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Thales has been awarded a landmark contract by Finland’s VTT to provide its advanced UTM solution, TopSky – AstraUTM, as a first step of an ambitious programme to enable safe and efficient air mobility operations across Finland. The contract will include services such as UAS flight authorization, geo-awareness and network identification, and traffic information services, ensuring seamless and secure drone operations in compliance with EU Regulation 2021/664.

The U-Space Finland¹ Precommercial Pilot Implementation project, part of VTT’s Drolo 2 Project, aims to develop and deploy automated, secure, scalable drone systems, products and services. This will support a wide range of drone applications, including logistics, agriculture, forestry, airport and construction operations. Additionally, the project seeks to establish a robust Finnish Drolo innovation and business ecosystem which will accelerate development and secure a competitive edge in the drone industry. The aim is that U-Space services, within european regulations, can be launched, tested and piloted in Finland making it the first or one of the first countries to do so.

The Living Lab test environment based in the Oulu region of Finland, as part of the Drolo project, is ideal in many ways, as it combines piloting with various service needs and flight environments, such as a medium-sized international airport, seaport, inhabited island, medium-sized city center and a 5G development centre.

This initiative marks a key milestone in the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into Finnish airspace, ensuring operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with EU regulations.VTT needed a scalable, cloud-based U-Space system for research and operations, and TopSky-AstraUTM delivers real-time traffic management, compliance monitoring, and safe integration of unmanned and manned flights, with added weather services for enhanced safety and decision-making.

“This collaboration with Thales marks an important step in Finland’s journey to establish a robust and efficient U-Space framework. By leveraging Thales’s expertise and technology, we aim to test a safe, scalable, and innovative environment for unmanned aviation operations, positioning Finland at the forefront of U-Space adoption and airspace innovation.”
Timo Lind, Principal Scientist and Chief Drone Pilot at VTT.

“We are honored to collaborate with VTT in advancing U-Space integration in Finland. This award underscores Thales’s leadership in delivering advanced UTM solutions that are compliant with the most rigorous safety and regulatory standards. Our solution will empower Finland’s drone operators to unlock the full potential of UAS technology, while maintaining the highest safety and security standards.”
Jeremy Hooper, Vice-President Air Traffic Control and Digital, Thales.

¹U-Space Finland refers to a set of regulatory frameworks and technological solutions designed to support the safe and efficient integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, into the airspace. This concept is part of a broader initiative in Europe aiming to facilitate drone operations, particularly in urban areas and for various applications such as delivery services, emergency response, and surveillance.

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Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd. (Fintraffic ANS), the designated Air Navigation Service Provider for Finland, has launched a comprehensive new digital platform, Fintraffic Sky, developed in collaboration with AstraUTM, a Thales Company. Designed to serve all aviation stakeholders, including pilots, drone operators, and government officials such as Customs and Border Guard authorities, Fintraffic Sky centralizes critical aviation data and services in a single, user-friendly interface.

Fintraffic Sky streamlines the process of filing flight plans and notifying authorities of airspace usage intentions, supporting both manned and unmanned aviation. The platform provides a real-time situational awareness view of Finland’s airspace, including active flights and reserved zones.

“This new service enhances the accessibility and usability of our information and tools,” said Raine Luojus, CEO of Fintraffic ANS. “It reflects our commitment to safe, modern, and customer-focused services, aligning with our digital strategy to support the evolving needs of the aviation community.”

The initial architecture of the Fintraffic Sky platform was developed in partnership with leading Finnish IT consultancy Solita. AstraUTM, a Thales Company was selected for their proven Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solution and user-centric design capabilities. Fintraffic Sky integrates key features such as real-time airspace visualization, advanced flight planning tools, and connectivity with Eurocontrol’s EAD and Network Manager.

“Our journey with Fintraffic has been highly interactive and collaborative,” said Asam Khan, CEO of AstraUTM a Thales Company “This partnership has enabled us to deliver tailored capabilities that not only meet Fintraffic’s goals but also strengthen the foundation for future ATM-UTM integration.”

