
Indexed in
License and use
Analysis of institutional authors
Perez-Castan, Javier A.Corresponding AuthorGomez Comendador, FernandoAuthorRodriguez-Sanz, AlvaroAuthorArnaldo Valdes, Rosa M.AuthorAlonso-Alarcon, Jose FelixCorresponding AuthorSafe RPAS integration in non-segregated airspace
Publicated to:Aircraft Engineering And Aerospace Technology. 92 (6): 801-806 - 2020-06-08 92(6), DOI: 10.1108/AEAT-11-2019-0224
Authors: Perez-Castan, Javier A; Gomez Comendador, Fernando; Rodriguez-Sanz, Alvaro; Arnaldo Valdes, Rosa M; Alonso-Alarcon, Jose Felix
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose This paper aims to assess the implications in safety levels by the integration of remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). The goal is to calculate the number of RPAS that can jointly operate with conventional aircraft regarding conflict risk, without exceeding current safety levels. Design/methodology/approach This approach benchmarks a calculated level of safety (CLS) with a target level of safety (TLS). Monte Carlo (MC) simulations quantify the TLS based on the current operation of conventional aircraft. Then, different experiments calculate the CLS associated with combinations of conventional aircraft and RPAS. MC simulations are performed based on probabilistic distributions of aircraft performances, entry times and geographical distribution. The safety levels are based on a conflict risk model because the safety metrics are the average number of conflicts and average conflict duration. Findings The results provide restrictions to the number of RPAS that can jointly operate with conventional aircraft. The TLS is quantified for four conventional aircraft. MC simulations confirm that the integration of RPAS demands a reduction in the total number of aircraft. The same number of RPAS than conventional aircraft shows an increase over 90% average number of conflicts and 300% average conflict time. Originality/value This paper is one of the most advanced investigations performed to quantify the number of RPAS that can be safely integrated into non-segregated airspace, which is one of the challenges for the forthcoming integration of RPAS. Particularly, Europe draws to allow operating RPAS and conventional aircraft in non-segregated airspace by 2025, but this demanding perspective entails a thorough analysis of operational and safety aspects involved.
Keywords
Quality index
Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel
The work has been published in the journal Aircraft Engineering And Aerospace Technology, and although the journal is classified in the quartile Q4 (Agencia WoS (JCR)), its regional focus and specialization in Engineering, Aerospace, give it significant recognition in a specific niche of scientific knowledge at an international level.
From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.34, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)
Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-07, the following number of citations:
- WoS: 6
- Scopus: 6
- Google Scholar: 8
Impact and social visibility
Leadership analysis of institutional authors
There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (PEREZ CASTAN, JAVIER ALBERTO) and Last Author (ALONSO ALARCON, JOSE FELIX).
the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been PEREZ CASTAN, JAVIER ALBERTO and ALONSO ALARCON, JOSE FELIX.