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DRONE UP! WE ARE READY z by RANKO VUICA, CROATIA CONTROL LTD
It is easy to be a drone user in Croatia Increased use of RPAS/UAS systems and the number of RPAS/UAS users and their operations in airspace represent a significant challenge for the whole aviation community. This change mostly has affected air navigation service providers. Croatia Control (CCL) recognized this coming trend and the distinctive characteristics of the new RPAS/UAS users, and started to integrate them into air traffic management in 2016 by developing a concept and then developing a functional web-based airspace management tool. The tool was envisaged as a means for informing airspace users about all relevant events, by applying the regulations and flexible airspace management principles at the same time. The AMC Portal was launched in June 2017. What is the AMC Portal? The AMC Portal is a web-based airspace management tool developed by Croatia Control’s experts. It provides relevant information to all airspace users in real time and enables direct communication between all airspace users and the ATM and ASM organizations. By providing targeted information, it gives users an opportunity to make reservations of airspace by directly submitting a request and communicating with the ASM
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organization. The tool is adapted for use on a wide variety of computers and mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets (Android & iOS). A step forward – INTEGRATION Through the cooperation of all competent services (CCL, Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia), the national legislation in the field of RPAS/UAS flying has been changed to enable a more flexible and faster process of approving RPAS/UAS flights for the user, by automating the approval process, when possible from the safety perspective. Simultaneously with the change of legislation began the creation of the AMC Portal Mobile – a mobile application for the existing AMC Portal – the implementation of which was a prerequisite for automating the approval process. The AMC Portal Mobile applications for iOS and Android became free for download by all airspace users in the Republic of Croatia as of January 2019. Now, the AMC Portal and the AMC Portal Mobile are IT solutions which have made it possible to fully integrate RPAS/UAS operations into the national ATM system in
a safe manner. That integration has led to automating the mass use of small RPAS/UAS systems in Croatian airspace in a safe manner and by reducing the workload of the competent services and the ATM system. They have gained a real-time insight into the real location and current activities of RPAS/UAS systems, as well as the possibility to communicate directly with each currently active RPAS/UAS user via the AMC Portal. If necessary, it is also possible to stop individual or group activities in a given area in case of unforeseen events. The AMC Portal and its applications represent a powerful tool which has integrated all airspace activities and given its users a unique overview of those activities. Learn more information at amc.crocontrol. hr.
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