“The project was carried out with great mutual trust and professionalism,” added Pasi Nikama, Director of Marketing and Customer Relations at Fintraffic ANS. “The synergy between AstraUTM, a Thales Company, Solita, and Fintraffic was instrumental to the project’s success.”

Looking ahead, Fintraffic Sky will expand to include full aviation weather data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI). The integration will offer innovative weather tools designed to meet the specific needs of both traditional and unmanned aviation sectors.

“We’re thrilled to bring our regulated and commercial weather products to the market through Fintraffic Sky,” said Riikka Pusa of FMI. “It represents a modern, accessible approach to delivering essential meteorological data to all airspace users.”

The national launch in Finland will follow at the Lentoon event on May 24.

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This strategic partnership with Avinor, the Norwegian air navigation service provider and airport operator, will enable the deployment of ​ Norway’s next-generation nationwide Unmanned Traffic Management system. This collaboration represents a major step forward in Norway’s airspace management, combining innovation with strict regulatory compliance. It also signifies a key milestone for Thales in the integration of AstraUTM, a recently acquired leader in cutting-edge UTM software development.

With its newly released product Topsky – UAS powered by AstraUTM, Thales will provide a safe and scalable digital platform for automated UTM and future AAM (Advanced Airspace Mobility). This system will efficiently manage air traffic in the vicinity of airports and metropolitan, suburban, and regional areas, offering capabilities such as compliance monitoring, authorisation management, real-time decision-making, continuous airspace surveillance, automated conflict resolution, and rapid response to dynamic conditions.

Ensuring safety and compliance in Norwegian skies

Avinor’s new UTM system aims to provide essential services for various stakeholders, including drone operators, air traffic service providers (ATSP), government agencies, and other key players in Norway in relation to the low altitude airspace management. The system will meet regulatory standards as specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664, alongside the Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material for U-space management, ensuring that all services meet the highest standards of safety and operational transparency.

This UTM system will integrate safe, efficient and predictable access services such as the Common Information Service (CIS) and U-space Service Provider (USSP) provisions, ensuring complete regulatory compliance in U-space designated airspaces.

Enabling efficient UAS operations at scale nationwide ​

Through the implementation and management of a nationwide UTM system, Norway will benefit from robust unmanned traffic management solutions that support the diverse requirements of both civilian and governmental stakeholders. The system will deliver advanced real-time data sharing, streamlined and automated airspace access, and enhanced situational awareness to enable operations at scale in Norway’s dynamic airspace environment for all operators in the manned and unmanned airspace.

“We are honored to collaborate with Avinor to bring this nationwide UTM system to life in Norway, prioritising safety, innovation, and, naturally, regulatory alignment. Together with Avinor, we embrace the development of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) services in non-segregated airspaces, enabling technologies that make it simple and economical to perform safe, repeatable and scalable commercial UAS operations. Our UTM solutions, recently enhanced with AstraUTM, a Thales company, reflect Thales’ commitment to advancing airspace management and setting the foundation for safe and integrated air mobility.”
Christian Rivierre, Vice-President Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales.

“At Avinor, we are proud to be an active contributor in developing uncrewed aviation in Norway. Partnering with Thales on this next-generation UTM system reflects our dedication to advancing uncrewed operations in Norwegian airspace. This system will support Avinor’s role in ensuring the safe and efficient integration of drones, providing oversight, and managing airspace responsibly. We are excited to work with Thales as a strategic partner to deliver a solution that benefits all airspace users and supports air traffic services in managing drone operations.”
Mats Bye Gjertsen, Vice-President Avinor Drone Programme.

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AstraUTM, based in Dubai, has been at the forefront of Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, pioneering technologies that facilitate the seamless integration of drones into existing airspace. Their innovative systems have already made significant impacts across various sectors, including logistics, surveillance, and emergency services. By becoming part of Thales, AstraUTM is poised to amplify its reach and capabilities, leveraging Thales’s extensive resources and global infrastructure.

The collaboration between AstraUTM and Thales is not new; they have previously worked together under a strategic relationship that laid the groundwork for this acquisition. Thales plans to integrate AstraUTM’s cutting-edge solutions into its digital product offerings, providing a comprehensive drone traffic management system. This move underscores Thales’s commitment to leading the rapidly evolving UTM market, where substantial investments are being made to ensure safe drone operations.

