The European U-space project U-ELCOME, led in Spain by ENAIRE, concludes showcasing deployment readiness of drone services

The European project U-ELCOME (U-space European COMmon dEpLoyment), focused on deploying services for the safe management of drone traffic using the U-space concept, concludes this week with the presentation of its findings by ENAIRE at the event organised by the SESAR Joint Undertaking: “Supporting the Drone Strategy 2.0: Results from the U-space Digital Demonstrators”, held at EUROCONTROL in Brussels.

ENAIRE presents the results of the U-ELCOME project—after more than 600 drone test flights conducted in Spain—at an event organised by the SESAR Joint Undertaking in Brussels

During this event, key results from other European projects (BURDI and EALU-AER) were also presented, all aimed at integrating drones into airspace through U-space technologies to enable safe, automated, and coordinated operations in both urban and rural areas. The event shared insights from test campaigns, challenges faced, and lessons learned across different European environments, under the supervision of the SESAR Joint Undertaking — the European public-private partnership driving innovation for the Single European Sky and its strategy for a digital, connected, and sustainable airspace.

As the project coordinator in Spain, ENAIRE highlighted the unique nature of the Spanish cluster within Europe, having conducted tests that integrated multiple drone service providers operating simultaneously in the country. This cluster has become the first to reach a technological maturity level equivalent to pre-industrial deployment — a milestone in the evolution of drone airspace management.

ENAIRE has been designated as Spain’s sole Common Information Service Provider (CISP), acting as a data facilitator between traditional air traffic service providers and the new digital services for drone operations.

To this end, ENAIRE has developed two software platforms — one for providing this common information service and another for delivering U-space services — both of which were successfully tested during the U-ELCOME project. The organisation is currently undergoing certification with the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) to provide these services.

During the project, more than 700 test flights were carried out across eight regions, demonstrating the operational feasibility and usefulness of U-space services and helping to improve public acceptance of drone use in both urban and rural environments.

The U-ELCOME project involved 50 organisations from Spain, France, and Italy, more than 25 of which were Spanish, consolidating Spain’s leadership in innovation and the development of advanced air mobility solutions. Across the three countries, over a thousand drone operations were completed, testing cutting-edge technologies, including live demonstrations of systems such as common information service providers like ENAIRE and drone service providers.

[ENAIRE's Strategy and Innovation team at EUROCONTROL with its director Mariluz de Mateo].

About the U-ELCOME Project

The U-ELCOME project is a Digital Sky Demonstrator, co-funded by the European Union’s by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) through its Connecting Europe Facility, with the support of SESAR Joint Undertaking. The projectaimed at promoting the safe and efficient integration of drones into airspace through the deployment of U-space services. It is coordinated by EUROCONTROL and involves 51 partners across Europe, with U-space flight service demonstrations at 15 locations in Spain, Italy and France.

In Spain, test flights have been carried out in Andalusia, Aragón, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Galicia, Madrid, and Navarra. The project aims to promote the future provision of fundamental services, facilitating the safe integration of drones into European airspace.

This project has received funding from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under grant agreement No 101079171.

[Speech by Daniel García-Monteavaro, from ENAIRE, at the event organized by EUROCONTROL in Brussels on drones].

[Speech by Rodrigo Benedit of ENAIRE at the event on drones organized by EUROCONTROL in Brussels].

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Sustainable Transport and Mobility, it provides air traffic control services during the en route and approach phases of all flights to and from Spain and overflights. In addition, it manages communications, navigation and surveillance services from ENAIRE in the airspace and the entire AENA airport network in Spain, and provides aerodrome air traffic control services in 21 airports, including the busiest.  

ENAIRE is the fourth largest European air navigation service provider, and it is a member of international partnerships A6 Alliance, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and collaborates closely with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

ENAIRE, as the responsible entity designated by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility for the implementation of the U-space system in Spain, will provide the Common Information Services (CISP) through its digital platform. These services are essential for the provision of U-space services to drones and Urban Air Mobility, in coordination with local air traffic services, and will enable the safe coexistence of all types of aircraft.

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator for four years in a row. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.