Drones are being used more and more frequently in German agriculture and forestry and are used in a variety of ways. Among other things, they are used for the application of pesticides. Drones and aircraft make it possible to control pests without destroying plants, as is the case with tractor wheels, for example. However, the dropping of objects from manned and unmanned flying objects is prohibited in Germany. The dropping of pesticides is one of many exceptions. Normally, the farmer would have to deal with a great deal of bureaucracy to register this special case. However, the so-called national standard scenarios (DE.STS.FARM) have been developed to significantly simplify and speed up this procedure. It is the first approved standard scenario for drones in Germany.

National standard scenario

This national standard scenario is an application that must be completed by the farmer. To do so, the farmer must provide a UAS operator with the appropriate drone license. The farmer declares his willingness to do so and submits the completed application to the Federal Aviation Office. It should be noted that only declarations that are submitted by 31.12.2023 at the latest and used by 31.12.2025 will be accepted. After the completeness check, the application will be approved. A fee of €200 will be charged for this. Once the application has been approved by the Federal Aviation Office, the operating license is limited to a period of two years. After that, a new application must be submitted. Further information for standard scenarios can be found on this website.

At the 61st general meeting of UAV DACH e.V., the association was restructured. The new basic program was also adopted.

The board of the association for unmanned aviation "UAV DACH e.V." was newly elected. Markus Rossol was elected to the new, broader-based board of the association as the board member responsible for Air & Ground Infrastructure. He thanks the members of the association for the trust they have placed in him and looks forward to a cooperative collaboration. Special thanks also go to the outgoing members of the Board, whose successful association work has accompanied UAV DACH e.V. to date.

Furthermore, the new basic program "inform, network and shape" now comes into force. This was previously adopted at the 60th General Assembly in November 2022. Further information can be found on the UAV DACH e.V. website. There are also new posts on our Instagram account.

The AERO takes place this year from April 19 - 22. More than 600 international exhibitors will be presenting their latest aircraft, technologies and much more. The most important and exciting companies in the aviation industry will once again meet at Lake Constance.

We as the company b.r.m. IT & Aerospace are also at this event and have our own stand with specialist staff. We represent the state of Bremen as an aerospace center. We will be happy to provide you with the latest information from the U-Space North Germany & German Bight real laboratory. Of course, this also includes the topic of drones and our Hatten-UAS test center. We have conducted new tests that we would like to share with you. Founder and Managing Director Harald Rossol and U-Space Provider Markus Rossol will be attending the trade fair and supporting our stand. As a fresh board member of UAV DACH e.V. in the area of infrastructure, Markus Rossol is the contact point for the latest developments in the drone industry.
We will publish a video of our stand on our Instagram account. More information about AERO 2023 will follow in the near future.

This year the Amsterdam Drone Week 2023 took place from 21.03-23.03. The event offers an international platform for drones, their technologies and their use. Interested parties, companies and authorities meet in Amsterdam and exchange information about the latest developments and research. These are shared and discussed in presentations and panel discussions. This was also the case at the EASA High Level Conference, which focused on the construction of an IAM ecosystem and the integration of drones into conventional airspace. U-Space provider Markus Rossol from the company b.r.m. IT & Aerospace listened attentively. Amsterdam Drone Week connects and promotes the use of drones.

SORA 2.5 was presented by EASA on February 9 and 10. Two workshops were held for this purpose. You could follow the event on site and digitally in a livestream.

Main task

The SORA itself is a model for the determination prior to drone operation. It is a model for risk analysis and for minimizing this risk. The process generally includes Annex A, the compliance regulations and the SORA safety case. This document can be used to authorize drone operations.

The event was primarily aimed at industry and the relevant authorities, as they were to be given a comprehensive overview of the new changes to SORA. As there was much need for discussion and room for interpretation among experts following the publication of SORA 2.0, JARUS revised it in consultation with several institutions and republished it as SORA 2.5. SORA 2.5 is not a new, independent method, but merely contains improved and updated content from SORA 2.0, so that the foundation remains the same. In addition, there were changes and restructuring, which were summarized in a presentation published at the European Drone Forum 2022. The new document can be viewed on the JARUS website.

New with SORA 2.5

Some topics from the previous documents have been reworded and added so that a more comprehensible and clearer version has been published. New additions are Annex A, F, and I. Annex A contains the structure of the so-called manual operator and Annex F a quantitative model for the assessment of soil risk. The last main change to the SORA, Annex I, provides a glossary that clearly explains definitions of technical terms and abbreviations using examples.

To prevent drone traffic from becoming just as noisy as normal road traffic, the EASA has now presented a standardized tool for measuring the noise emissions of drones. The aim is to make drone traffic more environmentally friendly and integrate it into the "modern" city.