“We are pleased to take our strategic relationship with Thales to the next level. Building upon our strong interaction with Thales over the last year and a half has allowed us together to address the burgeoning UTM sector with an innovative and leading market solution whose capabilities continue to evolve and expand.”
Asam Khan, CEO and Founder of AstraUTM

Pioneering the Future of Advanced Air Mobility

The UTM industry is burgeoning, and mastering this technology is essential for the future of Air Traffic Management (ATM). Thales envisions a shift towards highly automated systems that incorporate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Their goal is to create a scalable digital traffic management platform capable of overseeing air traffic in urban and regional areas. This platform will feature real-time monitoring, automated conflict resolution, and rapid responses to changing conditions—ensuring safety and efficiency in our skies.

Unlocking New Opportunities

For AstraUTM, joining the Thales ecosystem opens doors to an expansive network of expertise and resources. This merger allows AstraUTM to accelerate its growth trajectory, expand into new markets, and enhance its innovative UTM products. In return, Thales gains the agility and disruptive mindset that AstraUTM embodies—a perfect blend of established expertise and fresh innovation.

Together, Thales and AstraUTM are uniquely positioned to shape the future of aviation through smarter systems and more efficient operations. Their shared vision emphasizes innovation, safety, and sustainability, ensuring that as air mobility evolves, it does so responsibly and effectively.

This merger marks just the beginning of an exciting journey. Both companies are committed to delivering unparalleled value to their customers and partners while advancing the aviation industry as a whole. As they embark on this new chapter together, they invite everyone to stay tuned for bold innovations that will define the future of aviation

Welcome to a new era of aviation innovation — Welcome to Thales & AstraUTM!

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SkyLink UAS partnership with  Astra UTM one of the world’s leading Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technology providers, announces the first commercial use of the Astra UTM in Australia for R2F (Ready to Fly) next commercial drone survey project, R2F announced this week the successful application of CASA approval to 3D model survey of two regional airports in South Australia for one of their clients, consisting of drone flights using jointly developed UTM solution to monitor airspace awareness.

The SkyLink UTM platform will be powered by Astra UTM, delivering advanced airspace awareness, flight tracking for UAVs and General Aviation. It enables drones to be safely integrated into controlled airspace and ensures they are visible to and can be kept distant from other air traffic.

During October and November 2021, R2F will be using a DJI M300 RTK UAV equipped with a DJI P1 camera sensor. The DJI M300 will be connected and tracked using Astra UTM 4G tracker unit on the drone. The fully autonomous flights will be initiated and monitored by a RPAS pilot in command from the take-off and landing sites within the airports area of operations. With the aid of a visual observer, manned aviation will be tracked, monitored, and managed using the Astra UTM platform by a SkyLink UAS air traffic controller at SkyLink UAS HQ located in Uralla, New South Wales.

Jia Childs Founder and Chief Remote Pilot of R2F said: “With the UTM platform offering full situational awareness to the RPAS operations team, this enables us in reducing air risk during operations on and over the airports. During the flights, the system can detect any possible conflict with a commercial aircraft far more effectively and at a greater range than ground personnel alone. Astra UTM will trigger any warnings to de-conflict if aircraft are approaching the airport, allowing appropriate avoidance action to be taken early. Backed up by the SkyLink UAS Air Traffic Controller located at SkyLink UAS HQ who will be communicating directly to the pilot’s visual observer via the Astra UTM mobile application messaging feature and voice communication throughout the operations, the visual observer can remain focused on monitoring the air band radio and approach paths to advise the pilot in command of any approaching manned aircraft.”

Scott Hamey, SkyLink UAS Head of Air Traffic Management, said: “Our partnership with Astra UTM in the development of SkyLink UTM system for Australia has, in as little under six months, engineered a platform which has the power to save lives and revolutionise the way operators deploy BVLOS services in Australia. As an example, emergency services and first responders would be able to use drones alongside manned aircraft in the most challenging of scenarios.”

Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer at Astra UTM said: “It is a proud moment for Astra UTM to go operational in Australia – one of the biggest markets for drone operations with diverse use cases. We are also finally seeing integration across multiple platforms each delivering workflows seamlessly for various phases of drone operations – from mission planning, flight authorisations to Network RID based tracking of flights enabling real-time 2-way communications between UTM and Ground Stations/Autopilot systems. Astra UTM has committed to a comprehensive development roadmap specific to Australian requirements and we look forward to supporting drone operators here achieve scale in their operations.”

SkyLink UAS have had very large interests from Energy, Mining, Construction Sectors, Emergency Services and Australia’s current and future BVLOS approved operators being a part of our Australian UTM commercial trials which establishes how SkyLink UTM can be quickly deployed within their organisation, and the trials will demonstrate how the UTM platform will perform in a real-world environment. The commercial trials will provide a real-world demonstration of how a UTM can be used to allow manned and unmanned aircraft to operate in close proximity, safely and securely. With BVLOS operations now a reality, and drone pilot crews can operate a UAV remotely and beyond the horizon, boosting the commercial viability of unmanned aerial operations.

SkyLink UAS has also partnered with DroneLogbook Australia with their API integration that pushes approved mission details into Astra UTM from DroneLogbook’s operations and compliance management cloud software, to automate the creation of flight requests within the Astra UTM platform for approval, and the syncing of personnel and drones data information via the API speeds up the onboarding process and sync’s changes between both platforms for DroneLogbook Private Label users.

About Astra UTM:
ASTRA UTM is a world leading UTM solutions provider with multiple national deployments. The ASTRA platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to service the drone services industry.

www.astrautm.com

About SkyLink UAS:
SkyLink UAS Founder & CEO Mark Askey and Co-Founder Scott Hamey have teamed up with Australian and Global drone technology partners to offer BVLOS eco-systems capabilities that will enable enterprise clients the tools to manage and perform BVLOS operations efficiently and safely.

Behind the technological innovation of these systems, and with cross platform integration our systems solutions, will reduce workflow of managing, planning, training, for BVLOS approvals and delivering ROI to Enterprise Drone Service Providers in Australia, to drive substantial investment of the Australian Drone Industry move towards BVLOS operations in 2022 and offer a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners to their clients. For further information, follow us: LinkedIn

www.skylink-uas.com.au

www.skylink-utm.com.au

About R2F:

Ready to Fly (R2F) is an Australian-based drone service company that specialize in commercial and industrial asset inspections, mapping, and aerial surveys. R2F’s expertise includes the delivery of projects in high risk or sensitive environments while maintaining critical controls and data quality requirements.

www.r2f.com.au

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AstraUTM adds 3 key ISO certifications AstraUTM is thrilled to announce that after having undergone a series of audits and review by accredited auditors, the company has been awarded 3 key ISO certifications for ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO/IEC 20000-1 for Quality Management Systems, Information Security Management & IT Service Management respectively. 

“We are extremely proud to have achieved these internationally recognized certifications which further validate our commitment to quality, security and excellence in customer service”, said AstraUTM CEO, Asam Khan. 

The Quality Management System (QMS) certification ISO 9001 recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. 

The Information Security Management System (ISMS) certification ISO 27001 recognizes organizations that have implemented best practices for information security management. The standard is based on a risk management approach and provides a framework that organizations can use to identify, assess, and manage risks to their information and information systems. 

The IT Service Management System (ITSMS) certification ISO/IEC 20000-1 recognizes organizations that have implemented best practices for IT service management. The standard is based on a process approach and provides a framework that organizations can use to plan, implement, operate, monitor, and improve their IT service management system. 

“Aviation clients are one of the most demanding across industries – in terms of assurance and compliance. Achieving these certifications required a comprehensive review of AstraUTM’s processes and procedures across all departments and functions. Having achieved these certifications goes a long way in proving our commitment to delivering excellence” said Ayhan Kamil, CCO at AstraUTM.

