Key Point: Enhancing safety and usability of the low-altitude operations management platform with over 27,000 approved authorizations to date
Tokyo, January 22, 2026 – Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, is pleased to announce that its group company and a global leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly, has released a major upgrade to its in-house UTM platform deployed at Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PoAB), Europe’s second-largest port.
Unifly began demonstrations in 2018 as part of the “SAFIR Project,” aimingto integrate U-space (Note 1), a concept of operational management that includes the regulatory framework for drone integration in the EU, into real-world environments and society. In 2019, at the PoAB, Unifly conducted demonstrations of multi-drone operations and collision-avoidance capabilities using its UTM platform. Following these results, Unifly signed a formal deployment agreement with the PoAB in 2020 and has been operating the platform at full scale since then (Note 2).
Unifly works in collaboration with SkeyDrone, a joint venture between skeyes, Belgium’s air navigation service provider (ANSP), and Brussels Airport Company, the operator of Belgium’s major international airport. Together, they have developed and built the UTM system used at the PoAB. The PoAB is one of the world’s most drone-progressive ports, having built a globally advanced drone ecosystem and accumulated the following operational track record to date:
- Approved permission requests: 27,621
- Missions performed: 7,665
- BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations performed: 2,371
- Registered operators: 250
Within this initiative, Unifly’s UTM platform serves as the foundation for drone operations at scale, supporting not only thousands of missions but also autonomous sample transport and scalable industrial drone applications across the entire port area.
This upgrade aims to improve the safety of drone operations and enhance operator usability in a busy and complex port environment. Specifically, improved airspace information, which is supported by updated obstacle data, enhances situational awareness and enables safer drone operations. In addition, as part of a refreshed user experience (UX), the upgrade includes clearer geozone visualization, refreshed map layers, updated translations, and the introduction of intuitive on-screen guidance. To further strengthen user support, Unifly has enhanced its online help environment and introduced a Dark Mode to accommodate a wide range of visibility conditions. As a result, the UTM platform’s user interface and data-management capabilities have been improved, delivering a significant enhancement in usability for drone operators.
Terra Drone will continue to provide UTM through Unifly’s partnerships with aviation authorities and major infrastructure hubs, promoting improved safety and streamlined procedures for drone operators, and supporting safer, scalable drone adoption.
For more information, please refer to the full press release from Unifly via the following link(English):
URL: https://www.unifly.aero/unifly-and-skeydrone-deploy-major-utm-platform-upgrade-at-the-port-of-antwerp-bruges-enhancing-safety-and-user-experience/
Editor’s Notes
Note 1 U-space: A concept for operational management—including the regulatory framework—toward the social implementation of drones in the EU.
Note 2 Related press release: https://terra-drone.net/global/2024/10/03/revolutionizing-drone-integration-terra-drones-group-company-uniflys-utm-and-the-safir-project-mark-five-years-of-transformation-at-the-port-of-antwerp-bruges/
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 Corporation, headquartered in Japan, is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Dedicated to the mission of “Unlock ‘X’ Dimensions”, the company is committed to creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges—integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Specializing in surveying, inspections, agriculture, and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Terra Drone serves industries such as oil and gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.
With a portfolio of over 3,000 completed projects worldwide, Terra Drone has achieved significant milestones in the drone operations field. In July 2023, the company acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world-leading provider of UTM platform, with deployments in over eight countries. Terra Drone was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Stock Code: 278A) on November 29, 2024. It also secured top spot in Global Drone Service Provider Rankings for 2024. Furthermore, at the Japan Startup Awards 2025 hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Terra Drone was honored with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Award in recognition of its initiatives addressing social challenges in the infrastructure and transportation sector.
Recognized by Drone Industry Insights as one of the top three industrial drone service providers globally for five consecutive years, Terra Drone aims to build the digital infrastructure necessary to unlock the full potential of drones and AAM solutions. 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
