FlightInternational.com says in a recent article that initial funding for the UK's Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation and Assessment (ASTRAEA [pdf file] ) initiative is expected to be announced this week, starting a multi-year effort to normalize unmanned air vehicle (UAV) operations in UK airspace. That is, the UK are working on a plan to allow UAV's to fly in their public airspace. The project cost has been forecast at around £80 million ($140 million) and will be implemented over five years. ASTRAEA is planning a demonstration of routine UAV operations in non-segregated airspace by 2010. So the dream of human-controlled and robot-controlled aircraft sharing UK public airspace may become a reality by 2010!

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