Sharing Airspace.
Regulator acceptance of strategic deconfliction underscores operational readiness.
By Jake Goldsberry (Director, Product Management - UTM)
Last week, DroneUp took a significant step toward enabling safe and efficient BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone delivery by achieving acceptance of our cutting-edge solution to share airspace between unmanned aircraft. The letter of acceptance granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly highlights Unmanned Traffic Management’s maturity and operational readiness.
Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) is not about reinventing the wheel, but rather applying proven solutions to well-established challenges. What makes it so compelling is the convergence of modern software practices, innovative governance models, and automated data exchange—concepts that are already transforming other industries. After years of rigorous field trials and collaborative efforts between industry and government to address edge cases and refine best practices, DroneUp is proud to present our letter of acceptance as proof that UTM is ready to redefine how airspace is shared.
Our approach to UTM combines strategic deconfliction with advanced digital mapping, ensuring both proactive flight coordination and heightened situational awareness. Through our strategic deconfliction service, we proactively share flight plans with other drone operators, minimizing the risk of collisions and optimizing airspace use. This enables smooth, safe operations in shared airspace, a critical element for the future of drone operations.
A handful of trailblazing drone operators are now leveraging UTM to share airspace in Dallas, our operational proving ground. As we scale, we’ll undoubtedly face new challenges, from refining governance processes to incorporating new operational requirements. But what matters most is that we have built a system designed for thoughtful change management and international scalability. UTM will be the framework for any future operations involving airspace overlap with other drone operators, and we’re confident that what’s happening in Dallas is just the beginning.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with the FAA, serving the Dallas community, and driving the innovative growth that will shape the future of airspace management.