Terra Drone’s Unifly Completes Blockchain-Backed UTM Demo for Certiflight Project

Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, is proud to announce that its group company and a global leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly, has successfully completed port surveillance demonstration as part of the ‘Certiflight’ project using its UTM systems. This demonstration took place at Port of Antwerp-Bruges(PoAB), one of the largest ports in Europe, where Unifly provided its UTM system with Blockchain technology to support the management of drone operations in complex and high-traffic airspace.

Certiflight’s Overview

Certiflight is the first Galileo-based(1) U-Space(2) to utilize Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) technology, aiming to record low-altitude flight data, such as drones and General Aviation(3) flights, on a blockchain. Unifly has been participating in Certiflight since November 2022, playing a crucial role in drone traffic management by providing its UTM system to drive technological advancements that enhance the safety and accountability of airspace operations.

Certiflight aims to ensure the authenticity of flight data by enabling encrypted flight data to be recorded on a blockchain, preventing tampering or falsification of location data. This is achieved by equipping drones and General Aviation with Digital EGNSS/IoT devices. By advancing Certiflight, the accountability and integrity of flight data are strengthened, thereby improving the safety and security of drones in complex and high-traffic airspace. In the long term, this is expected to facilitate the widespread adoption of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations. Drone pilots conventionally have been required to apply for and obtain flight approval in compliance with local regulations for each flight. However, flight data with guaranteed authenticity can be transmitted to operators and certification portals, allowing air traffic controllers in each region to easily verify and approve flight authorizations. This system is expected to streamline the drone flight approval process and further accelerate the adoption and use of drones across various industries.

<Certiflight’s Schedule>

• Launched in November 2022
• Transitioned to the demonstration phase in November 2024
• Aiming to validate scenarios based on key drone use cases and evaluate system performance in collaboration with multiple U-space service providers to accommodate diverse operational needs by January 2025.

Port Surveillance Demonstration’s Overview

Port surveillance demonstration is part of the Certiflight. Certiflight transitioned into the demonstration phase in November 2024 and is currently being conducted in three countries: Belgium, Italy, and the Czech Republic. As a U-space service provider, Unifly was selected to participate in the demonstration at PoAB in collaboration with a drone operator, Sky Vision. In this demonstration, Unifly integrated its UTM system with drones equipped with Digital EGNSS/IoT devices, enabling real-time monitoring of drone operations within the port area and streamlining the flight approval process.

<Demonstration Achievements>

Through this demonstration, Unifly successfully leveraged its UTM platform to achieve the following:

1. Visualization of Drone Flight Paths

• Visualized drone flight paths in real time through the Tracking API.
• Successfully distinguishing authenticated tracking data from unauthenticated data.

2. Accurate Positioning and Prevention of Data Tampering

• Acquired accurate positioning data and prevented the contamination of fraudulent information by utilizing the OSNMA function.
• Demonstrated the accountability of blockchain technology and Digital EGNSS/IoT devices, ensuring secure and accurate drone positioning for high-risk operations in complex airspace.

Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly stated: “The Certiflight demonstration at the PoAB is a pivotal moment for the project. It exemplifies how blockchain-backed UTM solutions can enhance safety, transparency, and accountability in complex environments. We’re proud to contribute to the future of autonomous aviation.” 

Expectations

Through Unifly, Terra Drone has successfully completed the port surveillance demonstration of Certiflight, highlighting the role and significance of its UTM platform in drone traffic management. Terra Drone unlocked the potential of advanced UTM technology in U-space airspace, enabling the integration of next-generation aircraft into complex shared airspace. Moving forward, Terra Drone aims to expand the applications of its technology across various sectors, including port operations and urban air mobility.