HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - The EU's first planned test airspace for a drone traffic management system is to be created in Hamburg. "The aim of the project is to link air traffic data with data from various sources and platforms under real conditions for the first time," the economic authority announced on Tuesday. The project, called "BLU-Space", is a further step towards the integration of small, unmanned aircraft into everyday life.

In addition to the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the project consortium includes Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, a subsidiary of the port logistics company HHLA and the port authority HPA. The HHLA subsidiary HHLA Sky, for example, is already working on the use of drones. "HHLA Sky will contribute its technologies for drone operators and drone traffic management to the project in order to enable the safe and efficient development of lower airspace for commercial and industrial drone flights," the press release states.

Senator for Economic Affairs Melanie Leonhard (SPD) spoke of the city's ideal conditions for the project. "The complex infrastructure consisting of a dense urban population, large port and industrial areas as well as inner-city airports is ideally suited to solving the challenges for the whole of Germany."

According to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), the project will make a significant contribution to "safe and economical air mobility in Germany". This could create "a decisive competitive advantage for the German drone economy", Wissing is quoted as saying in the press release.

So-called U-space airspaces are the prerequisite for drones to be able to fly automatically and beyond visual range. "Therefore, the respective position data must be coordinated and communicated between all systems, which is ensured uniformly and securely in U-Space," it said. "One of the central goals of BLU-Space is also to practically implement the involvement of affected authorities, rescue control centers and transport companies."/kf/DP/jha