Altitude Angel, trusted UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology provider, has announced Twente Airport, in collaboration with drone innovation cluster Space53, is to deploy its Approval Services platform - allowing drone operators, and in the future eVTOL pilots, the ability to submit flight requests and pay for operations within Twente Airport’s airspace digitally and at the touch of a button.
Twente Airport will be the first airport in the Netherlands to adopt the revolutionary platform which has already been deployed at international airports, regional aerodromes, and heliports across the UK.
With its extensive and varied terrain and large, managed airspace, Twente Airport is well known in the Netherlands as a test centre for both crewed and uncrewed flight operations and has recently hosted, together with Space53, exercises conducted by The Royal Netherlands Airforce, national police force, and Twente Fire & Rescue service.
Mike Holsheimer, program manager of Space53 on the deployment of Approval Services: "As our drone partners are increasingly conducting beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), within Twente Airport's airspace, having just one source where the correct and real-time information can be found, showing both manned and unmanned activity, is crucial to ensure safety in and around the airport."
Gerben Groothuis of Twente Airport adds: "Altitude Angel's Approval Services platform gives us the certainty we need to allow drone activity alongside that of manned aircraft. As the need for more unmanned flights arises for eVTOL and drone operators, the Approval Services platform will allow us to scale up our operations quickly, easily, and safely."
Paul deHaan, Altitude Angel NL, Managing Director, added: “Through the adoption of Approval Services, Twente Airport is enabling the next generation of airspace users – without doing so at the expense of existing operations. Crewed and uncrewed aircraft can share the same skies, safely and securely, if the right platforms and technology are deployed.
“Approval Services gives Twente Airport the flexibility to approve drone operations by allowing drone operators to submit flight plans, which take place in part wholly or in part, within an airport’s controlled airspace, quickly and securely, bringing together traditional air traffic control systems with digital unified traffic management solutions.”
