Weather, drones, quantum computing and AI: DLR Institute of Air Transport at DLRK 2026

The DLR Institute of Air Transport was represented at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) stand with an LED exhibit on the potential and safety of new regional air transport concepts, using the Aachen urban region as an example. An additional VR application showed possible developments in global aviation emissions based on the DEPA 2070 study. The institute also presented current research on challenges associated with the operation of new types of aircraft, as well as technologies for the future planning and management of air transport.

Weather-dependent operational capability of small aircraft

Unfavourable weather conditions pose particular challenges for small aircraft. The SMART-MET project therefore investigates how weather conditions affect the safety and availability of routes for small aircraft. At the DLR Institute of Air Transport, factors such as icing, reduced visibility, thunderstorms, wind, extreme temperatures and precipitation were analysed using meteorological availability indices. Based on historical weather data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), weather-dependent route availability was modelled for a representative route network in North Rhine-Westphalia. The results show the extent to which weather conditions can restrict continuous operations.

SMART-MET also examines other safety-related aspects of small-aircraft operations. Among other things, the project investigates the separation distances from wake vortices required for safe operations at vertiports and how a corresponding wake-vortex warning system could provide support. In addition, the project addresses sensors for detecting icing and energy-efficient de-icing systems.¹

Communication in drone networks

Another contribution focused on direct communication between drones without permanently installed communication infrastructure on the ground. These direct connections allow drones to form a dynamic communication network themselves – a so-called Flying Ad-hoc Network (FANET) – enabling data exchange with participants further away. However, the performance of such a FANET depends strongly on the number and density of available drones and therefore on demand for specific drone applications. The DLR contribution investigated how different spatial distributions of demand for drone-based parcel deliveries affect the performance of such a network in an urban scenario. This can be used to derive technical requirements for the communication systems needed for such applications.²

Quantum algorithms for tactical flight planning

The suitability of available quantum algorithms for the tactical allocation of departure times, taking airspace capacity into account, was also investigated. For this purpose, test instances of the mathematical model were derived from real flight schedule data in order to compare a simulated quantum algorithm with a classical optimisation method. The study examines solution quality and feasibility and identifies which model dimensions can be mapped onto current quantum hardware. The analyses showed that the number of possible departure times for each flight and the variables required to represent capacity constraints are key factors determining the size of the quantum model. This provides a basis for assessing the current potential of quantum algorithms and identifying areas for further research.³ The study was conducted as part of the QCMobility project within the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (QCI).

Artificial intelligence in air traffic control

Another research contribution examined the economic potential of an AI-supported “Digital Interactive Reliable Controller” (DIRC) for European air traffic control. Against the background of increasing delays and staff shortages, the study investigated how supporting air traffic controllers with artificial intelligence could improve the capacity and efficiency of air traffic control while reducing costs. The study was conducted as part of the DLR LOKI project, led by the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine, which investigates the foundations for the safe, reliable and transparent use of AI in flight guidance and air traffic control. A particular focus is on trustworthy cooperation between humans and AI systems.⁴

Further information

• SMART-MET: Flight Safety for Small Aircraft in Adverse Weather Conditions
• Small Aircraft Technologies
• Project DEPA 2070
• Successful Flight Tests of Drone-to-Drone Radio Communication
• QC Mobility
• Institute of Quantum Technologies
• AI opens up new possibilities for air traffic control and the cockpit
• Institute of Aerospace Medicine

¹ _{El Kadaoui, H., Swaid, M., Lau, A. (DLR Institute of Air Transport), “Meteorological-Dependent Route Availability for Small Electric Aircraft: An Index-Based Framework Using ERA5 Data”, German Aerospace Congress 2026 – DLRK 2026, Aachen, Germany.}

² _{Marks, T. (DLR Institute of Air Transport), “Interrelation of spatial demand distribution and FANET performance in varying urban UAS package delivery scenarios”, German Aerospace Congress 2026 – DLRK 2026, Aachen, Germany.}

³ _{Kanitz, R., Solzer, J., Buchtal, K. (DLR Institute of Air Transport), Tarantola, A., Schindler, M. (DLR Institute of Quantum Technologies), Lau, A. (DLR Institute of Air Transport), “Kapazitätsbeschränkte Slot-Allokation: Benchmarks und Machbarkeitsanalyse unter NISQ-Bedingungen”, German Aerospace Congress 2026 – DLRK 2026, Aachen, Germany.}