Higher-Altitude Platform Systems and airspace integration: from concept to operational reality

“The main gap is the uncertainty, the lack of collaboration, and the lack of harmonization. I could better say it's like we are starting from zero which is each one of the entities.” In our recent webinar, Marta García Gutiérrez, UAS Programme Manager at Telespazio Ibérica, highlighted a key challenge: #HAPS operations still lack a common baseline, with stakeholders effectively starting from zero, making harmonisation and adoption difficult. HAPS are already operational, but integration remains constrained by fragmentation and uncertainty.This insight comes from a DroneTalks and CANSO webinar on Higher-Altitude Platform Systems and Airspace Integration, exploring their integration into existing airspace and its implications for regulation, operations and coordination. The session was moderated by Lorenzo Murzilli, Co-founder and CEO of Murzilli Consulting, and brought together Nicki Harricharan, Operations Programme Manager at CANSO, Léonard Bouygues, Director of Aviation Strategy at Sceye, Marta García Gutiérrez, UAS Programme Manager at Telespazio Ibérica and Jesús Antonio García Muñoz, Head of ATFCM/ASM Division and Air Traffic Controller at ENAIRE. The discussion also addressed key integration challenges, including: - Airspace integration between stratospheric and conventional operations- Traffic management and cross-layer coordination- Regulatory frameworks and certification pathways- The evolving role of ANSPs in managing higher-altitude operations- Implications for drone operations and future advanced air mobility ecosystems Are you a decision-maker? Are you interested in being at the forefront of drone technology? Sponsor our exclusive, invite-only event Aerial Cities, where industry leaders, government officials, and key players discuss the integration of drones into urban landscapes.Check out our sponsorship opportunities here: https://aerialcities.dronetalks.online/