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As drone operations grow in complexity and scale, traditional air traffic management (ATM) systems no longer suffice to ensure safety, compliance, and coordination. That’s where U-space comes in, Europe’s regulatory framework for Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), aimed at enabling safe and secure drone operations in shared airspace.

This blog explains what U-space is, the six foundational U-space services, the roles of U-space Service Providers (USSPs) and the Common Information Services (CIS), and how AirHub supports all relevant stakeholders, from drone operators to airspace authorities, through both software and consultancy.

What Is U-space?

U-space is a set of digital and automated services designed to support safe, efficient, and scalable drone operations, especially in environments where manned and unmanned aircraft share the same airspace. It was introduced by EASA through Regulations (EU) 2021/664–666 and is implemented on a national level by Member States.

At its core, U-space is about providing situational awareness and coordination tools for drone pilots, operators, and authorities, helping ensure safety, reduce workload, and enable advanced operations such as BVLOS or automated flights in dense environments.

The 6 Key U-space Services

U-space defines a modular framework of services. Six of these are foundational for drone operators:

1. Network Identification Service
   Enables electronic identification of drones during flight, providing real-time information such as the operator’s ID, position, speed, and route.
   For operators: This helps authorities verify your operation in real time and detect unauthorized drones nearby.

2. Geo-awareness Service
   Provides dynamic and static information on airspace constraints, such as restricted zones, NOTAMs, or altitude limitations.
   For operators: Ensures you’re always aware of no-fly zones or special restrictions, reducing legal and operational risks.

3. Flight Authorisation Service
   Required to request and receive approval to fly within U-space airspace based on real-time deconfliction.
   For operators: Simplifies and automates the approval process, particularly in controlled or congested airspace.

4. Traffic Information Service
   Shares the positions of other cooperative airspace users in real time.
   For operators: Improves airspace awareness and enables strategic and tactical deconfliction.

5. Weather Information Service
   Provides local and up-to-date meteorological data, including wind, temperature, and weather hazards.
   For operators: Supports better decision-making in planning and during operations, especially for BVLOS flights.

6. Conformance Monitoring Service
   Monitors whether a drone adheres to its approved flight plan and alerts the operator or authority if deviations occur.
   For operators: Helps you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary disruptions or enforcement.
   
   

CIS and USSPs — Who Provides U-space Services?

• CIS (Common Information Services) is a shared infrastructure that connects all actors - manned aviation, U-space service providers, drone operators, ANSPs - ensuring consistency and accuracy of core data (like airspace structure, dynamic restrictions, and weather). CIS is usually managed or supervised by the national ANSP or CAA.

• USSPs (U-space Service Providers) are certified companies that offer U-space services to drone operators. Operators will likely interface directly with one or more USSPs through apps or integrations (e.g. in the AirHub Drone Operations Platform).

In the near future, multiple USSPs might operate in the same airspace, just like mobile providers, which makes interoperability, safety, and regulation even more critical.

What AirHub Offers

For Drone Operators

AirHub’s Drone Operations Platform helps operators meet U-space and UTM requirements by integrating:

• U-space awareness tools: View geo-awareness, NOTAMs, U-space zones and digital maps

• Flight planning and approval: Prepare and submit flight plans with relevant U-space service integration

• Conformance monitoring and logging: Ensure real-time tracking and automated compliance logging

• Third-party data integration: Include your own datasets (e.g. population density or critical infrastructure)
  
  

Our consultancy team helps you navigate U-space regulations, implement operational procedures, and obtain approvals under EASA’s Specific Category (e.g. SORA, STS, or PDRA).

For ANSPs and U-space Authorities

AirHub Consultancy supports air navigation service providers and CAAs with:

• U-space strategy development and implementation

• Airspace risk assessments and airspace design

• Stakeholder coordination (e.g. between ANSPs, police, drone operators, port authorities)

• Technical requirements and interoperability specifications for future USSP certification
  
  

For Airports, Ports and Asset Managers

We work with airport authorities and critical infrastructure operators (like seaports and rail operators) to:

• Define UAS geographical zones and geofencing policies

• Design U-space corridors or airspace segmentation for safe internal and external drone use

• Combine drone operations with C-UAS systems to secure airspace

  
  

For Governments and Local Authorities

We assist public authorities (national, regional, local) with:

• Drafting UAS policies and integration plans

• Defining operational and compliance frameworks

• Implementing U-space on a local scale

• Facilitating community outreach and public acceptance
  
  

Final Thoughts

U-space is not just a technical framework, it’s a governance model for modern drone operations. It connects operators, authorities, and service providers to ensure that drones operate safely and efficiently, even in complex airspace.