About Astra UTM

Astra UTM is a world leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system with multiple national deployments. The Astra platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to facilitate the needs of the drone services industry.  More details can be found at www.astrautm.com

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Astra UTM showcases the future of drone traffic management at Zaragoza Drone Hub Inauguration

Astra UTM delivered a unique showcase of simultaneous drone flights being tracked in real-time at the launch of the HERA Drone Hub in the City of Zaragoza. The inauguration aims to establish Zaragoza as the first and the only city in Europe to authorize a space for testing, experimentation and training of drones in an urban environment with a strategic focus on the future of mobility and advanced aerial mobility.

“Zaragoza wants to be the European reference city for advanced mobility. The mobility of the future will be connected and autonomous, terrestrial and air, and that is why we have been working from the Public Services Area of the City Council so that Zaragoza is a reference in this sector. We are strongly committed to the future and the future is already here, in the form of urban air mobility. And we are doing it with facts,” said the mayor of Zaragoza, Jorge Azcón, at the inauguration today of Hera Drone Hub.

The extraordinary location of Hera Drone Hub, next to the AVE station and in the middle of the Ebro corridor, is a perfect location to experience the transformation of urban mobility and train new air, land and aquatic uses. The geographical situation of Zaragoza thus allows to develop a holistic project with industries such as energy, automotive and logistics and in which the Zaragoza City Council will also carry out the flight tests of the European project FLYING FORWARD, selected in the call for the H2020 program “Towards sustainable urban air mobility”.

On its launch, Hera Drone Hub hosted a flight demonstration test of four drone operations monitored and managed with the Astra UTM system in urban segregated space – simulating an urban multi use-case scenario in the future of UTM and AAM. The demonstration was coordinated by Everis through the Astra UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) platform, integrated with the AIRUS services of Everis and Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia.

According to Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer at Astra UTM, “We believe that city councils and municipalities are starting to recognize the potential economical advantages that UTM and UAM readiness can bring about – and as a result we are seeing an uptake in the interest and commitment to UTM from the relevant stakeholders – eventually UTM benefits both the operators and the airspace managers. We are excited about the integration with Everis AIRUS services, which demonstrates the capability of our platform to cater to varied regulatory framework architectures.”

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Astra UTM to implement initial UTM services with Fintraffic Air Navigation Services

Astra UTM is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Fintraffic Air Navigation Services to implement the initial UTM-centric services in Finland. Astra UTM will be delivering the Situational Awareness and Briefing Facility systems for Fintraffic ANS’s Digital Business Platform which is a collaborative initiative under Traffic Management Company Fintraffic Ltd. 

According to Pasi Nikama Senior Vice President, CMO & CCO of Fintraffic ANS “Advanced new digital services will contribute to the growth of the traffic ecosystems and will support new business to serve current and future market trends in the transportation sector in Finland. A defined set of federated services and associated functions will enable and support safe and efficient multiple simultaneous traffic operations – first focusing on manned air traffic, followed by unmanned air traffic and sea and land.”

The Situational Awareness module will allow for real-time map based status of the use of airspace for all airspace users. Additionally, users will be able to access usage history and planned airspace activity in the future.  The Briefing Facility service will aim for a better user experience by taking advantage of the SA and new services such as a flight plan acknowledgment and reminder service for the pilot, a storage and retrieval service for previous flight plans, and various equipment registries. These functions will be there to serve both manned and unmanned air traffic.

According to Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer of Astra UTM “ The Situational Awareness and Briefing Facility systems, will not only cater to unmanned activities, but also for VFR flight planning and manned aviation services, making this project truly unique and a showcase of how ATM and UTM will eventually come together.”

About Fintraffic ANS

Fintraffic facilitates mobility on the land, in the air and at sea. We help people and goods get where they are going, safely and smoothly while caring for the environment. Smart traffic management services, digital services for consumers and businesses, and real-time traffic data are helping Finland become a pioneer in sustainable transport and logistics. We employ 1,100 professionals. 

Fintraffic ANS provides the en-route services as well as aerodrome control services and approach control services for 22 airports in Finland. En-route services include area control services in Finland, airspace management, aeronautical search and rescue and air traffic flow management. Company is also responsible for providing air navigation technological services. 

Link to Fintraffic Press Release. Click Here. 

About Astra UTM

Astra UTM is a world leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system with multiple national deployments. The Astra platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to facilitate the needs of the drone services industry.  More details can be found at www.astrautm.com

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