New System Allows Drone Operators to Notify Airports of Flights in Real Time

Airspace information provider AirMap and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), through the Airport Innovation Accelerator, have launched the Digital Notice and Awareness System (D-NAS), which allows unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators to provide airports with real-time digital information about the location of their flights.

According to AirMap, D-NAS allows a UAS operator to send an encrypted digital flight notice to a secure dashboard at an airport’s operations center. Flight information can be submitted through many different UAS interfaces, including flying apps provided by drone manufacturers such as DJI, Yuneec and 3DR.

AirMap explains that these connections facilitate the transmission of safety-critical information to airports, including the GPS location of the UAS flight. Participating airports will access this information through the AirMap D-NAS dashboard, which provides a map view of flights in proximity to the airport and the option to contact the UAS operator directly.

More than 50 airports across America have already joined the D-NAS pilot program, including Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports; Denver International Airport; Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi; Charlotte-Douglas Airport in North Carolina; Reno-Tahoe Airport in Nevada; New Castle Airport in Delaware; Cape May Airport in New Jersey; Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska; and the Oxnard and Camarillo airports in Ventura County, Calif.

“Everyone involved in aviation sees the promise and potential of unmanned aircraft,” explains Ben Marcus, CEO of AirMap. “However, we can’t reach the potential of this amazing technology unless we ensure that safety-critical information keeps pace with innovation. We are focused on building the tools for unmanned aircraft to safely integrate into the national airspace system.”

“Participation in the D-NAS pilot was a no-brainer for us,” notes Steve Runge, division manager for the Houston Airport System. “In the face of growing concerns over UAS operations near airports, AirMap has developed an effective and unique solution. D-NAS is a game-changer for how we will manage low-altitude air safety.”