Unifly, a subsidiary of Terra Drone Corporation and a leading provider of Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management solutions, has announced its pivotal involvement in the €12 million EUREKA project initiated by the SESAR Joint Undertaking in June 2023. Led by EUROCONTROL, this groundbreaking initiative aims to seamlessly integrate air mobility into urban landscapes by 2026, addressing the growing need for efficient, sustainable, and interconnected transportation solutions.
The EUREKA project aims to revolutionise urban transportation by establishing a network of vertiports—specialised hubs for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft inside European airspace—connecting urban areas and facilitating swift and eco-friendly transportation. The project boasts 35 participants, including airport providers, air navigation service providers, U-space service providers , UAM manufacturers, and other stakeholders.
Focused on developing four essential SESAR solutions, the project includes Arrival/Departure Procedures to/From Vertiports, which encompasses route and trajectory planning; Vertiport Collaborative Traffic Management, aimed at optimising resource utilisation and capacity allocation; Vertiport disruption and emergency management, ensuring preparedness for unforeseen circumstances; and Vertiport network flow, capacity, and operational management, enabling efficient coordination across the vertiport network.
Unifly holds a pivotal role in the EUREKA project, occupying a unique position within the Vertiport Collaborative Traffic Management initiative. Leveraging its expertise, Unifly is tasked with integrating vertiports into its UTM solution. The project will utilise certified unmanned Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft for cargo operations to validate VCTM at strategic, pre-tactical, and tactical levels, covering all VTOL flight segments.
Validation and demonstration activities are scheduled between March 2024 and December 2025, with live trials taking place in the controlled airspace between Mallorca and the Menorca Islands (Spain), within active LEPA and LEMH airports.
Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The EUREKA project represents a significant milestone in the evolution of UAM, and Unifly is proud to be at the forefront of this transformative initiative. Our UTM solutions will contribute to creating a harmonious and efficient airspace, laying the foundation for the widespread adoption of UAM and revolutionising the way people and goods move within cities.”
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