Out of Sight, Out of Safety: Europe Needs a Common Digital Language for Airspace
On October 27, during the panel discussion on the Conspicuity Roadmap: The question is no longer whether an eConspicuity mandate is needed, but how we should structure it. There was broad support across all aviation communities. This is a strong signal, and it was clearly summarized at the end by Maria Algar Ruiz, who moderated the panel.
Our goal at UAV DACH: Europe needs a common digital language in its airspace. Interoperability based on harmonized standards—ADS-B for larger aircraft and ADS-L for lower airspace—rather than permanently fragmented national systems. For us, eConspicuity is more than just a safety device. It is the foundation for the digitization of airspace and, in addition to providing traffic information, enables identification, transparency for the public, and—in the future—the authorization of drone operations. The requirements must be risk-based and aligned with the actual airspace and operational risks. And the roadmap must not end at 120 m or 500 ft AGL: larger UAS and higher altitudes must also be included.
One point that came up repeatedly in the discussion is particularly important to us: Visibility alone does not make the airspace safe. Only through shared avoidance rules, the further development of SERA, and clearly defined procedures can we ensure that both manned and unmanned aircraft are aware of their rights, obligations, and expected responses.
There was a great deal of synergy here. Stefan Ronig (Section Manager for UAS, EASA) confirmed that ADS-L and eConspicuity are central to UAS integration, while also rightly calling for robust performance data on range, coverage, latency, and reliability. Timo Schubert (EU Policy Advisor, Europe Air Sports) advocated for affordable, interoperable ADS-L solutions, and Marco Festa (Director of Avionic Products, funke AVIONICS) demonstrated that, from a manufacturer’s perspective, the technologies are already available and that a common standard can function across different transmission paths. Oliver Dismore (Technical & Safety Executive, EHA) hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that the absence of traffic information must never be confused with clear airspace—which is precisely why common procedures are needed.
Key message: Visibility enables avoidance. Common rules and procedures turn that capability into predictable aviation safety.
Now it's time to focus on implementation: a harmonized ADS-L-based ecosystem, defined performance requirements, a financially viable rollout, and the adaptation of European aviation regulations.