Controlled Airspace Coordination

In plain language

If you want to fly in Portuguese controlled airspace where U-space is not active, you must coordinate and agree on a process with the local Air Traffic Services (ATS) before applying to ANAC.

Requirement as structured

ANAC's cross-border guidance states that when operating in Portuguese controlled airspace where no U-space is implemented, UAS operators should contact the ATS unit and agree the coordination process before submitting the application to ANAC.

Original regulatory text

\- Filled and signed application form; \- A copy of the operational authorization issued by the competent authority of the MS of registration, or a copy of the LUC terms of reference if the operation is conducted under the privileges of the LUC; \- Those chapter(s)/section(s) of the operations manual (OM) providing the operational procedures and the relevant information, amended as necessary, to comply with the local conditions and apply the mitigation measures to the new intended location(s), unless the UAS operator holds a LUC with the appropriate privileges; and \- Evidence of compliance of the amended procedures (refer to previous point) according to the level of robustness of the mitigation measures, if any, unless the UAS operator has a LUC with the appropriate privileges. Note: An ANAC decision is always required including If the LUC holder have the privilege to apply local conditions. If the privileges include an airspace reservation as a mitigation, the local conditions related with the Portuguese airspace management require an ANAC decision. No civilian airspace allocation is possible (e.g. NOTAM, airspace reservation) in the Portuguese Airspace without an approval of ANAC. Any airspace allocation needs to be limited in time and airspace (minimum to achieve the objective). The airspace should be used efficiently, meaning that NOTAM with low rate of utilisation, blocking the access to other undertakings, for example, UAS operators and manned aviation airspace users isn’t tolerable. The concept of continuity and availability of airspace should be always be present when proposing mitigations. If operating in Portuguese Controlled airspace and no U-space is implemented, the UAS operators should contact and agree the coordination process with the ATS unit before submit the application to ANAC. If U-space is available a lighter process adjusted to the specific airspace could be proposed and included in the manual (coordination procedure only in case of emergency). The process of coordination could be different from unit to unit since the capacity to participate in the coordination could be reduced due to the high traffic demand and need to focus in ATC service provision. The air risk increases in Portugal during the summer near the coastline (SPO manned operations and crowded beaches) and in AGIF wildfire risk priority areas (low level operational and training manned aviation operations during the wildfire season). The operation is conducted both by civilian and military aircrafts (real operations and training). Lakes, rivers and dams or internal waters will have an increased encounter risk (ditching training to collect water). A failure to properly assess these local conditions, information available in AIP supplements, NOTAMs or in public state information could lead to a situation of not issuing the confirmation of acceptability or of confirmation of receipt and completeness.