“Honeywell Unveils Cutting-Edge Ground Control Station for Next-Gen eVTOL Aircraft”
Honeywell and Frequentis, a globally recognized provider of communication and information systems for control centers managing safety-critical operations based in Austria, have achieved a significant milestone in enhancing the function of remotely controlled aircraft in European airspace as part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking OperA (Operate Anywhere) project consortium. Through a successful flight trial, Honeywell presented a novel ground control station for eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. This advancement lays the groundwork for more secure and efficient uncrewed aircraft operations and further strengthens Honeywell’s alignment with the compelling megatrends of automation and the future of aviation.
The successful flight trial occurred in Amstetten, Austria, in June and utilized advanced features of the dual-display ground control station, which is also managed from Honeywell’s Brno research and development center. With a collaborative interface connecting to air traffic control, the ground control station operator was able to receive orders originating from air traffic control, enhancing operational efficiency through real-time data interchange with various systems.
“As the air mobility sector transforms, Honeywell remains at the forefront of delivering innovative solutions that bolster both safety and efficiency. These demonstrations represent a crucial progress toward embedding advanced air mobility systems into routine airspace, promising significant enhancements in drone operations. With test flights such as the one in Amstetten, Honeywell is not only highlighting state-of-the-art technology but is also reaffirming its commitment to shaping the future of aviation,” stated David Shilliday, Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies.
Frequentis contributed enhanced U-space services for the flight trial, including mission compliance monitoring and tactical conflict resolution. U-space, a novel air traffic management framework for unmanned aerial systems, employs a suite of new services grounded in a high level of digitization, function automation, and specific procedures devised to safely accommodate a substantial number of drones within an airspace.
Utilizing both simulated and actual drones, Honeywell’s ground control station also exhibited the preliminary application of a ground-based detect and avoid system, a safety mechanism developed to enhance drone flights’ security and reliability, particularly in uncontrolled airspace.
These demonstrations signify a crucial advancement in the Honeywell-led Project OperA, one of the two Honeywell initiatives funded through the latest funding round from the European Union’s SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. Project OperA aims to develop solutions for intricate operations involving advanced air mobility, piloted eVTOL aircraft, and uncrewed cargo aircraft in real-world European airspace.
“The OperA research venture offers Frequentis an innovative framework to improve existing solutions and create new technologies. The validation process in Amstetten was a pivotal milestone in ensuring the seamless incorporation of the extended and highly automated U-space services, including mission compliance monitoring and tactical conflict resolution, with Honeywell’s ground control station and real-time data exchange,” noted Günter Graf, Vice President, New Business Development at Frequentis.
