Hamburg takes off: First EU drone test corridor to be established in the Hanseatic city

In the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the future vision of urban air mobility is taking shape. With the ambitious project "BLU-Space," the metropolis becomes the venue for the first European test area for drone traffic management. The local economic authority revealed plans to connect real-life air traffic data for the first time, thus seamlessly integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into daily operations. This avant-garde of air traffic promises to make the integration of drones into civilian airspace a routine matter, thereby opening the door to new potentials. The realization of this visionary project is a collective mission: Hamburg is supported by a network of diverse stakeholders. These include the German Air Traffic Control GmbH, the HHLA subsidiary anchored in port logistics, and the Port Authority HPA. Specifically, HHLA Sky, already well-versed in drone operations, will provide their advanced technologies. These are intended to make the conquest of the lower airspace for industrial and commercial drone flights safe and efficient. Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, praises the city's excellent conditions for such an experimental field. She highlights the complexity of an urban infrastructure, consisting of dense population and significant industrial zones, as the ideal environment to address challenges across Germany. According to Volker Wissing, the Federal Minister of Transport, "BLU-Space" will play a pivotal role in securing and economizing Germany's air mobility. Wissing projects it as a component of essential competitive advantages for the local "Drone Economy." An indispensable basis for the autonomous flying of drones beyond visual line of sight is the so-called U-Space airspace. A key requirement is the coordinated and communicated position determination between all involved systems. BLU-Space aims to ensure uniform and safe coordination and to guarantee the integration of relevant authorities and services into practical implementation.