Background of noise emissions

Due to the rapidly growing drone sector and the development of new, larger drones, increased noise emissions can be expected. The volume of the rotors usually depends on the total weight of the drone. This means that the larger the UAS, the louder its rotors are. However, it should be noted that drones are also constantly being revised and tested with regard to their propulsion. Low-noise rotors are particularly important for the future use of drones, as they will be allowed to fly in city centers in the future, according to Urban Air Mobility. The sound pressure and sound intensity of the drive types have now been intensively examined and analyzed by EASA.

Standardized tool

The method for measuring noise emissions initially only applies to drones in the "Specific" category. The official title of the method is "Guidelines on Noise Measurement of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Lighter than 600 kg Operating in the Specific Category (Low and Medium Risk)". According to this, the noise level should be measured during an inspection or added directly to the drone delivery. The corresponding EASA document provides a database for the various drone types and models, which both drone manufacturers and operators are required to adhere to. In future, authorities and institutions will use the values in this database as a basis for establishing noise protection areas, such as nature conservation areas.

The legal anchoring of this method and the completion of the analysis of noise emissions is in full swing. However, the perception of noise is very important even after finalization. The rotors of the drones produce a noise that is not typical of the environment and can be clearly distinguished from others. Therefore, despite the noise reduction, the drones will always be clearly audible.

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Now it's official! b.r.m. IT & Aerospace is the first company to receive confirmation of its "Feasibility study for the establishment of the b.r.m. UAS control center Bremen (USSP)". The U-Space provider and its team have successfully reached this milestone. The following is an excerpt from the confirmation.

Official confirmation of the feasibility study

Der Einsatz von Drohnen (UAS = Unmanned Aircraft System) für industrielle, universitäre, behördliche, sicherheitsdienstliche und weitere zivile Zwecke wird in den nächsten Jahren stark ansteigen und vermutlich das Aufkommen im bemannten Flugverkehr übertreffen. Um dieses Drohnenflugaufkommen zu ermöglichen wurde auf Basis der EU Durchführungsverordnung 2021/664 ein neues Luftraumelement (Geozone) geschaffen und in die bestehenden Luftraumstruktur eingebettet. Dieser sogenannte „U-Space” („Luftraum” für unbemannte Flugsysteme) kann als Bündel verschiedener Rahmenbedingungen und Regelungen verstanden werden, welche den Einsatz von Drohnen ermöglichen. Es existieren verschiedene Ansätze für die Abgrenzung des U-Space: Ein erster Ansatz verfolgt die strikte Abgrenzung vom U-Space innerhalb des Luftraums hinsichtlich seiner maximalen Höhe und geographischen Ausdehnung. Dieser ist als erster Nutzungsansatz sinnvoll, wird perspektivisch dem zu erwartenden Drohnenflug- Ansprüchen aber nicht gerecht werden. Alternativ existiert ein integrierter Ansatz, für den diese strikte räumliche Abgrenzung keine zwingende Voraussetzung ist. Nur dieser integrierte Ansatz bietet einen vollständigen Entwicklungsumfang für den potentiellen Drohnenflug-Verkehr. Er wird von der b.r.m. verfolgt. Rechtliche Grundlage für die Nutzung des U-Space ist die zuvor genannte Durchführungsverordnung, welche ab dem 26. Januar 2023 Anwendung findet und voraussichtlich in Kürze auch in nationales Recht umgesetzt wird. Laut der EU-Verordnung sollen für den U-Space, ebenso wie für den normalen Luftraum, klare Organisationsstrukturen und Abläufe etabliert werden, um einen sicheren Drohnenflug zu ermöglichen. Dies betrifft im Wesentlichen die An- und Abmeldung einzelner Flüge, die Planung von Flugrouten, sowie die Bereitstellung aller relevanten Informationen für die sichere Navigation. Grundsätzlich benötigen alle Drohnen mit einem Gewicht >250g, sowie alle Flüge im BVLOS-Bereich (Behind visible line, also ein Drohnenbetrieb außerhalb der Sichtweite des Fernpiloten) eine Genehmigung bzw. externe Koordination. Ausgenommen von dieser Regel sind Drohnenftüge im öffentlichen Interesse, wie z.B. Einsätze des Militärs, des Zolls, der Polizei, der Küstenwache, Such- und Rettungseinsätze oder Einsätze zur Brandbekämpfung bzw. für die Grenzkontrolle. Derzeit existiert keine entsprechende Infrastruktur für das benötigte Drohnenflugmanagement. Laut Verordnung soll diese Funktion durch sog. U-Space Service Provider (USSP/ UAS-Leitstellen) übernommen werden. Der U-Space Service Provider soll den unbemannten Flugverkehr im U-Space koordinieren und für eine sichere und reibungslose Interaktion mit dem bemannten Flugverkehr zuständig sein. Dafür muss er verschiedene technische Serviceleistungen erbringen, welche in der Verordnung beschrieben werden. Anders als in der Flugsicherung ist hier ein freier Markt mit vielfältigen kleineren Providern gewünscht, welche unabhängig von einem regionalen Bezugspunkt (europaweit) agieren können. Eine Abdeckung des U-Spaces durch DFS/Eurocontrol ist explizit nicht gewünscht. Die Ausgestaltung eines Drohnenflugbetriebs erfordert eine umfassende Übertragung der etablierten und standardisierten Verfahren aus der bemannten Luftfahrt, wie z.B. die existierenden Standards von ICAO (Internationale Zivilluftfahrtorganisation), JARUS (Internationale Arbeitsgruppe zur Regulierung von Drohnen), EASA (Europäische Agentur für Flugsicherheit ist die Luftsicherheitsbehörde der Europäischen Union) und Weiteren.
Basierend auf den Ergebnissen des vorangegangenen LURAFO-Projektes VTOL-EGM, den Erfahrungen aus dem Betrieb des UAS-Testzentrum auf dem Flugplatz Oldenburg-Hatten, und v.a. auf ihrer eigentlichen Tätigkeit als Rechenzentrum und IT-Dienstleister, möchte sich die Firma b.r.m. zukünftig als europaweite UAS-Leitstelle bewerben und zertifizieren lassen. Neben der Ausarbeitung der essentiellen USSP-Dienste (Netz-Identifizierungsdienst, Geo-Sensibilisierungsdienst, UAS-Fluggenehmigungsdienst, Verkehrsinformationsdienst, Wetterinformationsdienst, Dienst zur Konformitätsüberwachung und sonstige, vom Mitgliedstaat festzulegende Dienste) sollen weitere Funktionen, wie die Datensicherheit und -konsistenz im Rechenzentrums-Betrieb, Green-IT Konzepte, die Anbindung zu Flugsicherungsorganisationen, sowie eine DSGVO- konforme digitale Transformation berücksichtigt werden. Die beantragte Durchführbarkeitsstudie soll dazu dienen, das Vorhaben der b.r.m., ein USSP im Kontext eines Rechenzentrums aufzubauen, genauer zu bewerten. Inhalte der Studie sollen im Wesentlichen die genaue Analyse der (laut Verordnung) anzubietenden Dienste, sowie eine detaillierte wirtschaftliche Betrachtung des Vorhabens sein. Die Ergebnisse aus dem im März 2023 auslaufenden Projekt LUV (Dronique, DFS, TUHH, HCU, HHLA Sky GmbH, Behörde für Wirtschaft und Innovation Hamburg) sollen dabei zwingend in den Rahmen der aktuellen Studie integriert werden. Positive Resultate vorausgesetzt, sollen die Erfahrungen der Durchführbarkeitsstudie unmittelbar in einem F&E Projekt münden, dass den Aufbau einer b.r.m. UAS-Leitstelle Bremen im Sinne eines USSP der EU DVO 2021/664ff zum Ziel hat. Der Luft- und Raumfahrtstandort Bremen kann sich durch die Unterstützung dieses Vorhabens im Rahmen der Entwicklungen zum U-Space Norddeutschland bzw. dem zu erwartenden Aufbau von neuen U-Space Service Providern entsprechend platzieren.

The U-Space provider Markus Rossol took part in the AITS, which took place on 28.02.23 in Bremen. At the event, the IT/UAS consultant reported on the results of the VTOL-EGM project and the U-Space Real Lab Northern Germany & German Bight. Below are a few impressions from the AITS. You can find Markus Rossol's presentation on our website. You can also follow us on Instagram @brm_IT_Aerospace.

Another event will take place on 28.02.2023: the AITS in Bremen. The international event will take place in the Bremen concert hall "die Glocke" from 09:00 to 18:00. Also b.r.m. IT & Aerospace will also be represented at the event and give a presentation.

Topic overview at AITS

In general, the AITS is about past and future supply chains in the aviation industry. The pandemic times have shown that preparation for such events is essential. Speakers include well-known experts from the aviation industry and CEOs from institutions and associations such as Aviaspace Bremen e.V. The full agenda for the day can be found on the AITS website.

In addition to supply chains, it is also about digitalization and the use of sustainable operating models as well as the emission-free energy supply of drones. On this topic, U-Space provider Markus Rossol from Bremen-based b.r.m. IT & Aerospace GmbH presented the results and findings from the VTOL-EGM project. The Rochen-VT, a hybrid-operated drone, was used in VTOL-EGM. Markus Rossol will also be reporting at AITS on the U-Space Reallabor Norddeutschland und Deutsche Bucht, which is being used to test and integrate unmanned into manned air traffic. Further information on the U-Space real laboratory and the results to date can be found here.

You can also follow us on Instagram @brm_IT_Aerospace.

The i2b meet-up "Civilian use of drones" took place on 21.02.23. One of the speakers was the founder and managing director of b.r.m. IT & Aerospace, Harald Rossol, reported on the successfully completed VTOL-EGM project, among other things. Here are a few impressions of the event, captured by Kontrast Medien und Marketing. You can also follow us on Instagram @brm_IT_Aerospace.