Bill Carey

A principal in Amazon’s effort to deliver packages by drone argued the case for a “federated” ATC system to manage them at the robotic vehicle industry’s largest event. The concept would give a regulatory authority—the Federal Aviation Administration in the case of the U.S.—overarching control of the system.

 


Speaking May 3 at the Xponential 2016 conference in New Orleans, Gur Kimchi, co-founder and vice president of Amazon Prime Air, described an ATC system with “automated, federated traffic controllers” with overlapping responsibilities for managing drone traffic. “Conceptually, it’s more similar to the way your phone works,” he explained. “Your phone connects to your phone network; your phone network talks to other phone networks connecting to other phones—they federate.”

 


Amazon proposes that a similar relationship take place between a drone operator and a controller over the Internet. Controllers would communicate with each other in overlapping airspace using standard protocols. “Safe and fair deconfliction” would be accomplished through an automated process.

 


The FAA, which manages the overall ATC system, would retain ultimate authority over a drone-based air traffic management system, Kimchi suggested. “We propose that regulators will have their own high-level controllers that have visibility and oversight over the airspace they manage,” he said. “While you don’t have to manage the airspace as a regulator…you know what’s happening at any given time. You can set controls, you can set policy in real-time.”

 


This was not the first time Kimchi has floated the airspace management concept, but his address to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International conference took in perhaps the largest and broadest-based industry audience. Last July, Kimchi unveiled Amazon’s “airspace design for small drone operations” at a conference that NASA Ames Research Center hosted to discuss its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Traffic Management (UTM) project. <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2015-09-17/nasa-faa-discuss-formal-collaboration-small-drones">The proposed design</a> would create restricted airspace for drone operations below 400 feet. From 200 feet to 400 feet would be a “high-speed transit zone” for more sophisticated, commercial drones, with a low-speed zone below that for localized traffic and lesser capable vehicles. The airspace between 400 feet and 500 feet would be a no-fly zone to effectively separate manned and unmanned traffic.

 


At Xponential, Kimchi revealed some of the organizations Amazon has approached to promote the concept. They include the FAA, NASA, Transport Canada, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the Air Line Pilots Association, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Helicopter Association International and the International Air Transport Association.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Amazon Principal Argues Case for 'Federated' ATC System

Amazon Prime Air's ambition is to deliver packages by small drones in an airspace system with multiple, overlapping controllers.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Undisclosed logistics customer will operate 550-pound payload vehicle under an experimental license

Air’s Uncrewed Cargo eVTOL Conducts Night Flight Trials

Hanneke Weitering

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Researchers explore autonomous flight in IFR conditions

NASA and Wisk Team on Autonomous Air Traffic Integration

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

U.S. company says it will accelerate development of the 1,400-pound payload vehicle 

Piasecki Acquires Kaman's Kargo UAV Program

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Helius is Ascent Aerosystems’ first sub-250g coaxial UAV

Robinson-owned Drone Maker Debuts ‘Helius’ Nano UAV

Unspecified fixed-wing UAS will feature SiCore battery cells

Amprius Inks $15 Million Battery Deal with Drone Maker

Air traffic control voice relay tests will evaluate sound quality and latency

FAA Contracts Aura to Test Uncrewed Aircraft Integration

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Ascendance and Delair partner on hybrid UAV for French DGA 

Ascendance's Hybrid Propulsion System To Power French Drones

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles