The European project Certiflight has held an Acceptance Review meeting to assess the progress made in 2024 and outline challenges for 2025.
The online meeting, which was attended by nearly twenty representatives of the partners and the project reviewers, was centred on verification activities and the validation plan, business strategies, and other key topics.
One of the most notable points was the validation plan and the status of the validation campaign. The teams responsible for test flights presented the validation scenarios conducted so far, such as powerline inspections, agricultural applications, and monitoring activities. During their presentations, they highlighted the challenges faced, and the objectives achieved, emphasising the lessons learned.
Another central topic was the functional report on the UTM Box, the device installed on drones and general aviation aircraft that uses the Galileo OSNMA service to authenticate and ensure the integrity of positional data during flights. The partners provided details on the verification plan and the results of security and operational performance tests, which included successful network handovers and compliance with ASTM standards for message transmission. The UTM Box demonstrated robust performance during the rigorous testing performed, cementing its role as a crucial component of the project.
Additionally, updates were presented on the testing framework for the APP and GSD algorithms, addressing challenges related to data accuracy and timing synchronisation. The project members discussed potential hardware updates to enhance tracking capabilities.
Regarding the software of the project, the responsible team showcased the latest platform updates, including improvements in user configuration, report verification, and the implementation of contract-based features.
Finally, the partners discussed about the communication efforts, standardisation activities, and commercial prospects, aiming to position the technology of Certiflight in the market and maximise its impact. These efforts seek to promote the benefits of the project and encourage its adoption across various sectors.
The meeting marked a significant end to the year for Certiflight, being the penultimate milestone before the end of the project, established the roadmap for 2025.
According to participants, the meeting was “highly productive” and a vital step towards the future success of the project, providing a valuable opportunity to address critical technical aspects.