The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, in collaboration with EUROCAE, has published the final report entitled “Update of Higher Airspace Demand Analysis and Market Developments,” marking a significant milestone in its work on the Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) domain.
The European Commission has tasked EASA with developing a draft EU regulatory framework for HAO, targeting emerging aircraft such as high-altitude platform systems, stratospheric balloons, supersonic/hypersonic transports, and certain sub-orbital commercial vehicles qualifying as aircraft. The report published today is the final report on sub-task 2.2 within Task 2: Scientific Studies of the broader HAO project.
Key Insights & Regulatory Implications:
- Technological advancements and new business models — particularly high-altitude platforms, supersonic/hypersonic aircraft, and sub-orbital commercial vehicles — are fueling interest in higher-altitude operations.
- The report highlights the urgency of establishing robust regulatory and operational frameworks.
- Rapid advancements in these sectors demand swift regulatory adaptation.
- Identified regulatory gaps call for harmonized safety, traffic management, and environmental standards to accommodate new vehicle types.
- Findings will inform Task 3: Regulatory Preparation, leading to a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) for EU-level rules.
This report lays a scientific and market-based foundation for developing a comprehensive EU regulatory framework that ensures safety while encouraging innovation. It represents a crucial step toward enabling resilient higher-altitude operations in Europe for the next decade and beyond.
