Key demonstrations of the EU’s unmanned drone services scheme U-Space have been run in the ports of Valencia and Seville in Spain.
The tests demonstrated unmanned drone flights, including those conducted beyond visual line of sight (BLVOS), performing services such as logistics and emergency response in complex port environments.
The three-year €14 million (US$14.6 million) U-ELCOME project involves 51 partners and aims to support the market uptake of services such as drone registration, flight planning and approval tracking, and interfacing with air traffic control across Europe.
Large-scale validation testing of the drone services is taking place in three countries Spain, France and Italy as part of U-ELCOME.
Valencia Demonstration
On January 23 the Port of Valencia served as the setting for a U-space validation exercise with drones in an emergency drill. The event, organized by the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Valencia Port Authority, featured participation from customs surveillance, the local police and fire departments, and the companies UAV Works and PrimeCor Systems.
The Valencia demonstration highlighted the ability of U-space services to coordinate multiple drone operations simultaneously, including anchorage zone surveillance, topographical assessments, emergency logistics and public safety support.
The setup simulated a real-time emergency response scenario, centralizing operations in an advanced command post to demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated drone management.
Operations were managed through the U-space ecosystem, involving U-space service providers such as Spanish air navigation service provider ENAIRE, DALIAH (associated with the Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia), and DronAS (DroneLab of the Autonomous University of Barcelona), alongside the national Common Information Service Provider (CISP) managed by ENAIRE.
Seville Demonstration
Following the testing in Valencia, the Port of Seville hosted a demonstration on February 8, focusing on drone applications for logistics and infrastructure monitoring. This event, organized by ENAIRE, the Seville Port Authority, and the AIRUS consortium, tested how U-space services can support safe, efficient, and scalable drone operations in port environments.
The Seville trials featured a series of drone flights simulating logistical support, perimeter surveillance and infrastructure monitoring.
A key achievement was the demonstration of BVLOS operations. The Seville Port Authority, which has actively supported drone integration, showcased how the technologies can improve port management and optimize daily operations.
Future Developments
According to U-ELCOME, the recent tests are key milestones toward the project’s aim to develop a scalable, harmonized framework for drone operations across Europe. By integrating U-space services in real-world port environments, the trials contribute to enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in urban and industrial airspace, it said.
The U-ELCOME project is continuing its series of validation tests in the coming months. The next open day is scheduled for February 27 in Benidorm, Spain where new capabilities of U-space service providers and high-performance drone models will be tested in urban environments.
