Rijeka Demonstration Marks a Step Towards Safe and Scalable U-Space Operations

The FAB CE U-space Coordination Group (UCG) successfully completed its first integrated U-space proof-of-concept demonstration at the Port of Rijeka on October 2, 2026, bringing together all U-space services, automated drone operations over a 5G network and coordination with conventional aviation.

The event was supported by Croatia Control (CCL), the Port of Rijeka Authority, drone manufacturer ORQA, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA). The AMC Portal system, developed by Omniaspect under the guidance of Croatia Control (CCL), provided the digital platform supporting the demonstration.

The demonstration showed how an integrated digital environment can support multiple automated drone flights and provide a foundation for future large-scale operations. Dynamic Airspace Reconfiguration (DAR) procedures demonstrated how drone operations can adapt to changing airspace requirements, including those associated with instrument approaches and helicopter emergency medical services.

A drone detection unit added a security dimension, complementing information from participating drones with the capability to detect unknown or potentially unauthorized traffic. Together, these capabilities illustrated the importance of connecting flight management, airspace coordination and security monitoring.

The proof of concept provides practical evidence to inform future operational U-space implementation. It demonstrated the value of cooperation between air navigation services, authorities, drone manufacturers and technology providers in developing safe, secure and scalable operations.