Smart manned/unmanned air/water space use

DIOL partners will assess the challenge to air/sea traffic safety/security posed by increased operations due to larger scale offshore projects with manned/unmanned vehicles operating concurrently in the same space. Partners will analyse viability and mix balance of drones, CTV and (eletrically/bio-fuel/hybrid powered) helicopters that may be handled sustainably in the future with counterparts in the energy islands and prepare technical specifications for tests.

The long-distance flight tests being organised together with Pilot 1 are expected to prove the feasibility of safe mixed use of aerial space, highlighting existing permit and legal challenges.

DRONE FLIGHTS DEMOS

test flight with DanPilot (Danish State Pilotage) at the Port of Esbjerg, with the ´Lone´ drone -named after the Port Engineer Lone Arendt Rasmussen-, at a 75m altitude, hovering over the ARK DANIA, a DFDS RoRo vessel situated 700 metres from the entrance to the harbour (29/11/2024);
low-level test flight by Skeydrone with the S&R Helicopter of the Belgian Defense (NH90) proving drones´ capacity to detect/avoid manned aviation (helicopters) using skeye radar system and data;
180 km BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flight from the Offshore Drone Campus Cuxhaven (ODCC) to Heligoland and back (04/12/2024). The mission showcased the feasibility of civil BVLOS operations over open water, with applications in infrastructure protection, environmental monitoring, and maritime emergency support.

DRONE FLIGHTS DEMOS PLANNED

Long distance inspection drone flight test from Den Helder Airport (10/03/2026). This will leave the 12 mile zone for an inspection mission of 7 hours;
Heligoland to Windfarm (contract awarded to DSV) in June 2026;
Heligoland to Esbjerg (contract awarded to ADLC) in June 2026.