€7m drone traffic tests target safer European skies
A €7 million European project has put new drone traffic systems through real-world tests designed to keep unmanned aircraft safely apart as flights increase. Enaire closed the SPATIO project in Madrid on 22 September 2026, after trials in Ireland, Romania, Galicia and the Community of Madrid.
The Spanish air navigation manager coordinated the three-year research effort through its research and development subsidiary, CRIDA. More than 20 international partners took part, including Ineco, Indra, Boeing, ITG, Sopra Steria, the Technical University of Madrid and the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Tests for busy drone airspace
From 2023 to 2026, SPATIO tested advanced automated drone-traffic services in four operational settings. The demonstrations found that drone operations can be scaled up and automated safely in real conditions.
The systems combine flight planning with real-time control tools. Their job is to spot potential conflicts between drones in flight and resolve them before aircraft come too close.
The project also examined safety above urban areas, setting flexible limits on how many drones can operate in the same area. It added tools to measure and reduce aircraft noise, aiming to improve public acceptance of drones.
From trials to the market
More than 60 representatives from 30 aviation and technology organisations attended the closing event at Enaire's headquarters. They included members of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Aviation Safety Agency and the Directorate-General for Civil Aviation.
Industry experts, regulators and institutional representatives discussed how to turn SPATIO's tools into commercial products and speed up their deployment. The project is part of the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking programme, which is preparing for higher drone flight volumes across Europe.
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Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com