REVISTA DYNA NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Key words:

Transporte Aéreo, RPAS, Seguridad Operacional, Riesgo de Conflicto, Espacio Aéreo no Segregado, Planificación Espacio Aéreo, Air Transport, RPAS, Safety, Conflict risk, Non-segregated airspace, Airspace planning

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

ABSTRACT:
The efficient and safe introduction of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in non-segregated airspace requires an in-depth assessment of all operational aspects. This paper assesses the safety impact due to the integration of RPAS jointly with conventional aircraft. The methodology is based on a conflict-risk model for airspace design and planning purposes. Moreover, it permits to determine relations between capacity and safety. Firstly, the methodology calculates a conflict-risk limit according to current operation in an air traffic volume, and, secondly, RPAS are introduced by airways to assess how conflict risk is affected. Moreover, a further analysis assesses the impact of RPAS speed on conflict risk. The methodology is applied in a Spanish air traffic volume, and the results confirm the methodology validity to assess modifications in the operation in an airspace and the viability of RPAS integration. Nonetheless, RPAS introduction is not waived of specific operational limitations.

Keywords: Air Transport; RPAS; Safety; Conflict risk; Non-segregated airspace; Airspace planning