As the drone service market continues to grow and take shape in Europe, the pressure is on to make sure that these air vehicles are safely and securely integrated into our already busy airspace. Transforming infrastructure to support such operations is critical to harnessing the potential of the sector, unlocking market growth, jobs and services to EU citizens. But a simple adaptation of our current air traffic management system is not enough; accommodating these air vehicles in the numbers forecasted requires a new approach.
Source: Florian Guillermet, Former Executive Directorof SESAR Joint Undertaking, 2020
Deploying U-Space and providing fully integrated, interoperable services to U-Space stakeholders—including local authorities, Air Traffic Services Providers, U-Space Services Providers, and Common Information Services Providers—is presenting new challenges for airspace management. Airspace is a public and limited resource that must accommodate state-of-the-art unmanned vehicles and conventional piloted aircraft while upholding current safety standards in air transport.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer a diverse range of new aerial services, contingent on their ability to operate routinely Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS), especially in congested airspace over densely populated urban areas. These innovative flying objects have the potential to completely transform assets inspection and management, middle-mile logistics, transportation of goods and people, law enforcement, emergency response, and search and rescue services. This transformation would improve safety, security, and reduce environmental impact, making significant strides toward global targets in decarbonization and digitalization.
Amid this challenging landscape, Cristiano Baldoni, a seasoned airspace engineer with 35 years of experience, established uspace.consulting, a consulting company aimed at guiding and supporting stakeholders through the complexity of U-Space, including its rules, processes, and fundamentals.
Whether you’re a drone operator seeking to expand your business, a local authority interested in utilizing aerial services for your community or institutions, or a company aiming to develop U-Space services, uspace.consulting offers assistance, networking, advice, assessments, software development, and potential partnership opportunities or co-investments. Reach out to us at info@uspace.consulting for a complimentary quotation tailored to your needs. We’ll be delighted to respond as promptly as possible.
Cristiano Baldoni
Armed with a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, I embarked on my career journey as a Young Graduate at ESA/ESTEC. I subsequently served as a Spacecraft Operations Engineer for the ESA Infrared Space Observatory Scientific Mission (ISO), contributing my expertise at ESA/ESOC in Germany and the ESA Operation Centre in Villafranca de el Castillo, Spain. From 1996 to 2000, I honed my IT skills, initially as a senior consultant at an Italian IT firm located in Milan and Rome, followed by a role at a Swiss IT company based in Bern.
In the year 2000, I founded eMakers, a Swiss company aimed at providing management consulting services across various Information Technology domains, as well as program and project management, catering to both public and private European enterprises.
Since 2000, my tenure with ENAV, the Italian Air Navigation Services Provider, has seen me take on managerial responsibilities. I actively contributed to shaping the SESAR Programme, playing a pivotal role since its inception in 2003. I was among the ten signatories involved in the six primary SESAR Development Phase deliveries (2006-2008). Subsequently, I represented ENAV consistently in the SESAR Executive Committee for SESAR I and SESAR II Programme Management until 2020.
Between 2015 and 2018, alongside my involvement in SESAR, I oversaw the ENAV Communication, Navigation, Surveillance, and Meteo Organisational Unit. This division was responsible for a substantial portion of ENAV’s annual investments and operational costs related to ground equipment management. During this period, I actively engaged in various international innovative projects and collaborations, including Aireon, EGNOS, Galileo, Remote Tower, Satellite Aeronautical Communication, and Datalink initiatives.
Having envisioned UTM’s potential in early 2014, I assumed the role of CEO at d-flight S.p.A., an ENAV spin-off dedicated to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Traffic Management (UTM), based on my original concept.
In 2021-2022, I became a part of the Drone Leaders’ Group operating under the auspices of the EU Commission’s DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT. Our group produced the primary report that led to the EU Commission’s release of the ‘Drone Strategy 2.0 for a Smart and Sustainable Unmanned Aircraft Eco-System in Europe.’
Towards the conclusion of 2023, I made the decision to forge ahead and redefine my professional endeavors. Regarded as one of the foremost U-Space and UTM experts globally, my extensive international experience has enabled me to build a wide network of relationships and connections among experts, industry stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers, and regulators across Europe, North America and Middle-East.