Whether you are flying drones, managing airspace, or overseeing public safety, AirHub can support your U-space journey, from strategic advice to hands-on software tools.

👉 Want to learn more? Contact our team to explore how we can help.

Training is a cornerstone of safe and compliant drone operations. Under EASA Regulation (EU) 2019/947, and further detailed in AMC3 UAS.SPEC.050(1)(d), UAS operators are responsible not just for ensuring that their remote pilots are trained, but for establishing a structured training and oversight system across their organisation.

In this blog, we break down the required training levels starting with the Open Category and building up to the more complex Specific Category. We also explain how the AirHub Drone Operations Center helps you manage all training responsibilities effectively.

The Open Category – Basic Training for Low-Risk Operations

The Open Category covers low-risk operations that do not require prior operational authorisation. It is divided into three subcategories:

• A1: Fly over people (but not over assemblies)

• A2: Fly close to people

• A3: Fly far from people

Each subcategory has specific training requirements:

• A1/A3: Online training and exam via the National Aviation Authority (NAA)

• A2: Requires A1/A3 training plus self-practical training and an additional theoretical exam (often supervised)

While basic, these requirements still place responsibilities on UAS operators:

• Ensure that pilots have completed and passed the appropriate exams

• Record and verify completion of self-practical training (for A2)

• Maintain documentation and manage expiry dates (certificates are valid for 5 years)

The Specific Category – Higher Risk, Structured Training

Operations falling outside the Open Category, like BVLOS or urban flights, are classified as Specific Category operations. These require a risk assessment (such as SORA, PDRA, or STS) and a corresponding level of pilot training.

STS and PDRA-Based Training

Standard Scenarios (STS) and Pre-Defined Risk Assessments (PDRAs) prescribe a minimum level of training. For example:

• STS-01/02 require:

  • Theoretical and practical training

  • A certificate issued by a Recognised Entity (RE)

  • Compliance with all scenario-specific requirements

Operators must verify that their pilots meet these STS/PDRA-specific training conditions before assigning them to a mission.

SORA-Based Authorisations and Modular Training

For operations with a custom Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA), the training becomes modular and depends on the Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL). These modules may include:

• BVLOS with or without observers

• Night operations

• Populated areas

• Emergency and contingency handling

• Automated flight systems and DAA procedures

Each module may involve theoretical and/or practical training, and some require evaluation by a Recognised Entity (RE) or Competent Authority.

Under AMC3 UAS.SPEC.050(1)(d), the UAS operator must:

• Define the required competencies for each module

• Establish internal or external training programs

• Keep records of practical skill assessments

• Validate training regularly and before assigning personnel to missions

Managing Training with the AirHub Drone Operations Center

Managing training, especially in a team with multiple pilots, roles, and operational profiles, can be a challenge. The AirHub DOC makes it easier:

1. Centralised Training Oversight

• Store and track all certificates, training modules, and re-certification dates

• Log simulator hours, supervised flights, or self-practical training (A2)

• Provide alerts for expiring credentials

2. Role-Based Competency Mapping

• Define required training for each operational role

• Match training status with mission profiles

• Ensure only qualified personnel are assigned to specific operations

3. SOP and OM Integration

• Link training modules directly to your Operations Manual (OM)

• Flag missing training before mission approvals

• Embed training requirements in pre-flight workflows

4. Support for Custom Training Programs

• Define internal onboarding and recurrent training

• Track evaluations, simulator sessions, or shadowing activities

• Support audit-readiness with full training documentation

Why It Matters

Training isn’t just about compliance. It’s about safety, efficiency, and operational readiness. Under SORA, the remote pilot is a key operational safety objective (OSO). Failure to ensure adequate training can directly compromise mission safety and legal compliance.

With AirHub’s software, operators can automate the entire training lifecycle from onboarding to audit.

