The BURDI project, led by Skeyes -the Belgian air navigation and traffic service provider for the civil airspace (former Belgocontrol) – invites drone operators across Europe to participate in a survey on that will reveal the cost of U-space in Europe. The survey aims to answer the burning question of U-space pricing. The report to be produced by the research team of Future Needs will outline consumer willingness-to-pay for U-space services while at the same time identifying not only what is acceptable, but also what is feasible on the part of U-space providers in terms of cost, thus revealing an economically sustainable and socially acceptable price.
Why Your Feedback Matters
The BURDI project is on a mission to create a robust and fairly priced U-space airspace, addressing the challenges of managing dense, diverse, and complex drone operations across various environments—controlled, uncontrolled, and urban. To succeed in evaluating a fair but also marketable price for U-space, we need your input.
By participating in this survey, you’ll help us create solutions that are both cost-effective and embraced by the public, making U-space accessible and beneficial for all. A market price determined by the interaction of demand and supply, reflecting the relative scarcity and value of the product or service to society.
The survey takes only 7 minutes to complete (based on statistics from other participants who already took the survey).
U-Space Survey design and outcomes
The survey has two legs – one for U-space providers and one for drone operators . The questions specifically examine the financial and societal aspects of U-space service categories—U1 and U2—as defined by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, targeting both supply- and demand-side stakeholders.
- Supply Side (U-space Providers): The supply-side leg of the cost survey is aimed at organizations and businesses providing U-space services, such as Skeyes and Skeydrone in Belgium, LVNL in the Netherlands, ENAIRE in Spain and so on. We aim to gather insights into operational costs, pricing strategies, service models, and market dynamics to help refine U-space services and ensure their long-term sustainability.
- Demand Side (U-space Consumers): The demand-side leg of the cost survey targets paying end-users of U-space services, including businesses and individuals who rely on drone operations for tasks such as delivery, inspection, surveillance, or transport. We seek to understand customer preferences, pricing sensitivities, and specific service needs to align U-space offerings with user demands and expectations.
By analyzing these perspectives, we’ll develop balanced models that promote affordability, profitability, and public trust.
Future Needs vision for Innovative Air Mobility
At Future Needs, we’re committed to ensuring that U-space services are practical, accessible, and beneficial for everyone. Our work focuses on gathering comprehensive data, engaging with stakeholders, and designing solutions that balance community acceptance with financial sustainability. Besides BURDI, we work on two more projects addressing societal challenges of Innovative Air Mobility: ImaFUSA and RefMap.
Take the Survey Today!
Whether you’re a U-space provider or a customer, your insights are crucial to building a smarter, more inclusive future for drone technology.
Take the survey and contribute to this transformative journey:
- For U-space providers: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKwQ4jcaB_lLdEGuTC7BQIytCJBwVqX6zrAdU_qhxpeG77tw/viewform?usp=sf_link
- For U-space consumers: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7a0DvoZniJADgO4jE9MZDooYM7aJH26skuBfkYeVu5gg2EA/viewform?usp=sf_link
About the author
Anna Palaiologk, the founder of Future Needs, is a Research & Innovation Consultant with 18 years of experience in proposal writing and project management. She has worked as a project Coordinator and Work Package leader in 30+ EU projects and has authored 50+ successful proposals. Her research background is in economics, business development and policy-making.
