Overview
ISO 23629-9:2023 - UAS traffic management (UTM) Part 9 defines the elements of information exchange between UTM service providers (USP) and UTM users. It specifies what data and information should be shared to support UTM services (registration, flight plans, operation plans, weather, geospatial data, etc.) but deliberately excludes protocol and transmission requirements (no operational-level protocols or transport mandates). It also excludes interfaces between USP-to-USP and USP-to-operation-support-service providers.
Key topics and requirements
This part of the ISO 23629 series organizes and standardizes the information elements needed for interoperability and situational awareness, including:
- User categories: operators (UAS and vertiport), aviation & airspace authority, security/enforcement authorities, the public, and air traffic service providers (ATSP).
- Core information elements:
- Registration information (applications and replies)
- Geospatial information (geozones, coordinate systems)
- Population density information
- Environmental and aeronautical information
- Weather information
- Operation plan (OPA) and flight plan (FPI) data
- Traffic and unmanned air traffic information (UATI)
- Operation guidance information (OGI)
- Interfaces and message directions:
- From USP → operator / authority / public / ATSP / security bodies
- From operator / authority / public / ATSP / security → USP
- Metadata: Annex A provides informative guidance on metadata to accompany exchanged data.
Note: The standard defines the information content and structure at a conceptual level; it does not mandate data models, APIs, or communication protocols.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 23629-9 is intended for stakeholders building or operating UTM ecosystems who need consistent, interoperable information flows:
- UTM service providers (USPs) designing service offerings and payloads
- UAS operators and vertiport operators preparing operations, flight plans and registration
- Regulators and aviation authorities for oversight, approvals and safety management
- Air traffic service providers (ATSPs) integrating manned and unmanned traffic information
- Security and enforcement agencies requiring situational data for compliance and response
- System integrators, platform developers, and data providers defining APIs and data catalogs
Use cases include flight authorization, tactical deconfliction, situational awareness dashboards, public advisories, and regulatory reporting.
Related standards
- ISO 23629 series (UTM family) - complements Parts 5 and 12 for structure and requirements
- ISO 21384-4 (UAS vocabulary) - referenced for terms and definitions
- Operational concepts and reference materials from ICAO, SESAR (U-space) and ASTM are cited as informative guidance
Keywords: ISO 23629-9:2023, UTM, UAS traffic management, UTM service provider, information exchange, flight plan, operation plan, geospatial information, aviation authority, ATSP, interoperability.