And with support from AirHub Consultancy, organisations can:

• Set up SORA-compliant training frameworks

• Draft custom SOPs and Operations Manuals

• Align organisational training with national and European regulations

Final Thoughts

From A1 to advanced BVLOS, training is foundational to safe drone operations. EASA expects UAS operators to take full responsibility for their teams’ qualifications and ongoing competence.

Whether you're flying in the Open or Specific Category, AirHub gives you the tools and the guidance to do it right.

Ready to simplify your training management? Get in touch with our team.

AirHub Knowledge Series — As drone operations grow more complex with BVLOS flights, automation, and integration into controlled airspace, human-machine interaction (HMI) and human error prevention have become central to safety and regulatory compliance.

To support this, EASA released Certification Memorandum CM-HF-001 (Issue 01), which provides detailed guidance on two critical safety objectives from the SORA framework:

• OSO #19: Systems must detect and help recover from human error

• OSO #20: Human-machine interfaces must be designed to minimize mistakes and support effective decision-making

This edition of the AirHub Knowledge Series explores what these objectives mean for operators and how these principles can be applied in real-world drone operations.

Why Human Factors Matter in Drone Operations

Whether operating a drone-in-a-box setup from a remote location or coordinating complex multi-pilot missions, humans remain at the center of the operational decision loop. Errors can stem from:

• Misinterpreting system status

• Poor interface design (e.g., ambiguous button labels)

• Stressful or unclear operational procedures

The goal of both OSO #19 and #20 is to minimize human error and improve decision reliability, especially during high-stakes or complex missions.

OSO #19 – Detecting and Recovering from Human Errors

According to EASA, systems should be designed to help operators:

• Avoid making mistakes (e.g., by locking out unsafe commands)

• Recognize errors early (e.g., clear visual or auditory alerts)

• Recover from errors before they escalate (e.g., safe-mode activation)

For operations in SAIL III, this requires at least a low level of assurance, meaning you must declare and justify the design choices that reduce the chance of human error.

Examples include:

• Confirmation prompts for critical actions like arming the FTS or switching flight modes

• Automatic status monitoring (e.g., battery health or GPS quality)

• Physical barriers or interlocks to avoid accidental activation of key systems

OSO #20 – Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Design

A well-designed interface helps the operator:

• Understand system status at a glance

• Receive and interpret warnings or alerts clearly

• Perform tasks confidently and without ambiguity

EASA highlights that HMI design must be intuitive, especially for remote pilot stations, tablets, or multi-control setups.

At a minimum, your interface should:

• Use standard color codes (green = safe, amber = caution, red = warning)

• Display key system information clearly (e.g., mode, position, health, telemetry)

• Provide quick, unambiguous feedback after every operator input

• Avoid information overload or confusing visual layouts

Depending on the complexity of your setup, EASA expects some level of human factors validation, from usability walkthroughs to full scenario-based testing with representative users.

The Feedback Loop: How Operators Interact with Systems

EASA identifies five essential elements of HMI feedback loops in UAS operations:

1. Detect – The system or operator identifies an issue or change

2. Decide – The operator interprets the data and determines a course of action

3. Command – A control input is made (e.g., return-to-home triggered)

4. Execute – The system carries out the command

5. Feedback – The system confirms the action and provides updated status

If any link in this loop is weak (e.g., poor feedback, unclear options), error risk increases. A good HMI design supports all five stages clearly and reliably.

How AirHub Supports Better HMI and Error Management

At AirHub, we integrate human factors thinking directly into our software and services:

• Clear workflows in our Drone Operations Center (DOC), including visual status indicators and confirmations for critical steps

• Pre- and post-flight checklists aligned with your operations manual and user manual

• Scenario testing support as part of our consultancy services for SORA authorizations

• Customizable training support to ensure your pilots know how to use systems under both normal and abnormal conditions

We also support clients in documenting compliance with OSO #19 and #20, including declarations, evidence collection, and usability validations.

Final Thoughts

HMI design and human error prevention are no longer just best practices, they are regulatory requirements for advanced drone operations. By prioritizing clear interfaces, predictable workflows, and scenario-based testing, operators can reduce risk, improve safety, and meet SORA expectations for SAIL III and beyond.

Whether you are working on your SORA documentation, evaluating a CMU, or training your team, these principles will keep your operation safe, efficient, and future-ready.

If you would like help evaluating your interface or ensuring OSO compliance, our team is ready to support you.