AIRmarket and OneSky partner on real-world testing to support safe BVLOS drone operations
Canada Tests Real-World Drone Traffic Management in Alberta
The iART Alliance has launched the Alberta RTM Trials – Operational Evaluation (iART-OE) in the Greater Edmonton Region. This marks Canada’s first major step in evaluating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Traffic Management (RTM) services in real-world conditions.
The RTM interoperability trials bring together a broad coalition of industry leaders, government agencies, and academic institutions. The goal is to enable the safe use of drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) by testing and refining RTM services.
The trials begin in Sherwood Park, part of Strathcona County. The region has made strong investments in Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, particularly for emergency services. As operations scale, the trials will expand to other parts of the Greater Edmonton Region. Emissions Reduction Alberta is supporting the initiative with funding from the Government of Alberta.
Testing Interoperability Between RTM Providers
The Alberta RTM interoperability trials will test how multiple RTM platforms can safely share and coordinate Canadian airspace. The project builds on the UTM work previously done in Dallas, Texas, using open-source tools to evaluate interoperability.
This trial marks the first time that two RTM providers—OneSky and AIRmarket—will operate simultaneously in Canada. The goal is to test how their systems communicate, coordinate, and share real-time airspace data.
“These trials represent a pivotal step toward building the digital infrastructure Canada needs to safely scale BVLOS drone operations,” said Lindsay Mohr, CEO of AIRmarket. “By bringing together industry, government, and technology providers in real-world environments, we’re not just testing systems—we’re shaping the future of airspace access for RPAS.”
Robert Hammett, CEO of OneSky UTM, added, “OneSky looks forward to working closely with AIRmarket on this next step in advancing RPAS operations in Canada. Since our initial Canadian RPAS efforts in 2021, we have found the country’s RPAS stakeholders to be forward-thinking and receptive to innovative technology to support safe and efficient BVLOS RPAS operations.”
Stakeholders Join Forces Across Sectors
The project officially launched with a safety briefing on July 18 at AIRmarket’s Edmonton offices. The meeting brought together a wide range of airspace users and regulators, including Transport Canada, NAV CANADA, Edmonton International Airport, and first responders.
Participating organizations are grouped into three categories: operators, participants, and observers. Among the drone operators are Strathcona County Emergency Services and Edmonton Fire Rescue. Observers include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Edmonton Police Service. Alberta Health Services and various airport and heliport operators have also been briefed.
These diverse stakeholders are helping shape a shared approach to RTM communications, procedures, and integration, as Canada moves toward a national RTM system.
About the Partners
AIRmarket is a Canadian company that works closely with Transport Canada and NAV Canada on RTM innovation. Their tools support BVLOS operations with airspace surveillance, a secure command-and-control network, and FLYsafe solutions.
OneSky delivers global Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) technology for air navigation providers, regulators, and drone operators. Their platform offers flight approvals, airspace status updates, and tracking tools to ensure safe and compliant drone operations.
For more information or to get involved in the Alberta RTM Trials, visit AIRmarket’s contact page.
Read more:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife here.
