Denis Koehl Conference

Conference: Integrating RPAS into the European ATM system

By: Denis Koehl, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, SESAR Joint Undertaking, Brussels

Date and Place: March 12th 2015, at 11:00, in PMT C4-001, Castelldefels(see http://www.pmt.es/location/how-to-get-to-the-park)

See video on local TV news
See interview in UPC magazine (in Catalan)

Abstract:
In July 2013 the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme launched a Call for Proposal to select and co-finance around 10 projects for demonstration activities of drones flight trials. Drones, called officially as Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS), are expected to fly with the wider aviation community by 2016. The projects aim at demonstrate how to integrate RPAS into non-segregated airspace, in a multi-aircraft and manned flight environment. Concrete results shall fill the operational and technical gaps identified by European RPAS Steering Group in its roadmap for the integration published in June 2013.
Denis Koehl is participating in the review of the 9 ongoing projects and will provide a summary of the activities being developed. With expected end of project date at the end of 2015, some concluding results can already be provided. The demonstration projects are relevant at European scale, are participated by an European Air Navigation Service Provider and cover various types and sizes of RPAS.

Speakers Brief BIO:
Major General of the French Air Force and combat pilot, Denis Koehl was born in 1956. He has a total of 4000 flying hours including 206 missions and 99 landings on aircraft carriers. His deep experience and knowledge on air operations made him designated as Deputy air assets commander and senior national representative to the Combined Air Operations Centre at Vicenza (Italy). Denis worked as diplomatic representative of the NATO at Lisbon. He is also expert on crisis management, large humanitarian actions and communication with media.
After 35 years in the Air Force Denis became Major General in charge of more than 6 thousand people and about 450 aircraft, with the mission of modernisation of the air forces. Once ended this military career, Denis joined the SESAR Joint Undertaking in Brussels in May 2010 as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director. He has also worked as consultant at Leroy Consultants (BPI Group).

About SESAR and the SESAR Joint Undertaking:
The SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) programme is one of the most ambitious research and development projects ever launched by the European Community. The programme is the technological and operational dimension of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative to meet future capacity and air safety needs. Given the complexity of the programme, a legal entity was founded by the European Commission and Eurocontrol, to coordinate and concentrate all relevant research and development efforts in the Community. The mission of the SESAR Joint Undertaking is to develop a modernised air traffic management system for Europe. This future system will ensure the safety and fluidity of air transport over the next thirty years, will make flying more environmentally friendly and reduce the costs of air traffic management.