Marina de Lagos has announced plans to implement a drone traffic management system developed by Altitude Angel, a global provider of Unified Traffic Management (UTM) technology. The marina will use the platform to monitor and authorise drone activity in its airspace, allowing operators to request and pay for drone operations digitally.
With more than 470 berths, Marina de Lagos is an established port on Portugal’s Algarve coast, attracting around 1,800 vessels from over 40 countries annually. Current drone use at the marina is mostly recreational, with operators capturing aerial footage of boats and facilities. However, the new platform will also support future use cases such as delivery services to vessels moored offshore.
Altitude Angel’s Approval Services platform is already deployed across UK airports, heliports, aerodromes and properties. The platform will enable drone operators to submit flight plans covering take-off, flight and landing at Marina de Lagos. Once official flight permits are obtained from Portuguese aviation authorities, operators can complete the local approval process through the Drone Assist app or DroneSafetyMap.com.
Chris Forster, CEO of Altitude Angel, stated, “This is great news, not just for the team at Marina de Lagos, but for marinas and harbours across Europe and beyond. As drones are being used more frequently, either recreationally or by businesses to provide additional services, the need for a greater understanding of shared airspace grows. The introduction of Approval Services will give Marina de Lagos the understanding and clarity they need to manage drone operations around the marina safely and securely.”
Martinho Fortunato, CEO of Marina de Lagos, commented, “At Marina de Lagos, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the safety and comfort of our customers, as well as the quality of our services, and invest in innovation. The partnership with Altitude Angel to develop airspace control over and around the marina, the first in Portugal to do so, is something we are very excited about. We are also looking forward to sharing our experiences with the broader marina community in a few months, at the next World Marina Conference.”
