Energy UTM is a technology to allow safe and regulated drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Drones are a very advantageous technology with countless applications. However, in Canada, as in most countries, regulations are not yet in place for full deployment. Robust and reliable technologies are required to permit, approve, monitor, and regulate drone flights to ensure public safety and the safety of crewed aircrafts. AirMarket and PTAC member oil and gas companies are collaborating for the piloting of the UTM technology in the context of national trials supervised by Transport Canada and NAV Canada.
The Project, which was completed in 2023, has demonstrated Cellular UTM services using the existing TELUS fixed telecommunications infrastructure to conduct trials between Edmonton and Fort McMurray and in the oil sands region.
The outcome will be reduced environmental impact (reduced GHG emissions and land disturbance), substantial operating cost reductions, improved worker safety, and the progression of a technology and service that could be deployed in other industries and other regions, and open the door to automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence application in resource industries.
Energy UTM Steering Committee Members
| Name | Company Name |
|---|---|
| Bruce Duong | Alberta Innovates |
| Denis Niles | Telus |
| Genevieve Dacambra | Suncor |
| Jeremy Byatt | AIRMarket |
| Lindsay Mohr | AIRMarket |
| Stan Tumoth | TC Energy |
| Tania Rizwan | TC Energy |
| Tedman Jess | Suncor |