The Development of a Prototype for Low Altitude Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Flight Plan Systems

Abstract

The use of Unmanned Aircraft has grown significantly in Thailand and worldwide, particularly for operations below 450 feet. However, unlike manned aviation, there remains a lack of integrated digital platforms to manage flight plans that align with regulatory and operational requirements specific to low altitude activity. This study employed both secondary research and expert interviews to gather technical and regulatory user requirements. The data were analyzed and validated using Structural Equation Modeling to identify key variables influencing safety operations. Based on these findings, a standardized low altitude flight plan format was developed and converted into a prototype web platform called GoFly. The system enables operators to register aircraft and pilot credentials and to submit flight plans digitally. This platform addresses the current fragmentation in Thailand’s flight planning process by centralizing operations and enhancing regulatory compliance. The study contributes to the foundational development of a digital Unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management system tailored for emerging airspace users in Thailand and demonstrates potential scalability to other international regulatory contexts.