Page 19 - Nov2024Communicator

Air Traffic Control For Drones … Air Force Tests CLUE

MACDILL AFB, FL – In May 2024, CLUE UTM began formal
Air Mobility Command, operational feasibility assessment
or AMC, in collaboration activities, accessible by the Air Traffic
with the Air Force Control Tower, the Base Defense
Research Laboratory, or Operations Center and Airfield
AFRL, Information Management.
Directorate, began "This is a significant milestone for AMC,
assessing the AFRL AFRL and the CLUE program, as the
Collaborative Low- MacDill Air Traffic Control Tower and
Altitude Unmanned Base Defense Operations Center are first
Aircraft System in the Air Force to operationally assess
Integration Effort, or UTM capabilities," said Phil Zaleski,
CLUE, Unmanned AFRL CLUE program manager and
Aircraft Systems Traffic Information Convergence branch chief.
Management, or UTM, CLUE UTM is sensor-agnostic and can
system at MacDill AFB. TSgt Tyler Beck, 6th Security integrate with various sensors and
This marks a milestone Forces Sq flight sergeant, systems to detect, track and identify
as MacDill became the reviews constraints on CLUE to UASs. At the base, this includes the
first Air Force plan for a drone flight at MacDill Information Directorate Counter UAS
installation to use UTM AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo) systems, which are also under operational
capabilities within assessment.
controlled airspace James Layton, MacDill AFB chief of
assigned to Department of Defense air traffic plans and programs, said the demand for the
controllers. This ensures the safe operations of utility of drones continues to accelerate.
unmanned aerial systems, or UASs, alongside “Equipping airspace managers and UAS operators
manned air operations, enhancing overall with a 3D operational viewing capability and
operational safety. additional features designed to reduce lengthy,
The CLUE program, initiated in 2016 at AFRL's manual and advanced planning procedures, will be
Information Directorate in Rome, NY, aims to critical to achieving real-time flight planning and
prepare the Air Force and DOD to use UASs on mission execution.”
their installations through Security Forces, airfield As part of the assessment at MacDill AFB UAS
management and civil engineering. The CLUE operators use CLUE to ask for permission to fly
UTM provides air domain awareness, situational drones. The tower at the base either approves or
awareness and UTM operational denies the request.
capabilities for UAS operators, air traffic Once approved, the
control personnel, Security Forces and other operators can fly their
stakeholders. drones within the
AFRL brought CLUE to MacDill in 2022 to allowed area. CLUE
demonstrate its capabilities to personnel gives them
involved in UAS operations, particularly air information about the
traffic control and Security Forces. Initial airspace and the
testing focused on evaluating CLUE UTM situation through a
capabilities for airspace deconfliction, control interface called
communication and security to enable UAS SAFIRE-X. This helps
operations beyond the visual line of sight. them keep track of
Since then, through collaboration with the active drone flights
6th Security Forces Squadron, 6th and warns them if the
Operations Group, AMC Airfield Operations drones go beyond the
Division and Air Force Flight Standards approved conditions.
Agency, it has been determined that the AFRL plays an
next phase of assessment should start. SrA Brooks Dingman, 6th integral role in leading
“The program has reached a significant Operations Group air traffic the discovery,
milestone by enhancing our air traffic controller, uses CLUE to development, and
controllers’ abilities to ensure safe establish constraint to let small integration of
integration of UASs within DOD controlled Unmanned Aircraft System affordable warfighting
airspace by providing Air Domain and operators know where ATC technologies for our
Situational Awareness,” said MSgt Robert approval is required to fly drones air, space and
Minor, chief controller at MacDill Tower. at MacDill AFB, FL. cyberspace force.

Air Force Cyberspace and Air Traffic Control Association 19