Flying in Harmony: What UTM Coordination Really Means

Drone delivery might look like magic from the ground, but behind every flight is a carefully orchestrated dance in the sky. When multiple drone companies are flying in the same airspace, like Flytrex and Wing, which share airspace daily over Dallas, that dance needs rules, coordination, and a shared understanding of who goes where, when, and how.

That’s where Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) comes in.

UTM is a digital framework that helps drones safely share airspace. It’s kind of like air traffic control, but fully automated and purpose-built for low-altitude, high-scale drone operations. At Flytrex, we use UTM to plan our flights, publish them into shared airspace, check for potential conflicts with others (like Wing), and adapt in real-time when something unexpected happens.

How is the UTM designed?

At the heart of this framework are USSs (UAS Service Suppliers), systems that manage flight planning, approval, and real-time awareness. Each drone operator is supported by a USS. These USSs ensure flight information is communicated clearly and consistently across the ecosystem.

To coordinate safely, these USSs first use a shared, decentralized network called the DSS (Discovery and Synchronization Service). Think of the DSS as a digital bulletin board: it doesn’t pass messages, but it tells each USS who else is operating in the same area. Once discovered, USSs then communicate directly, exchanging planned flights, known as Operational Intents, and resolving potential conflicts.

Operational Intents - No guesswork. No overlaps. No drama.

These aren’t just rough flight paths. Each Operational Intent is defined as a 4D volume: a block of airspace in latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. This allows the system to detect and prevent conflicts not just spatially, but temporally. So if Wing is flying over a park at 200 feet between 2:00 and 2:05 PM, and Flytrex plans a flight through the same location at 2:07 or at a different altitude, there’s no problem. The system ensures safe separation by design.

Scaling Drone Deliveries, Together

Flytrex has been one of the early adopters of the UTM standard, actively coordinating with USSs like Wing’s. When we publish a flight plan, Wing sees it. When they publish theirs, we see it. That mutual awareness is simple, powerful, and essential for scale.

Because without UTM, drone delivery would be stuck in silos. Every operator would need exclusive airspace. That’s not realistic. With UTM, we all play by the same rules, fly in shared skies, and keep safety at the core of every drone delivery mission.

In the end, UTM coordination isn’t just about technology. It’s about trust, transparency, and building a future where everyone can fly, safely and confidently.

- Written by Shai Karassikov , Product Manager at Flytrex