image ©Antonio Pizarro/ Diario Dr Sevilla

SOURCE Aena The exercise, which is part of the “Aena Airport 4.0” strategy, has served to verify the functionalities that these unmanned aircraft or RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) would offer in an essential area for operational safety at airports.

This initiative, sponsored by Aena together with the operator Arquimea, has had a first experience in today’s test, but in the coming months its development will be articulated in a longer way over time. The objective is to study in situ, and in the day-to-day running of the airport, the real effectiveness of drones in driving away the birds from the environment and, thereby, minimizing the risk of impact with airplanes. 

In order to reinforce this deterrent effect, the appearance of the drone used simulated that of a hawk, also bearing in mind that the wildlife control service is usually carried out with raptors.     

The flight with this ‘falconer’ -as it has been baptized- is the first to be carried out with a fixed-wing RPAS and within the increased visual range (EVLOS) in controlled airspace, so it has been done under the compliance of all the safety requirements demanded by the AESA (State Agency for Aviation Safety). On the other hand, the operation of the aircraft has been supervised from the control tower by Ferronats, provider of air traffic services at Seville Airport.