Tokyo, October 3, 2024 – Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, is proud to announce that its group company and a global leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly NV, has reached a significant milestone—five years since the trial implementation of its UTM system at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s largest and busiest ports.
Five years ago, Unifly played a crucial role in the SAFIR (Safe and Flexible Integration of Initial U-space Services in a Real Environment) project. Through rigorous testing and real-world applications, this initiative demonstrated the practical applications and benefits of drone technology within the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Today, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has become a model for advanced drone operations, significantly improving operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability — driven by the innovations initiated by the SAFIR project and the implementation of Unifly’s pre-U-space system.
The SAFIR project marked a major milestone in the operational integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in complex environments like the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The project showcased viable and robust drone operations, including surveillance flights, parcel delivery, medical transport, and infrastructure mapping. Covering over 120 km² of critical infrastructure, SAFIR demonstrated that U-space services could be deployed safely and reliably, significantly enhancing safety by enabling port authorities to manage, inspect, and control large areas swiftly and securely.
Following the success of SAFIR, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges took the strategic step to become a geozone manager, overseeing and regulating drone operations within its jurisdiction. To support this role, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges implemented Unifly’s UTM platform, enabling real-time monitoring, coordination, and management of drone flights. By enhancing situational awareness and communication, Unifly’s UTM platform has unlocked new business opportunities, positioning the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a leader in smart port technology and drone integration.
Bob Spanoghe, Drone Project Lead, Port of Antwerp-Bruges stated: “The port of the future has a network of autonomous drones that fly BVLOS over the port area several times a day and transmit data in real-time. SAFIR project was one giant step forward for this to become reality.”
Unifly’s pre-U-space system has unlocked numerous business cases by facilitating the expansion of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, revolutionizing industries such as logistics and delivery, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, security, and emergency response. The system’s integration with eID and RF infrastructure also ensures robust compliance monitoring by detecting non-compliant drones.
Joris Cleiren, Creative Director of SKY VISION bv, a drone operator at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “The Unifly platform has been a game-changer for us. What used to take up to three weeks to secure flight approvals now takes just one day. This has opened up new business opportunities, allowed us to operate more efficiently, and respond quickly to client needs within the Port of Antwerp.”
In the past three years, 7336 drone operations took place at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, a portion of which part were BVLOS operations. with numerous authorization requests granted. This reflects the successful integration of drone technology into port operations. The growing number of applications benefiting from BVLOS capabilities, enabled by Unifly’s UTM system, is paving the way for future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly, said: “The successful BVLOS flights at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges have demonstrated the transformative potential of drone technology. By integrating the Unifly UTM platform and the pre-Uspace services, we’ve enabled the Port to manage its airspace safely and efficiently, unlocking new business opportunities. We are proud to lead this innovation and look forward to setting new standards in UTM and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).”
Building on the foundation of the SAFIR project, Unifly continues to drive innovation in drone technology and AAM. The achievements of the past five years have positioned both the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Unifly as pioneers in drone integration across Europe, with the Unifly platform setting new benchmarks in the UTM industry.
About Unifly NV
Unifly is a leading aviation tech company dedicated to enhancing the safety and efficiency of autonomous aviation with cutting-edge technology. The Unifly platform acts as a crucial bridge within the UAS ecosystem, enabling the safe and secure integration of next-generation aircraft into the airspace. By digitizing and automating traffic management and integrating seamlessly with drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Unifly addresses the exponential growth in air traffic expected in the coming decades. The company has a proven track record of implementing more than ten commercial UTM deployments, establishing it as a world leader in this industry.
For more information, please visit the website at Unifly.aero or contact us at press@unifly.aero.
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone is a pioneering drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, with the mission to [Unlock “X” Dimensions], creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges by integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Its proprietary, patented technologies in drones, sensors, software are the foundation of the specialized solutions—ranging from surveying and inspections to pesticide spraying—which are revolutionizing key industries including oil and gas, construction and engineering, chemicals, electricity, and agriculture on a global scale.
In July 2023, Terra Drone acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world leading provider of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) systems, having a proven track record of implementing its system on a national level in over eight countries. Terra Drone’s ambition is to develop comprehensive solutions for drones and UAM, with the overarching aim of establishing a digital infrastructure in the skies to maximize the potential of air mobility.
For more information, please visit our website: http://www.terra-drone.net
Media Contact
PR Team, Terra Drone Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6419-7193
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
