Emitel installs drone tracking at all ten of Poland's local drone competence centres

Polish digital infrastructure operator Emitel said it designed, supplied and installed an aircraft tracking system based on ADS-B and Remote ID receivers at all ten local drone competence centres opened by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PAŻP). It will also maintain the system for the next five years.

The centres are set-aside operating areas in Polish airspace with digital tools, tracking and procedures, meant to make it easier to fly beyond the operator's visual line of sight, over longer distances and to test heavy drones. The PLN 84 million project is paid for entirely from Poland's National Recovery Plan. Each centre has flight zones, digital systems for planning and coordinating flights such as the DroneTower app, tracking equipment and safe landing sites.

The tracking shows the air traffic in each centre, lets users check that a flight follows its plan and records tests. Drone and component makers, operators, universities, emergency services and logistics and energy companies can use the centres.

Maciej Pilipczuk, president of Emitel's management board, said the centres are the missing link between tests and everyday commercial use of drones. PAŻP president Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak said the goal was to let companies, universities, public services and research institutes develop and carry out advanced uncrewed operations safely.