chief Technology Officer. “Following the creation of SUSI, the Swiss U-space Implementation framework designed by FOCA to build an open UTM ecosystem in Switzerland, we are delighted to announce the availability of the FIMS open interfaces to connect skyguide with multiple UAS Service Providers.”

Earlier this year, skyguide and AirMap kicked off a Swiss U-space automated authorization trial. Over 200 operators have joined the trial and use the Swiss U-space mobile application to plan operations and request and receive automated authorization to fly in controlled airspace near Lugano and Geneva airports, with expansion planned to additional airports.

“Switzerland’s FIMS enables multiple USPs to connect to safety-critical airspace information using open and interoperable interfaces to deliver nationwide U-space services to UAS operators,” said Ben Marcus, AirMap Co-founder and Chairman. “With this new milestone, Switzerland continues to lead the world in rolling out innovative UTM services that foster an open drone economy.”

In the coming months, skyguide and AirMap will move toward full U-space system deployment targeted for early 2020.